Glacier Gorge
Theme Park Land Design
Overview
Glacier Gorge is a proposal for a themed land in the fictional theme park “Universe of Fantasy.” This project placed 1st place overall out of 65 teams in the 2019 Cornell Theme Park Design Competition. It was conceived, developed and pitched over the course of six weeks. My team of four students consisted of Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Cognitive Science majors. Our submissions for this project also placed 1st in the JRA Concept Design, WhiteWater West Development, Zamperla Technical Analysis, and FORREC Master Planning subchallenges.
Role
Land Designer
Writer
Product Designer
Tools & Skills
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe inDesign
- Adobe Premiere
Duration
6 weeks
April – May 2019
Team Members
Nicklas Lee
Aaron Nhan
Matias Lee Choi
Concept Design
Eighteen thousand years ago, near the end of the Ice Age, the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays were unveiled as the last of the snow receded. Millions of years of glacial movement formed vast valleys and shaped the coastlines that exist today. Wild plants and fierce animals once inhabited these lands, alongside our ancient ancestors.
Glacier Gorge brings Delaware’s rich history to Universe of Fantasy to explore the roots of its past. The land combines thrilling attractions, creative technology, and educational opportunities into magical adventures for an unforgettable family experience.
Master Planning
Guests enter Glacier Gorge through either of two entry experiences. The first pathway guides guests through a scenic alpine forest with era-appropriate plants and views of Sabertooth Peak coaster trains diving underground. The second pathway leads guests under the coaster, over the lagoon, and into the land below D-ticket ride Flight of the Condor.
Both pathways lead to a mother & baby mammoth animatronic pair standing with each other in front of a glacial valley — a perfect photo opportunity. The pathway forks into a wide, easy-to-navigate loop with intertwining paths leading to major attractions.
Technical Analysis
“Sabertooth Peak” is a massive family roller coaster that mixes fact and fiction to tell the story of a young boy on a quest to explore the lands beyond his village.
Sabertooth Peak circumnavigates the park and returns to the enclosed ride building within the glacial facade, where the guests experience a novel roller coaster element during a “rockslide” scene. Here, the train transfers to a special platform – attached to a separate chassis – and rotates the entire train while descending on its own track.