Paramount's Kings Dominion announces Tomb Raider: The Ride

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

[Ed. note: Press release follows.]

DOSWELL, Va.-Another Hollywood big-screen spectacular comes to life at Paramount's Kings Dominion with the addition of TOMB RAIDER: The Ride, a new multi-sensory adventure attraction for 2005. Inspired by the popular Eidos Interactive, Inc. action games and Paramount Pictures' blockbuster films Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life starring Academy Award® winner Angelina Jolie, the park's newest thrill attraction will launch adventurers on the ride of their lives.

TOMB RAIDER: The Ride begins with a journey deep into the jungle, past mysterious ruins and the debris of failed expeditions. As a sense of impending doom grows, budding adventurers discover an ancient mechanical artifact. To prove their true bravery, the courageous explorers are strapped aboard the massive stone and steel altar. Within seconds, the machine tosses the explorers 60 feet in the air and flips them-head over heels-in a series of high-speed acrobatic maneuvers. Around the sacred site, geothermal vents erupt in volley after volley of steam, fire and water-surrounding brave riders with the elemental forces of the gods and a thundering tribal soundtrack. Combining high thrills with a unique environmental theme and special effects, TOMB RAIDER: The Ride is an adventure worthy of Lady Croft herself!

"Surprises around every corner, including authentic props used in the filming of the motion picture, will make guests feel like adventurous tomb raiders from the moment they approach the attraction," said Richard Zimmerman, Paramount's Kings Dominion's executive vice president and general manager. "With action straight out of Hollywood, TOMB RAIDER: The Ride will deliver the unique thrill experience our guests have come to expect for the past 30 years at Paramount's Kings Dominion."

TOMB RAIDER: The Ride will be located in the Congo section of the park, near Volcano, The Blast Coaster(tm). Construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2004, and the park is expected to unveil the new attraction Spring 2005.

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Kings Dominion

Sounds like it may be a regular or inverted top spin rather than a Giant Top Spin.

Right again! Okay, so maybe I said they'd probably get a Boomerang Bay next year and a TR:TR in 06, that still dosen't make me wrong;).

It seems as if this is the ride concept from the survey and not a generic version of the PKI TR:TR. I just have to questions, if its gonna be enclosed in a building and given the height im wondering if this is going to be a suspended topspin vs. the traditional top spin.

For some reason, it doesn't sound like it will be indoors...

It says it will be located in the congo section.

The only place I could think of is between advalanch and scooby doo.

At least it is going in a themed area that matches the ride......

Sounds like a Top Spin in a box....

Well I for one would prefer it if the ride were outdoors,guests would be able to see it from the midways much better that way.

Now the idea of placing it indoors however would offer a sense of mystery to the ride experience thus enticing guests even further to find out just what lies in wait for them once inside,but by doing so would probably result in a much shorter cycle than if it were outdoors.

Either way I'll be sure to give this ride a "spin" just for the experience alone & to answer Crazy horse's question of where it will go....it's going to be located on the diamond falls site & if it is then I have a feeling it may be indoors due in part to the rather large area they've got to work with for construction.

No matter what this is gonna be one sweet ride & a fine addition to PKD's lineup of attractions,now if we could just find out...for sure what SFA has in store for 05.

they could put it on the site of the old diamond falls.

No, sounds like a Top Spin without a box.

I'll be totally surprised if they enclose it. And quite honestly, if they were going to do so, they would have likely started by now. PKI started ground work/early construction of TR:TR at the start of the season prior to it's debut.

My prediction.... a giant sized top spin outdoors, with elaborate themeing, complete with the water (lava) pit underneath located in the former Diamond Falls area.

The basis for my prediction? The media release quotes it as tossing riders 60 feet in the air... PKI's is a giant and from floor to top of counterweights, it's about 68 feet tall. Outdoors because... part of the problem that lies with PKI's version is the moisture that collects in the building hindering the ride's operation and effects from time to time. Diamond Falls area because.... well it seems the obvious place...close to a water source and water pumps that may be re-used still exist.

Shaggy

*** This post was edited by Shaggy 9/14/2004 11:52:41 AM ***

Good...I don't like boxes ;)

Are you saying your not a boxes guy? Guess you like things hanging out in the open.

I know, I know... bad shaggy, bad!

Shaggs

The inside of the building at KI has a nice cave-like feel to it, however the outside of the building looks like a tall warehouse and takes away from the overall appearance of the park.

So both have their advantages, but since Paramount does not hide their buildings like Disney, no building will keep a nicer feeling in the park. Although not being enclosed doesn't really go with the Tomb Raider theme...........

I *love* boxes....but the problems caused by enclosing the original TR:TR are probably not worth repeating....and it keeps each of the attractions *more unique*.....uniquer? ;)

My prediction for the ride location is behind Anaconda before you get to Flight of Fear. There's lots of empty room for the queue and props.

Yeah, but they remove both a slide and Diamond Falls just for no reason? It's going there.

Also, there's nothing about this on the main site.

Someone over at thrillnetwork said that while it is confirmed to go in the congo area that it won't be located in the spot where everyone thinks(the DF site) but I think that is just a bunch of BS.

Where else are they gonna put it? the press release states that TR:TR will be located just in front of V:TBC....the FOF midway is more to the side & back than in the front although the park could really use something over there.

Construction has begun in the Volcano Grill area between Bubba Gumps / Scoobys Mansion and Volcano they could use the side of the old Livingstons to paint a big jungle backdrop for the ride. Keep in mind this will be the 30th anniversary for PKD, we may see more things that won't be announced. I'd like to see them retrack RY to make it the ride it once was....Glass Smooth. And some work on other rides would be nice, bringing Hypersonic up to full capacity, and things like that.

As for the survey, did anyone else see the possibility of Flight of Fear being re worked as MTV SoundWave? The description was quite interesting, as what they described would be simply another theme for the same ride...

could be cool

I'd personally like to see more shows. It seems that entertainment has been cut quite a bit this year (congo theatre boarded up)

I remember the show RetroActive I still hold this as one of the greatest amusement park shows i've ever seen.

I say leave FOF's theme the way it is,sure some of the theming isn't exactly what it used to be but an MTV theme?I'll take the sci-fi theme(or what's left of it) any day.

As for TR:TR it looks to definitely be an outdoor model & from what I read this morning it appears that it will be one of the new floorless models similar to Riptide @ KBF & soon to be @ Valleyfair in 05.

Capacity is said to be 38 passengers per cycle(kinda on the low side)which would seem to confirm the floorless design as the regular/giant topspins usually seat guests in two or three rows similar to the roto-shake,the roto-shake of course has a capacity of 42 passengers per cycle.

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