Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol is a 4D interactive dark ride located at Lost Island Theme Park theme park in Waterloo, Iowa. Designed by Sally Corporation, the ride opened to the public on June 18, 2022.[1]
| Volkanu: Quest for the Golden Idol | |
|---|---|
| Lost Island Theme Park | |
| Area | Mura Fire Realm |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | June 18, 2022 |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Interactive dark ride |
| Manufacturer | Sally Corporation |
| Designer | Sally Corporation |
| Site area | 9,750 sq ft (906 m2) |
| Capacity | 327 riders per hour |
| Vehicle type | Car |
| Vehicles | 4 |
| Riders per vehicle | 6 |
| Rows | 2 |
| Riders per row | 3 |
| Duration | 5 minutes, 11 seconds |
| Website | Official website |
Ride and theme
editThe ride is located in the park's volcano, which is in the Mura (fire theme) section of the park.[2] Several immersive themed environments during more than five minutes of the duration of the ride. The 4D attraction integrates a custom storyline based around an ancient fire demon, trackless vehicles and interactive gaming elements with immersive scenery and animatronics.[2][3][4] Within the park's overall storyline, the attraction is positioned as the grand climax to a guest's adventure of saving the island of Auk Modu from peril.
As told within the attraction's queue, pre-show and various other platforms for the park's story, Volkanu was once known as Kanu, a rogue member of the island's Tamariki guardian spirits. Seeking to hoard power for himself at a time when the island faced a great imbalance of elemental power, with the Mura having begun using their strength against their neighbors, Kanu transformed into a living embodiment of volcanic fury and destroyed much of the island in an eruption. Now faced with a common enemy, the peoples of Auk Modu united their powers and performed a ritual to trap Volkanu in the Temple of Fire under the island's volcano, with a magical idol known as the Ora Tika being forged to serve as an enchanted lock. Repenting for their actions, the Mura swore to keep the peace and guard the Ora Tika and the other realms worked together to rebuild. However, a mysterious band of thieves would steal the idol, allowing Volkanu to escape and threaten the island again, with the group being turned into a group of tiki sentinels guarding the lost idol.
Guided by the Tamariki Hulaka and the Mura shaman Tago Nui, guests board an Inferno Transport vehicle armed with Thermal Equalizers developed by the five realms to recover the Idol and battle Volkanu's lava minions.
Reception
editThe dark ride won the 2022 Golden Ticket Award for Best New Family Attraction.[3][5] The award stunned the industry as the ride beat Remy's Ratatouille Adventure at Epcot, breaking the streak of Disney attractions since the award's inception in 2019.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ Whittaker, Adam (June 28, 2022). "Sally Dark Rides opens VOLKANU: Quest for the Golden Idol". Blooloop. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Veness, Susan; Veness, Simon (June 22, 2022). "Volkanu – Quest for the Golden Idol has opened at Lost Island theme park". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ a b Whittaker, Adam (June 21, 2022). "Sally Dark Rides wins gold for Volkanu dark ride". Blooloop. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Everything you need to know and more about VOLKANU-- Quest for the Golden Idol". Sally Corporation. April 18, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ a b James, Bob (September 13, 2022). "Iowa Theme Park Beats Disney's EPCOT in Winning International Award". KHAK. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
- ^ "Cosmic Rewind & Rise of the Resistance Receive Golden Ticket Industry Awards". BlogMickey.com. September 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2024.