estuary
About
Project Background (Individual): Receiving the Dale Award from Princeton in summer 2024, I traveled to 17 theme parks in 7 European countries over 1 month. I undertook this trip to gain a larger perspective on the theme park medium and determine how European and American theme parks differ. Estuary is a solo project that was the second part of this award.
Concept Inspiration: Finding many theme parks creating magic through their own natural beauty (e.g. Toverland and Efteling), I recognized the parallels to Knott’s Berry Farm’s culturally and ecologically inspired lands, from the mountains of Camp Snoopy to the waves of Boardwalk. I found, however, there was one prominent biome missing: the wetland. Much of Orange County was marsh before turning into fertile orange groves and today suburban sprawl. I found it both important to tie Knott’s and its Orange County visitors back to the ecosystem it has since been paved over.
Where: Knott’s Berry Farm, Western Parking Lot (accessible by tunnel under Western Ave)
When: July 2024 - present
story
Melding with the tides, reeds, channels, and brush, Esther in her youth lived quietly and alone. Peacefully, but alone. She waved to the sun as it rose and dove, spoke with the moon as it tugged and nudged, and danced with the wind on its daily migration. She only improved with age, growing taller reeds, wider channels, thicker brush, and most importantly, a tall strong Valencia orange tree. The nutrients from this tree began to attract life. Species of all shapes and similar sizes began to flock to Esther, and Esther fell in love with the inhabitants. She provided and they crawled and marched across her body, tickling her with their small feet. They called their new, quaint town Estuary.
However, word spread too far and too wide. She drew from deep within her to provide for all the new residents, but the greed of those who came to expect her services grew too large. She collapsed and dried, no longer able to speak with the tugging moon or dance with the wind. She petrified into a stone-like stiffness, hardened from dehydration. The channels that once flowed across her body now fossilized in place, except for one small sliver of the stream feeding directly into the Valencia orange, where her soul has been rumored to retreat.
The Estuary townspeople are now stranded and faced with an urgent choice: to engineer a way into finding water for themselves or to find Esther beneath the orange tree.
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DESCRIPTION
This serves as the main E-ticket attraction of Estuary, designed as a family-oriented slow moving boat dark ride throughout the whole land before passing underground.
STORY
While much of the town has pivoted focus since Esther’s disappearance toward engineering solutions to address the water and energy crisis, a select few have held out to finding and appealing to Esther for a life in harmony with her.
Faith, a young child and granddaughter of Estuary’s first permanent resident, always had quite the connection with Esther. It seemed as though the world would bend around her, and it is only more apparent now that most of the world is petrified over. Wherever Faith walks, the reeds sway again and the water re-liquifies. While much of the town believes Esther is gone, Faith knows that she is still around.
Therefore, Faith, with the help of her grandmother, has banded her family and closest friends together to form the Finders Collective. She and her team have been working hard making rafts and surveying the tree to determine where Esther may be and how to approach her; however, they need you, the new Estuary townsfolk, to pledge a covenant of gratitude rather than greed. With the guidance of Faith and the rest of the Finders Collective, you must embark on the daring journey downward, down the only remaining stream and beneath the orange tree, to find Esther and give her strength. The future of Estuary depends upon your bravery.
Post-Attraction
While walking through the exit, guests are told through voiceover to say Esther’s name throughout the land to show your appreciation and gratitude. As one encounters various show elements, if they are to say “Esther!”, guests will find that these elements come to life. For example, a reed will again begin to sway in the wind, a dried flower bed will again bud, or most dramatically, in the main plaza, a huge geyser will erupt. This element encourages interaction and gives guests a feeling of greater purpose in the area.
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DESCRIPTION
Well Drop is a high-thrill supplemental attraction, designed as a modified Intamin Sky Jump that drops deeper and deeper underground.
STORY
Since Esther’s disappearance, Estuary and its residents have lacked water resources. Thus, some have taken to digging dangerously deeper into the underground aquafer to meet water demands, but this is difficult work that requires more recruits. Drop into the well and help Estuary get its water!
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DESCRIPTION
Turbine is a Gerstlauer Sky Fly, serving as a high-thrill supplemental attraction in Estuary.
STORY
With the lack of water, overreliance on hydroelectric power has led to the need for alternative electricity sources. Percy and Pelican have recruited you to test out their experimental bird and wind-powered turbine. Percy will be on the ground to give you flying tips while Pelican will be pushing the flying arm from the other end. They need you to push the flaps back and forth to spin your vehicle, generating power. The more you flip, the more you help your community!
Progress Photos
Central weenie orange tree made in Grasshopper (~3000 leaves and 1000 oranges)
Island for queue and pre-show of Finders Collective
Well Drop loading area progress image
Themed trash can, light pole, and fence on bridge
Central weenie render
Testing island layout to uphold sightlines and compelling navigation