Its innovative design and unparalleled experience earned it the #1 spot in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2024 for Best New Theme Park Attraction, garnering acclaim from enthusiasts and experts.
Spanning 6,600 square meters over three levels, this 4,5-minute attraction combines eight media-based interactive scenes with three unique endings: a vertical drop, a forward slide, and a backward slide.
Built around and into a man-made mountain, Primordial offers a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor experiences, merging the thrill of a coaster with the immersive narrative and competitive gameplay of an interactive dark ride.
What sets Primordial apart are its dynamic narrative storytelling and replayability. Riders can experience six possible endings through different paths leading to three mechanical effects combined with two media contents for each effect. This feature not only enhances the element of surprise but also encourages guests to return for new adventures.
Additionally, the mechanical design of the alternate endings supports high throughput by reducing reset times. Dropping a vehicle is fast, but, repositioning the track for the next vehicle takes time. The fork-in-the-road concept ensures continuous flow while the previous track resets. By combining unique paths with specific mechanics, Primordial efficiently handles large numbers of riders and elevates the experience.
Set in the legendary Dolomite Mountains, Primordial invites visitors to help free Dragnor the dragon, and Astradir the mystical owl to restore harmony in Queen Azdra’s kingdom. The adventure begins with a pre-show where Queen Azdra narrates the plight of captured guardians, whose absence has plunged the kingdom into darkness. Guests then board tracked-based trains of 2 four-seat vehicles equipped with purpose-designed blasters integrated into the lap bar, to withstand the ride’s twists, turns, and drops.
The journey starts with an ascent followed by a gravity propelled roller-coaster experience, transitioning into the dark ride portion as vehicles enter the mountain. Here, interactive gameplay scenes alternate with coaster sections, creating a rhythm of engagement and exhilaration. An algorithm determines whether they are tasked with liberating Dragnor or Astradir, and get assigned one of the three mechanical endings.
The finale features a 360-degree screen battle, synchronizing media with vehicle rotation, ensuring an immersive, climactic and thrilling conclusion. Post-ride, guests discover their scores and rankings, adding a competitive edge to the experience.
Combining a roller coaster with an interactive dark ride addresses the individual limitations and creates a more universally appealing experience. Merging a coaster with a dark ride offers excitement for coaster enthusiasts, immersive storytelling for narrative fans, and competitive elements for gamers. This hybrid approach enhances the guest experience and attracts a broader audience, making it ideal for a regional park like Lagoon that needs repeat visits.
Primordial has been celebrated for its innovative design and guest experience, clinching top spot in USA TODAY’s Readers’ Choice Awards for Best New Theme Park Attraction. This recognition underscores its impact on the amusement park landscape, highlighting its unique blend of storytelling, thrill, and interactive technology.
Developed in collaboration with Lagoon Amusement Park, Triotech, ART Engineering, and other industry leaders, Primordial represents a significant advancement in regional theme park attractions. Its success reflects its broad appeal, catering to coaster enthusiasts, storytelling fans, and competitive gamers alike. With its capacity for updates and adaptability to new technologies, Primordial is poised to remain a favorite among visitors, continually delivering fresh and exciting experiences.
Partners
- Lagoon Amusement Park
- ART Engineering
Primordial’s creation was a collaborative effort involving several creative entities. Triotech, a leader in entertainment innovation, oversaw the project’s entirety, managing the ride system and interactivity. Their in-house studio developed the media content, while their teams handled design, storytelling, theming, audio, special effects, and developed a new blaster. Acting as a turnkey provider, Triotech managed engineering, installation, and commissioning in close collaboration with Lagoon’s team. ART Engineering manufactured the coaster and vehicles, while Lagoon coordinated with over 50 Utah contractors and local suppliers, contributing to 75% of the ride’s components.