Mission: Bermuda Triangle
| Misson Bermuda Triangle | |
|---|---|
| SeaWorld Orlando | |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | May 1992 |
| Closing date | 1995 |
| Replaced by | Wild Arctic |
| SeaWorld San Diego | |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | 1994 |
| Closing date | 1997 |
| Replaced by | Wild Arctic |
| Six Flags Worlds of Adventure | |
| Area | Wildlife Section |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | 2000 |
| Closing date | 2003 |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Cabin Simulator ride |
| Designer | SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment |
| Model | Motion simulator |
| Theme | Mystery of Bermuda Triangle |
| Capacity | 1,416 riders per hour |
| Vehicle type | Motion Based Cabin |
| Vehicles | 3 (Orlando) 4 (San Diego) |
| Riders per vehicle | 59 |
| Rows | 6 |
| Riders per row | 9-10 |
| Audience capacity | 100 stationary seats. per show |
| Duration | 5:00 approx. |
| Height restriction | 42 in (107 cm) |
 Wheelchair accessible | |
 Must transfer from wheelchair | |
Mission: Bermuda Triangle was a motion simulator attraction that operated at the SeaWorld parks and Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. The ride was themed to the legend and mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. This attraction was replaced by Wild Arctic at the two SeaWorld parks.
Plot
[edit]The voyage starts as a scientific expedition to observe and document marine life such as coral reefs, sharks, dolphins, and a pod of humpback whales, before receiving an emergency call from a sister sub claiming to have made an incredible discovery. Descending about a mile deep, the sub finds the lost wreck of the USS Cyclops (briefly mentioned in the preshow), and the captain of the sub, voiced by Robert Stack, agrees to stay on-site while the sister sub returns to the surface to refuel. An earthquake suddenly rocks the ship, forcing the sub to evade falling debris, before the wreck tips over and falls into the trench, its wake current dragging the sub down with it. As the engines fail and the hull begins to strain under the increasing water pressure, a mysterious electric charge gathers along the hull of the Cyclops before blasting the sub, which suddenly rockets back towards the surface. Unable to explain the strange phenomena that saved them, the captain chalks it up to yet another mystery of the Bermuda Triangle as a helicopter arrives to retrieve the sub.
History
[edit]In 1989, Anheuser-Busch purchased the SeaWorld parks from Hartcourt-Bruce Janovich for $1.1 billion. Busch wanted to transform the parks from a zoo/aquarium to an amusement park to compete in the market with Disney parks and Universal Studios. In 1992, the chain joined in the theme park simulator wave popularized by Star Tours at Disneyland in 1987, when they announced plans for an attraction named Mission: Bermuda Triangle. The ride opened during the 1992 Memorial Day Weekend.[1]
In August 1994, the Orlando location announced that it will be rethemed to Wild Arctic which opened in 1995.[2] The San Diego location soon followed in 1997, closing their version (opened in 1994) to be replaced by the ride. Wild Arctic added animal exhibits at the exit of the motion simulators.
In 1999, SeaWorld Ohio, a SeaWorld park in Aurora, Ohio, announced plans to open Mision: Bermuda Triangle which opened in 2000.[3][4] When it was added, it was the only ride at SeaWorld Ohio, as the park was forbidden to add any rides because of its location next to the adjacent Six Flags Ohio. The next year in 2001, SeaWorld Ohio merged with Six Flags Ohio to become Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, with the SeaWorld portion becoming the Wildlife Section area.
In March 2004, the theme park was sold to Cedar Fair for $145 million and reverted it back to the park's original name, Geauga Lake. The ride along with the other attractions in the Wildlife Section were replaced by the Wildwater Kingdom water park in 2005.
References
[edit]- ^ Strother, Susan G. (February 2, 1992). "Florida's Sea World Plans Bermuda Triangle Ride". Chicago Tribune.
- ^ Strother, Susan G.; Dezern, Craig (June 20, 1994). "Sea World Deep-Sixing Mission Ride". Orlando Sentinel.
- ^ Kraft, Randy (August 1, 1999). "Greetings from Shamu Ohio's SeaWorld Celebrates 30 Years of Landlocked Success". Morning Call.
- ^ Volgenau, Gerry; Ridder, Knight (June 18, 2000). "What's New at Ohio's Amusement Parks". Chicago Tribune.