Sally Dark Rides, the creator of immersive, interactive dark rides, has announced a new addition to its lineup: the Mini™ Dark Ride for Zoos and Aquariums.
Designed for venues with compact footprints and a growing demand for weatherproof indoor attractions, the Mini™ brings the traditional dark ride to spaces as small as 2,000-3,000 square feet without sacrificing storytelling, interactivity, or excitement.
“Zoos and aquariums are looking for ways to expand guest offerings year-round,” said Rolf Paegert, CEO Sally Dark Rides. “The Mini™ provides a flexible, turnkey solution that delivers a complete dark ride experience with a smaller footprint, lower costs, and faster ROI.”
A complete ride experience in a compact package
The Mini™ incorporates all the hallmarks of a full-scale Sally dark ride: immersive theming, engaging characters, interactive gaming, and cinematic media – optimized for limited spaces and efficient operation.
Featuring rotating stages, wrap-around projection screens, invisible blacklight paint, and dynamic projection mapping, this patented system delivers multiple ride scenes in one continuous experience. Each installation includes:
- Story Development & Ride Design
- Trackless Ride System (5-6 passengers per vehicle)
- High-Resolution Interactive Media (3D optional)
- Animatronics & Animated Props
- Themed Scenery with 4D Special Effects (wind, scent, lighting)
- Onboard Audio, Show Control, and Optional Photo Scoreboards
With two trackless ride vehicles and dual turntables, the Mini™ achieves throughputs of up to 200 people per hour.
Depending on capacity needs, the Mini™ ranges from $4-5 million. The compact footprint reduces infrastructure requirements and enables installation in existing buildings or underutilized spaces.
Endless storytelling possibilities
Each Mini™ ride can be customized through interchangeable media and scenic environments. Guests might:
- Embark on close-up animal encounters
- Soar through treasured national parks
- Glide from sea to sea helping clean the oceans
With easily swapped media packages, operators can keep the experience fresh and re-market the attraction seasonally or annually.