Niagara’s newest attraction will open its doors to visitors on August 29. Niagara Takes Flight is a flying theater experience in Ontario, featuring a 180-degree domed screen that invites guests to soar above the region’s iconic landscapes and get close to Niagara Falls. Located inside Niagara Parks’ flagship site, Table Rock Centre, at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, this immersive, sensory-rich ride uses the latest advancements in drone technology to take passengers on a 56-kilometer (34.8-mile) journey celebrating Niagara’s geography, history and people.
The completed theater will feature a 17-meter-wide (55.8-foot-wide) domed screen and gondola-style seating, which suspends riders in the air, providing a sensation that will make guests feel like they are flying through the air. Wind, mist and scent effects complement the dynamic motion of the ride to create a fully immersive experience.
Niagara’s beauty and character is constantly changing with the seasons and the epic journey offered by Niagara Takes Flight showcases it all, from the energy of a summer day in Queen Victoria Park to a winter evening, filled with colorful holiday lights. Beyond the sights they will take in, guests will leave with a deeper appreciation and understanding of Niagara’s rich history and culture through engaging pre-show areas that authentically celebrate the stories of Niagara’s formation, the region’s first Indigenous inhabitants and its role in popular culture as a global tourism icon.
About the project
In 2023, Niagara Parks completed a competitive procurement process, awarding development of the attraction to Brogent Technologies. Attraction industry veteran and former Disney lmagineer Rick Rothschild, who was a principal creator of the very first flying theater attraction, Soarin’ Over California, is serving as creative director on the project.
Conceptual design and media production planning began in January 2024, with construction starting that September. Filming for Niagara Takes Flight took place between September 2024 and January 2025, at sites across the Niagara River corridor. Drones were used to capture never-before-seen perspectives of landmarks including the Niagara Parks Power Station, Niagara Whirlpool, Landscape of Nations Memorial, Old Fort Erie and, of course, the Horseshoe Falls. Hundreds of extras participated in the production, bringing the sites to life with authenticity and spirit.
The attraction’s design and thematic elements have been supported by Canadian experiential design firm FORREC. The Toronto-based firm has worked with top theme parks and attractions around the world, including recent conceptual design work on the award-winning redevelopment of the Niagara Parks Power Station. The thematic environments designed by FORREC for the immersive pre-show areas will be produced by Great Lakes Scenic Studios, a Burlington-based design and fabrication shop with a global portfolio. Under the attraction’s general contractor, Merit Contractors Niagara, numerous Ontario-based companies and contractors have been involved with the on-site construction.
Construction and media production are in the final stages in preparation for the August 29 opening date. Additional details, including behind the scenes footage and exclusive sneak peaks, will be shared across Niagara Parks’ social media channels leading up to the opening.
