BREAKING NEWS FROM THE IAAPA EXPO 2023 SHOW FLOOR: At a press conference, Sally Dark Rides showcased a new attraction from the world of SpongeBob SquarePants. Together with Paramount, Global Nickelodeon, and Circus Circus Las Vegas, Sally proudly revealed new details about the first-ever “SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride” family dark ride.
As first announced in August, Sally has partnered with the resort to bring Paramount’s beloved SpongeBob SquarePants series to life in an all-new, first-of-its-kind, family dark ride experience. The pinnacle of the announcement was the unveiling of one the ride’s star animatronics, Mr. Krabs.
Excited by the challenge and prospect of bringing the world of SpongeBob SquarePants to life in the form of an interactive family dark ride, the team at Sally has been developing and installing original vibrant sets, special effects, six incredible animatronics, and vivid multimedia projections. Together these elements will ensure guests are fully submersed in the nautical nonsense of SpongeBob and his Bikini Bottom friends.
Sally’s creative team, led by Chief Creative Officer Rich Hill, developed an exclusive storyline for the all new immersive ride. SpongeBob’s greedy boss, Mr. Krabs, launches the ride by inviting guests to play his new zany collection of ride-through-style midway games. As he welcomes everyone to his new carnival in Bikini Bottom, SpongeBob and Patrick assist by delivering boxes of supplies to each game. When they accidentally grab a box of Krabby Patty ingredients, the hysterical best friend duo try to hide their mistake by loading the games with buns, patties, sea tomatoes and other food. Unfortunately, their error inspires Mr. Krabs’ arch-rival Plankton to hatch an evil plan to finally successfully steal the famous ‘Krabby Patty’ secret formula. The result is mad-cap mayhem for everyone.
“For more than 55 years, Circus Circus has been the favorite family resort in Las Vegas,” shared Shana Gerety, General Manager, Circus Circus. “Now as part of our incredible resort-wide revitalization, we are thrilled that Paramount, Nickelodeon and Sally Dark Rides have come together to create this new ride experience for us. The high energy attraction will bring a new level of family-friendly competitive gameplay and theme park ride experiences to all our guests!”
Gerety continued, “We have been revitalizing Circus Circus from the outside in. We found an old restaurant space that was no longer being used, and knew that we wanted to add an attraction that appealed to many people. We found a great partner in Sally Dark Rides and are amazed at the talent on their team.”
ADDITIONAL SALLY DARK RIDES NEWS FROM IAAPA EXPO 2023: Sally Dark Rides extends SpongeBob SquarePants dark ride to international markets with installation at Land of Legends, Turkey
‘SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride’ will feature 15 unique scenes, each with multiple interactive targets for guests to engage with, including animated scenic elements, digital and multimedia screens and even hidden bonus special targets created to further the story and encourage rider repeatability.
This $6 million investment marks the first dark ride iteration for SpongeBob SquarePants, an animated cartoon series and movie franchise with global viewership in the hundreds of millions.
“For nearly 25 years, SpongeBob SquarePants has brought an incessant optimism to kids and families all over the world – in more than 170 countries and over 30 languages,” said Marie Marks, senior vice president, Themed Entertainment, Paramount Global. “It’s a pleasure to work with Sally Dark Rides and Circus Circus Las Vegas to bring this ride to SpongeBob’s fans. And as you can see by the Mr. Krabs animatronic, this is truly a larger-than-life experience.”
“For more than 45 years, Sally Dark Rides has been synonymous with developing and installing one-of-a-kind dark ride experiences for the entire family,” finished John Wood, president and chairman, Sally Dark Rides. “We are thrilled to be entrusted to bring the world of SpongeBob SquarePants to life for Circus Circus and its millions of guests. We understand the importance of meeting every detail and getting everything just right for this special brand. Our team has been fully submerged learning each character’s personality and individual traits so that everyone who experiences ‘SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride’ will feel like they, too, live in a pineapple under the sea.”
Sally wrapped the live press event by sharing ‘SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride’ will open early Q1 2024, and is anticipated to be ready in time for the Super Bowl, being hosted in 2024 in Las Vegas.
Visit Sally Dark Rides during IAAPA Expo 2023 at booth #2267 and read about another Sally Dark Rides Project, Treasure Hunt: The Ride from InPark Magazine issue 99, November 2023:
