Translucent dolphins and multimedia reinvent the idea of the carousel...a new attraction scheduled to open in Battery Park (NYC) in 2008 takes a fresh approach to an old-fashioned carnival ride.
Instead of garishly painted horses, the seats will be translucent fiberglass molded into dolphins, turtles, clownfish, and other marine life. And unlike a traditional carousel, which spreads out from a center column like an umbrella, these creatures will be supported from below on a turntable, allowing unobstructed 360-degree views. All this will be housed in a nautilus-shaped structure featuring 93 SmartGlass windows that darken during the three-minute ride to simulate the experience of diving to the ocean floor. The final touch: Multiple projectors will fill the interior with images of marine life that slowly change to match what you'd actually see during a descent.
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by Tracy Collins, Sr. Vice President Creative, Design, and Innovation
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