Bloomington, MN – Standing 4 stories tall, the newest attraction at Nickelodeon Universe in the Mall of America can be seen from seemingly every corner of the park. Decked out in purple, blue, and green the “Flying Dutchman Ghostly Gangplank” is a ropes course from the leading company in challenge courses, Ropes Courses, Inc. (www.ropescoursesinc.com).
The attraction answers the demands of today’s children, tweens, and teens with an experience that is interactive. Guests climbing on the ropes course not only get to enjoy the rush of the climb, they get to choose which of the 28 elements they want to partake of. It features many different elements, from a wood “plank bridge” to a cargo net guests must climb across.
Safety is the number one concern when it comes to ropes courses, and that is why Ropes Courses, Inc., designed a patented restraint system to hold guests of all ages. Traditionally, those experiencing a ropes course attraction had to hook and unhook their harness to a safety line as they went around the course. RCI’s system allows guests to lock into an overhead track and they remain secured until they finish the attraction. This safety system allows guests of all ages to participate in the experience.
This ropes course has four levels of activities and stands on top of existing buildings, which puts the attraction up into the mall’s rafters. The ride’s “Flying Dutchman” theme is derived from a character on Nickelodeon’s popular “Sponge Bob Square Pants” television show. In honor of the theme the ropes course has a completely new element- “the plank”. On the attraction’s top level guests are invited to test their mettle and walk a piece of steel that dead-ends over the midway. At the end of the attraction is a fog horn that participants activate so they can show everyone in the park what they accomplished. The horn atop the ride is a great way to cap off a truly unique experience within a theme park!
Ropes Courses, Inc.’s theme park projects are handled by Ride Entertainment Systems (www.rideentertainment.com).
Course Facts:
Course height: 54 feet
Elements: 28
Levels: 4
Rope on structure: Over a mile