Great write up. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to the park this year, but I am totally looking forward to this. Still no original Big Bad Wolf, but that's never coming back.
Project 2026: Verbolten: Forbidden Turn
- Thread starter Le Moose
- Start date
Great write up. I'm not sure if I'll be able to make it to the park this year, but I am totally looking forward to this. Still no original Big Bad Wolf, but that's never coming back.
This is so exciting. Realistic, 3D trees inside the show building are something I've wanted since Verbolten was first announced*. The "Black Forest" always felt a little cheap and cartoonish, so I'm so excited to see them attempting to make it feel like a real, dark forest. The additional theming elements coming to the queue and outside the building are just... I never could've even wished for it. What a project.
*I feel old. Verbolten's construction was the first project I followed closely on this forum. Now I'm following its refurbishment. Geez.
*I feel old. Verbolten's construction was the first project I followed closely on this forum. Now I'm following its refurbishment. Geez.
I can’t wait to see what’s left after the obligatory corporate meddling and budget cuts.
The park has always been capable of it, they’re just limited by corporate’s money hungry hands. Burgermeister’s Hideaway was a great example of what their creative team can do when they’re not limited by corporate’s budgets, as that was almost entirely BGW’s budget.
I really missed out on the opportunity to reference this bit of deep-cut Verbolten lore one last time, didn't I? Maybe I'll need to edit something in...
Anyway, I truly think this project looks insane. I've read some feedback on the article saying it sounds a bit shill-y, but I assure you all that it's 100% sincere. I'm legitimately blown away by the plans and I wholeheartedly believe we should be pushing for the success of this project (and others like it) however we can. If BGW stays the course and ultimately regains its reputation as a high-budget, "weekend-trip-destination," immersive theme park, I really do believe that's one of the most direct routes imaginable to fixing many of our other gripes with the current state of the park (culinary, cleanliness, staffing, etc).
I have no idea what Kevin is doing to get this stuff approved, but I think he deserves some major credit for actually listening to what people want at the parks. This looks so promising and makes the future of the park look so bright.
Exactly this. This park is being ran as good if not better than anyone can given the constraints of the corporate office. I commend Kevin. Some may say he’s not the most energetic but he is damn well a top tier president for the park. I have no doubts the park would be 100% ran near perfect if he was given free rein and budget.
100% agree with you on this. This is what is separating BGW from the rest of seas! Given its location of colonial Williamsburg vs other major cities. This park is 100% in a better position than any park in the chain.
I expected the lighting package and other stuff, but animatronics?! I’m pleasantly surprised!
I just had to change my avatar. My previous avatar was the meme of the horse drawing with a detailed rear end and a stick figure face being compared to Verbolten's queue and show building respectively.
These plans look better than the opening year POV I saw a while ago (I remember the post on here from opening year complaining that it looked like a warehouse inside even new). I am excited to re-evaluate Verbolten come warmer weather.
These plans look better than the opening year POV I saw a while ago (I remember the post on here from opening year complaining that it looked like a warehouse inside even new). I am excited to re-evaluate Verbolten come warmer weather.
Why am I more excited for this than I was for Pantheon?
I'm also excited about this project and others that are forecasted. I hope they happen and I agree that this almost seems like they are trying to put A-B level effort and execution into these projects. But...the one big thing that I can't help but wonder is if they are going to keep the maintenance up on these improvements once they are done and not let them slowly degrade. This should be a no brainer as it's way cheaper to keep something up with routine maintenance and immediate fixes to something that breaks than it is to let it go to hell and then try to fix it. It will also improve the parks reputation and hopefully improve attendance when this gets out.
Same boat as me. Like yea im excited but if 2 or 3 years from now the shit starts going out and not working ect then literally what is the point. Lochness screens look horrible now. Not trying to be negative so we will see
Yeah, the Nessie screens were a huge mistake. Doomed from the start, sadly.
Hopefully the focus on 3D, physical scenic and (presumably) all LED lighting will make this attempt far more resilient than the original curtain and early 2010s theatrical (probably damn expensive bulb-based) lighting setup? When Vbolt's curtains came down for maintenance/because they were failing/whatever other reason, it was all over in an instant. Way harder to take a giant tree down, you know? Lighting may start to fail at some point but even that fails a lot more gracefully than, say, screens.
Hopefully the focus on 3D, physical scenic and (presumably) all LED lighting will make this attempt far more resilient than the original curtain and early 2010s theatrical (probably damn expensive bulb-based) lighting setup? When Vbolt's curtains came down for maintenance/because they were failing/whatever other reason, it was all over in an instant. Way harder to take a giant tree down, you know? Lighting may start to fail at some point but even that fails a lot more gracefully than, say, screens.
This feels like a good place to drop this. Here is a model of Verbolten’s show building that shows the original curtain layout.KD has stepped up their theming in the past seasons. BGW is responding
Last edited:
And when KD’s PA-based General Manager visits BGW in 2031, I’m sure KD will respond in kind.
Seriously though, this is going to be a huge competitive advantage if BGW management has figured out how they can make local-level decisions to respond to the market, while KD has effectively lost the ability to do the same. Good on Kevin and his team for figuring it out.
Hot take: I’ll still take screens alongside the drop track if they are:
a. Integrated into the scenery (no visible screen edges)
b. ONLY alongside the sides of the drop track, with an animatronic at the front
c. Not so bright they compromise the atmosphere
I’m imagining wolves stalking alongside the train, maybe roots growing rapidly, gusts of wind and rain, etc. A ton you could do with that.
I’m assuming it’d be in the blueprints if it was planned but I think it could actually work here (WITH everything else they have)
a. Integrated into the scenery (no visible screen edges)
b. ONLY alongside the sides of the drop track, with an animatronic at the front
c. Not so bright they compromise the atmosphere
I’m imagining wolves stalking alongside the train, maybe roots growing rapidly, gusts of wind and rain, etc. A ton you could do with that.
I’m assuming it’d be in the blueprints if it was planned but I think it could actually work here (WITH everything else they have)
And when KD’s PA-based General Manager visits BGW in 2031, I’m sure KD will respond in kind.
Seriously though, this is going to be a huge competitive advantage if BGW management has figured out how they can make local-level decisions to respond to the market, while KD has effectively lost the ability to do the same. Good on Kevin and his team for figuring it out.
You are right. The thoughtful improvements that were made to Kings Dominion over the recent seasons was done under Bridget Bywater. I’m afraid it’s not going to get that kind of attention going forward.