Zombie Evilution was a seasonal multi-use attraction at Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The attraction was originally introduced as a scare maze before being converted to a laser skirmish attraction. It opened on Friday the 13th of September 2013, replacing AVPX. From 2016, the attraction was used as a scare maze for Park After Dark events. The attraction closed in March 2018.
| Zombie Evilution | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dreamworld | |
| Area | Ocean Parade |
| Coordinates | 27°51′54″S 153°19′0.43″E / 27.86500°S 153.3167861°E |
| Status | Closed |
| Soft opening date | September 2013 |
| Opening date | 13 September 2013 |
| Closing date | March 2018 |
| Replaced | AVPX |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Walkthrough Scare Attraction |
| Manufacturer | Sudden Impact Entertainment |
| Designer | Lynton V. Harris |
| Site area | 650 m2 (7,000 sq ft) |
| Capacity | 160 riders per hour |
| Participants per group | 8 every 3 minutes |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
History
editIn 2009, Dreamworld launched AVPX, a laser skirmish attraction by Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company. The attraction was originally licensed for a two-year contract, which was later extended for a further two years. In late 2012, Dreamworld contracted Lynton V. Harris of Sudden Impact to work on creating a replacement.[1] Using the town name of "Kevil Hill", originally developed for an attraction at Taman Safari in Indonesia,[2] Harris developed the Zombie Evilution attraction concept.[1]
On 6 March 2013, Dreamworld officially announced that AVPX would be closing at the end of the month, stating "a new enemy will arise in 2013".[3][4] On 31 March 2013, AVPX operated for the final time with Dreamworld stating it would be replaced by a new attraction which is "to die for".[5] The new attraction was later announced to be named Zombie Evilution.[6][7]
Zombie Evilution officially opened to the public on Friday the 13th of September 2013 as a scare maze.[8] The maze featured live actors, with guests being admitted in small groups. On 14 October 2013, the scare maze was closed, pending conversion into a laser skirmish attraction.[9][10] On 18 October 2013, the attraction reopened to the public.[9][11]
In 2015, the attraction was relegated to a Seasonal position, it no longer operated during the School periods (including weekends), only on School Holiday Periods and during the night-time Screamworld events (As a scare-maze).
On 27 January 2016, the attraction closed for the off-peak season, it was later revealed that the attraction will no longer operate as laser tag, however, the park claimed that the attraction would still be in use as a scare-maze for their night-time, and other special, events. The exit room were later used as a merchandise store for the Tiger Cub Kindy area, which occupied the area in front of the attraction in February 2016. The attraction reopened late 2016 as a walk through scare attraction and currently operates weekends from 10:30am - 5pm
The area is set to be used for Count Kenny's Mystery Mansion, a family friendly walk-through attraction, for the 2021 Happy Halloween event.[12]
Laser Skirmish
editGuests admitted in groups of 30 into one of three briefing rooms. The guests were asked to stand by a weapon which determines their teams. Half of the group were infected humans, with the other half being normal, uninfected humans. A short preshow details the backstory for the attraction. The attraction was set in a small town named Kevil Hill (a play on the evil & live palindrome), a zombie utopia created by billionaire James Buchanan (J.B.) Kevil (portrayed by Tony Bonner).[1] Professor Jacques Madigan manages the town's cryonics chamber, where the dead are preserved for a future re-awakening.[13][14]
Guests were told the rules and how to use their weapons, before being moved from the briefing room, down a tunnel to a final room before the main arena. The main arena is 650 square metres (7,000 sq ft) and featured multiple buildings.[1][15] To earn points players shoot those from the opposite team.
See also
edit- 2013 in amusement parks
- 2016 in amusement parks
- 2018 in amusement parks
- Terminator X: A Laser Battle for Salvation, another Sudden Impact Entertainment laser skirmish attraction
References
edit- ^ a b c d Harris, Lynton (11 October 2013). "Zombie Evilution – Lynton V. Harris Interview". GC Parks (Interview). Interviewed by Jordan Messenger. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Coming soon". Taman Safari Indonesia. 8 June 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Timeline Photos". Facebook. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "The War Ends 1 April, 2013". Dreamworld. 6 March 2013. Archived from the original on 8 March 2013. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- ^ "Timeline Photos". Facebook. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
- ^ Dreamworld (14 August 2013). "Cover photos". Facebook. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ "Join The Evilution". Dreamworld. 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- ^ "Zombie Evilution (Dreamworld)". Parkz. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ a b "Zombie Evilution". Dreamworld. October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ Dreamworld (10 October 2013). "Timeline photos". Facebook. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Cover Photos". Facebook. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Happy Halloween". Dreamworld. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ Elder, Jessica; Westthorp, Tanya (28 August 2013). "Theme park rivals clash for holidays". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ "Storyline". Dreamworld. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
- ^ Anker, Kerryn (9 April 2009). "Aliens arrive at Dreamworld + video". Gold Coast Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 29 October 2011.