The Bermuda Triangle was a themed indoor
flume ride
Log flumes (colloquially known as log rides) are amusement rides consisting of a water flume and (artificial) hollow logs or boats. Passengers sit in the logs, which are propelled along the flume by the flow of water.
The ride usually culminat ...
at the
Sea World theme park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...
on the
Gold Coast
Gold Coast may refer to:
Places Africa
* Gold Coast (region), in West Africa, which was made up of the following colonies, before being established as the independent nation of Ghana:
** Portuguese Gold Coast (Portuguese, 1482–1642)
** Dutch G ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
In 2013, the ride was replaced by
Storm Coaster
''Storm Coaster'' is a Water Coaster located at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. The ride is designed by Mack Rides of Germany and combines the flume and splashdown elements of a log flume, with the chain lift hill and ...
, a
Mack Rides water coaster.
The Sea World ride has a replica (named Bermuda Triangle: Alien Encounter) that still operates in
Movie Park Germany
Movie Park Germany is a theme park in Bottrop-Kirchhellen in western Germany, north of Düsseldorf, with an area of . It consists of 7 areas based on movies and TV series. Nearby the park are several film studios.
History
The park originally ...
to this day, though it was given an
Area 51
Area 51 is the common name of a highly classified United States Air Force (USAF) facility within the Nevada Test and Training Range. A remote detachment administered by Edwards Air Force Base, the facility is officially called Homey Airport ...
retheme in 2019 titled Area 51 - Top Secret.
History
![Bermuda Triangle volcano erupting (Sea World)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Bermuda_Triangle_volcano_erupting_%28Sea_World%29.jpg)
In 1980, Sea World opened a set of
bumper boats
Bumper boats are an amusement park ride that uses inner tube shaped watercraft that can be steered by the rider. Some are driven by electric motors, some by gasoline engines, and some require the rider to propel the craft by pedaling. Most are ...
located in a small
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
in the centre of the ''
Viking's Revenge Flume Ride''. In 1987, these bumper boats were removed to aid in the construction of ''Lassiter's Lost Mine''.
''Lassiter's Lost Mine'' was an indoor flume ride where guests would experience the flooding of a
mine
Mine, mines, miners or mining may refer to:
Extraction or digging
* Miner, a person engaged in mining or digging
*Mining, extraction of mineral resources from the ground through a mine
Grammar
*Mine, a first-person English possessive pronoun
...
. The ride was built for only
A$3 million - compared to a
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was originally founded on October ...
estimate of
A$20 million. Sea World's parent company,
Village Roadshow Theme Parks
Village Roadshow Theme Parks is a division of Village Roadshow Limited which operates theme parks and attractions in Australia and the United States of America. The Sydney Attractions Group Pty Ltd was formerly part of Village Roadshow Theme Pa ...
, opened ''
Looney Tunes Studio Tour'' at
Warner Bros. Movie World on 3 June 1991, which utilised the same in-house ride system used on ''Lassiter's Lost Mine''. In April 1993, ''Lassiter's Lost Mine'' closed.
Less than one year later on 31 March 1994, the ''Bermuda Triangle'' opened and was sponsored by
Pauls (31 March 1994-????) and
Norco Co-operative
Norco Co-operative Limited is an agricultural supply and marketing co-operative based in northern New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoo ...
(31 March 1994 – 18 October 2010).
Alan Griffith Architect formed a strong working relationship with Warner Bros. International Recreation Enterprises on the ride.
The ride utilised the same ride system as the original ''Lassiter's Lost Mine'' ride.
The ride system was controlled by ASI systems from Anitech Systems Inc.
The ride had easily spotted sensors that would trigger the animatronics' movements and voices in the ride when a boat passed them from below.
The ride's theming, special effects, props and audio-animatronics were designed, supplied and installed by Alder Constructions, Sanderson Group and Sally Corporation.
After opening, the ''Bermuda Triangle'' is cited as a major contributor to an increase in attendance.
On 30 June 1996, ''The Bermuda Triangle'' opened with Warner Bros. Movie World Germany. The ride was identical to the version that opened in Australia two years prior. Zeitgeist Design and Production's Ryan Harmon served as the Director of Show Development for Warner Bros. International Recreation Enterprises, where he conceived, wrote, and managed the design team for Warner Bros. Movie World Germany's worth of rides, shows and attractions, including ''Das Bermuda Dreieck''. Alan Griffith Architect, Alder Constructions and Sanderson Group were also involved in the ride's development.
Like ''Bermuda Triangle'', ''Das Bermuda Dreieck'' had easily spotted sensors that would trigger the animatronics' movements and voices in the ride when a boat passed them from below.
The ride was manufactured by
Intamin
Intamin Amusement Rides is a design and manufacturing company in Schaan, Liechtenstein. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide. The Intamin brand name is a syllabic abbreviation for "international amusement ins ...
, and its theming was designed by Warner Bros. Movie World Germany.
The audio-animatronics featured in the ride were designed by
Garner Holt Productions.
The sound, light and movements are controlled by an ASI system from Anitech Systems Inc.
The ride operated during the
Halloween Horror Fest as ''Knott's haunted Mountain''. On 3 April 2004, Warner Bros. Movie World Germany was acquired by StarParks.
On 19 March 2005,
Movie Park Germany
Movie Park Germany is a theme park in Bottrop-Kirchhellen in western Germany, north of Düsseldorf, with an area of . It consists of 7 areas based on movies and TV series. Nearby the park are several film studios.
History
The park originally ...
opened with ''Das Bermuda Dreieck''s name being changed to ''Bermuda Triangle: Alien Encounter'', as a result of this acquisition. The ride's special effects weren't sufficiently tested and therefore didn't operate until
Parques Reunidos
Parques Reunidos (meaning "Reunited Parks") is an international entertainment operator based in Madrid, Spain. The group operates over 60 parks in about dozen countries. Parques Reunidos operates theme and amusement parks, zoos, water parks, fami ...
' acquisition of Movie Park Germany on 17 May 2010. In 2006, the red-brown
volcano
A volcano is a rupture in the crust of a planetary-mass object, such as Earth, that allows hot lava, volcanic ash, and gases to escape from a magma chamber below the surface.
On Earth, volcanoes are most often found where tectonic plates are ...
es were renovated. Their colors were changed to grey, and orange flowing lava was added.
Since the ride's opening in 1994, ''Bermuda Triangle'' had several features removed. ''Bermuda Triangle'' originally featured a revolving load and unload platform which increased the ride's capacity. This was decommissioned in 2005 due to safety concerns. In 2008, during the construction of
Jet Rescue
Jet Rescue is a steel launched jet ski roller coaster made by Intamin that opened on 26 December 2008 at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Australia. The ride has a very twisted and banked layout with several fast directional changes. Unlike other ...
, the
gas pipeline
Pipeline transport is the long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas through a system of pipes—a pipeline—typically to a market area for consumption. The latest data from 2014 gives a total of slightly less than of pipeline in 120 countr ...
that spits fire from the volcano's top was damaged and never repaired, thus rendering the volcano dormant.
Later, the pre-show was decommissioned and
special effects
Special effects (often abbreviated as SFX, F/X or simply FX) are illusions or visual tricks used in the theatre, film, television, video game, amusement park and simulator industries to simulate the imagined events in a story or virtual wor ...
were broken and never fixed.
For example, some of the
NTSC
The first American standard for analog television broadcast was developed by National Television System Committee (NTSC)National Television System Committee (1951–1953), Report and Reports of Panel No. 11, 11-A, 12–19, with Some supplement ...
CRT video projection screens in the ride clearly displayed "No Signal" or "Replace Lamp" messages.
![Bermuda Triangle closed - Entrance to the Unknown](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c9/Bermuda_Triangle_closed_-_Entrance_to_the_Unknown.jpg)
On 18 October 2010, the ''Bermuda Triangle'' closed for routine maintenance until 30 November 2010.
In late November, Sea World dropped the reopening date and has instead stated, "Bermuda Triangle is presently closed while we continue to develop new and exciting attractions at Sea World." In early December 2010, the maintenance page was changed for a third time to read, "Bermuda Triangle is temporarily closed." A few days later, Sea World stated on their Facebook page that the ''Bermuda Triangle'' had been permanently closed to make way an exciting new future attraction. After sitting dormant for close to one and a half years, Sea World applied for a permit to demolish the ride and the interior of the
show building
Show building is the name often given to various enclosed structures at theme parks that contain attractions such as rides and entertainment shows. The exteriors of such buildings may be themed on some or all sides, but their hidden "backstage" a ...
.
Once the permit was granted, demolition began in August 2012.
On 10 December 2012, the boats used in the ''Bermuda Triangle'' were put up for auction at
Village Roadshow Studios
Village Roadshow Studios are a set of film studios located in Oxenford, Queensland, Oxenford, Gold Coast, Queensland, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The studios are owned by Village Roadshow and consist of nine sound stages as well as a rang ...
.
On 2 December 2013, the ride was replaced by ''
Storm Coaster
''Storm Coaster'' is a Water Coaster located at the Sea World theme park on the Gold Coast, Australia. The ride is designed by Mack Rides of Germany and combines the flume and splashdown elements of a log flume, with the chain lift hill and ...
''.
In 2015, one of the volcanoes for ''Bermuda Triangle: Alien Encounter'' (which was merely a decoration) and the bamboo on the queue area were demolished and removed to make room for ''
Star Trek: Operation Enterprise''. After the closure of another Movie Park Germany attraction, ''
Ice Age Adventure'', on 1 November 2016, the boats used in that ride were moved to ''Bermuda Triangle: Alien Encounter'', and are used as additional boats for that ride.
Ride
Queue and Pre-show
Riders joined an undercover queue which was located between the final splashdown and
Jet Rescue
Jet Rescue is a steel launched jet ski roller coaster made by Intamin that opened on 26 December 2008 at Sea World on the Gold Coast, Australia. The ride has a very twisted and banked layout with several fast directional changes. Unlike other ...
. A staff member in a Coast Guard uniform appeared at the front of the queue and ushered the group of riders up a set of stairs into the pre-show room. This same staff member then gave guests a briefing about the upcoming ride. This was followed by a second story briefing on a television monitor from three navy officials (played by actors). The riders were to assume the role of researchers being sent out to investigate several mysterious volcanoes that have emerged from the sea within the Bermuda Triangle. At the end of the pre-show guests were ushered out another door and back down stairs towards the ride's station in the centre of the outdoor portion of the ride.
Ride
Up to 16 guests would board a ''Research Probe'' vessel which would begin a slow journey towards the smaller of the two volcanoes. Throughout the ride, pre-recorded audio of the navy officials was played through the boat's speakers chronicling its findings. At the entry riders would go up a small
conveyor belt
A conveyor belt is the carrying medium of a belt conveyor system (often shortened to belt conveyor). A belt conveyor system is one of many types of conveyor systems. A belt conveyor system consists of two or more pulleys (sometimes referred to ...
hill into the volcano. The boat would then rapidly descend the hill and splashdown in the main
show building
Show building is the name often given to various enclosed structures at theme parks that contain attractions such as rides and entertainment shows. The exteriors of such buildings may be themed on some or all sides, but their hidden "backstage" a ...
. The boat would follow a long corridor, and while the pre-show coast guards discuss getting the boat riders out of the volcano, cracks would appear to form in the mechanical ceiling descending from above, giving the illusion the crew are now trapped inside.
The ride continued with the boat flowing slowly around several show scenes and animatronics. The riders would pass a display of 1940s fighter planes being dismantled by a group of aliens, as well as a set of force fields with abducted civilians from various periods of history trapped inside. The audio commentary from the boat speakers would reveal that one of the coast guards, Clark is affiliated with the aliens and subsequently disappears to join with them. Clark's face is shown on a large television display warning the aliens that the volcano is about to erupt. As the ride progresses, the boat passes more animatronic alien displays, and the illusion of an alien
spaceship disappearing using the visual effect of
Pepper's Ghost
Pepper's ghost is an illusion technique used in the theatre, cinema, amusement parks, museums, television, and concerts.
It is named after the English scientist John Henry Pepper (1821–1900) who began popularising the effect with a theatre ...
.
The boat would come to a halt at what seems like a dead end in front of a large "window" of one of the volcanoes erupting (actually a video screen of an animated volcano). As it erupts, a falling stone cracks the screen and water begins to "flood" into the room. Through the use of a turntable, the boat is turned away from the screen as a set of doors open behind the boat before it begins to travel backwards into another room. Here, several special effects were used to simulate the flooding of the volcano's interior. Audio from Clark within the volcano warns the riders of the aliens' return while the boat is then turned towards the main conveyor lift hill. It would rise towards to the top of the volcano where fireballs would rise. The boat would then descend the final drop and exit via the second, larger volcano.
Post-ride
After the ride, guests would disembark their boats onto the unload station before going up and over a bridge to get off the island station. Once back at ground level, guests were able to purchase
on-ride photo
An on-ride camera is a camera mounted alongside the track of a roller coaster, log flume or other thrill ride that automatically photographs all of the riders on each passing vehicle. They are often mounted at the most intense or fastest part of t ...
s taken during the final drop of the ride.
Gallery
File:Bermuda Triangle with Corkscrew in the background.jpg, Overview of Bermuda Triangle's station and final drop with the Corkscrew roller coaster in the background.
File:Inside Bermuda Triangle (Sea World) 1.jpg, Some ''lost'' planes inside the Bermuda Triangle ride. The upper plane is attached to a framework which allows the plane to seemingly fly over the riders.
File:Inside Bermuda Triangle (Sea World) 3.jpg, An alien inside the Bermuda Triangle ride.
File:Bermuda Triangle UFO - Sea World.jpg, A UFO disappearing through the use of the Pepper's Ghost
Pepper's ghost is an illusion technique used in the theatre, cinema, amusement parks, museums, television, and concerts.
It is named after the English scientist John Henry Pepper (1821–1900) who began popularising the effect with a theatre ...
illusion.
File:Bermuda Triangle final drop 2.jpg, A boat descends the final drop
See also
*
Looney Tunes River Ride
Looney Tunes River Ride (formerly known as the Looney Tunes Studio Tour) was a dark boat ride at the amusement park Warner Bros. Movie World at Gold Coast, Australia. The ride was unveiled on 3 June 1991, the same time as the park, and was ...
, a defunct ride which utilised the same ride system
*
Movie Park Germany
Movie Park Germany is a theme park in Bottrop-Kirchhellen in western Germany, north of Düsseldorf, with an area of . It consists of 7 areas based on movies and TV series. Nearby the park are several film studios.
History
The park originally ...
, where a version of the same ride still operates to this day.
References
External links
{{Sea World
Animatronic attractions
Dark rides