Zombie Evilution
Defunct attraction at Dreamworld
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Zombie Evilution was a seasonal multi-use attraction at Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The attraction was originally introduced as a scare maze before being converted to a laser skirmish attraction. It opened on Friday the 13th of September 2013, replacing AVPX. From 2016, the attraction was used as a scare maze for Park After Dark events. The attraction closed in March 2018.
| Zombie Evilution | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dreamworld | |
| Area | Ocean Parade |
| Coordinates | 27°51′54″S 153°19′0.43″E |
| Status | Closed |
| Soft opening date | September 2013 |
| Opening date | 13 September 2013 |
| Closing date | March 2018 |
| Replaced | AVPX |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Walkthrough Scare Attraction |
| Manufacturer | Sudden Impact Entertainment |
| Designer | Lynton V. Harris |
| Site area | 650 m2 (7,000 sq ft) |
| Capacity | 160 riders per hour |
| Participants per group | 8 every 3 minutes |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
History
In 2009, Dreamworld launched AVPX, a laser skirmish attraction by Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company. The attraction was originally licensed for a two-year contract, which was later extended for a further two years. In late 2012, Dreamworld contracted Lynton V. Harris of Sudden Impact to work on creating a replacement.[1] Using the town name of "Kevil Hill", originally developed for an attraction at Taman Safari in Indonesia,[2] Harris developed the Zombie Evilution attraction concept.[1]
On 6 March 2013, Dreamworld officially announced that AVPX would be closing at the end of the month, stating "a new enemy will arise in 2013".[3][4] On 31 March 2013, AVPX operated for the final time with Dreamworld stating it would be replaced by a new attraction which is "to die for".[5] The new attraction was later announced to be named Zombie Evilution.[6][7]
Zombie Evilution officially opened to the public on Friday the 13th of September 2013 as a scare maze.[8] The maze featured live actors, with guests being admitted in small groups. On 14 October 2013, the scare maze was closed, pending conversion into a laser skirmish attraction.[9][10] On 18 October 2013, the attraction reopened to the public.[9][11]
In 2015, the attraction was relegated to a Seasonal position, it no longer operated during the School periods (including weekends), only on School Holiday Periods and during the night-time Screamworld events (As a scare-maze).
On 27 January 2016, the attraction closed for the off-peak season, it was later revealed that the attraction will no longer operate as laser tag, however, the park claimed that the attraction would still be in use as a scare-maze for their night-time, and other special, events. The exit room were later used as a merchandise store for the Tiger Cub Kindy area, which occupied the area in front of the attraction in February 2016. The attraction reopened late 2016 as a walk through scare attraction and currently operates weekends from 10:30am - 5pm
The area is set to be used for Count Kenny's Mystery Mansion, a family friendly walk-through attraction, for the 2021 Happy Halloween event.[12]
Laser Skirmish
Guests admitted in groups of 30 into one of three briefing rooms. The guests were asked to stand by a weapon which determines their teams. Half of the group were infected humans, with the other half being normal, uninfected humans. A short preshow details the backstory for the attraction. The attraction was set in a small town named Kevil Hill (a play on the evil & live palindrome), a zombie utopia created by billionaire James Buchanan (J.B.) Kevil (portrayed by Tony Bonner).[1] Professor Jacques Madigan manages the town's cryonics chamber, where the dead are preserved for a future re-awakening.[13][14]
Guests were told the rules and how to use their weapons, before being moved from the briefing room, down a tunnel to a final room before the main arena. The main arena is 650 square metres (7,000 sq ft) and featured multiple buildings.[1][15] To earn points players shoot those from the opposite team.
See also
- 2013 in amusement parks
- 2016 in amusement parks
- 2018 in amusement parks
- Terminator X: A Laser Battle for Salvation, another Sudden Impact Entertainment laser skirmish attraction