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Volkanu the Quest for the Golden Idol at Lost Island Theme Park, Waterloo, Iowa

Volkanu:  The Quest for the Golden Idol mixes real world scenes as well as screens seamlessly.  Honestly I was surprised how much of it was on screen because it is so difficult seeing where the real and virtual world meet when you are on the ride.

Volkanu the Quest for the Golden Idol at Lost Island Theme Park, Waterloo, Iowa

Volkanu has scenes blocked off with doors so you never see what the car in front or behind you are experiencing.

Volkanu the Quest for the Golden Idol at Lost Island Theme Park, Waterloo, Iowa

Sally Dark Rides did an amazing job on every single part of Volkanu.  Ride wise this is the sort of ride you would see at Universal or Disney but having it at a new park in the middle of Iowa is awesome. 

Volkanu the Quest for the Golden Idol at Lost Island Theme Park, Waterloo, Iowa

The great thing about Volkanu:  The Quest for the Golden Idol is this means that any park can have a world class dark ride.  You just need to take the time and develop a great story.

Volkanu the Quest for the Golden Idol at Lost Island Theme Park, Waterloo, Iowa

Half the way through the ride the Shaman makes an appearance where he vanishes due to a old show trick called "Peppers Ghost".  It is where the image of something off stage is projected onto the stage so that it appears in front of the audience.  A famous instance of this is the ballroom in Disney's Haunted Mansion.  The dancing ghosts are actually above you being reflected on a sheet of glass so they seem transparent. 



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Paul B. Drabek