Christie 1DLP laser projectors are delivering immersive visuals at Ghostly Manor, a new dark ride at Paultons Park, an amusement park in Hampshire, UK. Designed and installed by Lagotronics Projects, the £3.5m attraction combines physical sets, projection mapping, and interactive gameplay to create a ghost-themed adventure.
The installation of six Christie DWU1100-GS and two DWU1400-GS laser projectors is designed to bring the haunted scenes to life with precision and brightness.
Ghostly Manor uses a new ride format, Gameplay Theater, created by Mack Rides and Lagotronics Projects. Continuously rotating vehicles, each seating eight passengers back-to-back, reveal new environments with each turn. Guests are equipped with Phantom Phasers, onboard interactive “blasters” that allow them to capture ghosts across eight unique scenes.
With the vehicles located close to the screen, the team had to install projectors from a high angle to avoid casting shadows from the players, while avoiding warping and blending artefacts. Christie provided technical support, and 0.37-0.4:1 ultra short throw lenses were used with each projector to achieve the desired result, projecting onto surfaces approximately 10m wide by 3.5m high (32ft by 11.5ft).
The ride was built on the site of a former 4D theatre, with the project completed on deadline within 12 months.
Jacco Groen in ‘t Wout, CTO, Lagotronics Projects BV. “The audience reactions to the ride were great. Everybody was very enthusiastic about the experience as a whole. Although our work is in the main ride only, everything around the ride, from the exterior to the queue line, made the experience as it is. Paultons and their team did a marvellous job on this as well. It was a great team effort, and we are happy to have been a part of it.”
