The
end of May is still our goal," General Manager Sande Weiss said. "We've
got crews working day and night, trying to get it
up-and-running." The former Music Mansion
on the Parkway is undergoing a complete transformation. When completed,
the building will sport an upside-down facade that looks like an
82-foot-tall laboratory building crashed on the site. WonderWorks is
planned to be an interactive entertainment center featuring a variety
of educational hands-on activities.
The
interior of the attraction also is nearing completion. Walls now divide
the once cavernous interior into several themed zones. Many of the
exhibits are being installed as well. Walking through the building on a
short tour, Weiss pointed to a large ride that appeared to consist of
two crescent-shaped vehicles attached to pendulums. "We're
calling it the 'Extreme 360,'" she said. The ride is
human-powered. Two people sit in each car and begin pedaling.
"Before you know it, mechanics take over and you do a complete 360,"
Weiss said.
Passing through the entrance of the museum into the
"Destruction Zone," guests will be greeted with a smashed ceiling with
exposed steel beams. Nearby is a dimly lighted, enclosed exhibit.
"This is the 'Hurricane Hall,'" Weiss said. "This is where they are
going to experience what it feels like to really be in a hurricane."
Weiss
pauses to pull a tarp from the entrance to yet another exhibit. Inside,
it appears to be a small cafe. "This is called the 'Quake Cafe,'"
she said. "The earthquake just oscillates you all over the place."
In
another section, Weiss points out an exhibit called "Swimming with
Sharks." "It actually transforms you into the game," she said.
"You'll actually see yourself in the game."
These are just a few
of the exhibits planned for the attraction. The Pigeon Forge
WonderWorks will be approximately 55,000 square feet larger than the
attraction's flagship Orlando
location. The local version will also feature a 300-seat dinner
theater. The attraction will also feature an optical illusion art
gallery and a variety of other themed zones.
Owner Robin Turner purchased the former Music Mansion
building for $7.25 million. Bullock Smith & Partners is the
architect on the project. Denark Construction is the contractor.
The attraction is expected to hire 90 to 100 full- and part-time
employees.