ROCKARTuk has completed a “grass roots up” master plan for Port Harcourt’s first family entertainment centre.
Related: ROCKARTuk Company Profile / ROCKARTuk brings Children’s Planet to life at Flamingo Land, UK / ROCKARTuk installs theming to Sidcup Mini Golf Centre
Nigerian businessman, John Ezugo, called in the UK based theming specialists to develop
a concept for the park. ROCKARTuk’s MD Tony Galer says, “There is tremendous untapped potential here. Currently there are no other FECs in the city, just a couple of extremely popular cinema complexes. We’re delighted to be involved in the project from such an early stage”.
Magical Gardens, scheduled to open in 2013, includes a 4D cinema, children’s play area, go-kart track, ice rink, dark ride, restaurant, dining, sports bar with VIP and staging areas and shops. In creating the master plan Galer and his team took inspiration from Wild Wadi Water Park and Magic Planet in Dubai. The tropical monsoon climate was also a consideration; Galer explains, “Although 90 percent of the park had to be under cover, even the queuing areas for the rides, I wanted to design the buildings to create a connection between the different attractions. The main building wraps around the drop tower with glazing so that visitors can enjoy watching the fun outside while they eat, shop and relax.”
ROCKARTuk have been retained as project managers for the design and build phase and will also be creating the magic for the dark ride, the park’s centrepiece. Galer says, “The dark ride will be a multi-sensory interactive ride aimed at 4 to 12 year olds. Visitors will take a lift down underground to a beautiful magical garden.” The client has also asked ROCKARTuk to develop an affiliated character for the ride. This brand will be leveraged across the park and will be used in merchandising.
Galer says, “This is an extremely exciting project. We’re confident that Magical Gardens will be a massive success and set a new standard for entertainment in the area.”
About ROCKARTuk
ROCKARTuk are experts in designing, building and installing themed environments, providing consultancy, feasibility studies and master-planning for all visitor attractions. Incorporating innovative twists and ideas within the design phases, and keeping quality at the forefront of each project, ROCKARTuk are able to supply complete ‘turn-key’ solutions for theme parks, water parks, aquariums, family entertainment centres, museums and heritage sites, indoor black light and outdoor mini golf venues, safari parks and zoos. Over the past 12 years Tony Galer (owner of ROCKARTuk) has been involved in over 35 major theming projects across the world. At present ROCKARTuk are actively producing themed attractions in Nigeria, Qatar and the UK.
