The Game is Afoot at the Sherlock Theme Park

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This past week the Internet exploded with word of a Sherlock Holmes theme park being built in Portsmouth, London. Portsmouth is where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle resided and created the beloved fictional characters and stories. Within this theme park, there will be rides and holograms of everything related to Sherlock Holmes.

As a ride junkie, I always loved to see what rides people come up with, how they work, and the experiences they offer. I imagine that they will use the original Sherlock as opposed to the modern Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr.) because the park is also paying tribute to Conan Doyle and the original works. Below are some ride ideas for the upcoming Sherlock theme park.

3) A Case of Identity

In the article I have linked above, it claims that the theme park will feature interactive and high quality activities. In A Case of Identity, Sherlock solves a rather simple, but elementary case of an engaged couple. I specifically chose this case because it’s not too easy or hard and it would fit the attraction I have in mind. I imagine that they would build this attraction as three places that tie together: Sherlock’s residence, Miss Sutherland and her fiance’s place, and the church. Within each place, guests can touch specific items that give them clues and information to solve the mystery. Once they’ve gathered all the clues, they could go to a secret room behind the church’s altar to see if their deductions were correct or not, and to hear how the case ended.

2) The Reichenbach Falls

Ah yes, the fall at Reichenbach – the one episode of Sherlock that broke many fans’ hearts, but the original story shattered many readers’ hearts as well. In the story of The Adventure of the Final Problem, Sherlock has decided to confront Moriarty once and for all. The guests would walk through an entry way consisting of scenes that look like Sherlock’s residence. As they roam about, Sherlock is heard explaining how dangerous Moriarty is and what he has done. The final room prior to the loading area would feature Moriarty and Sherlock animatronics conversing in a study, with their dialogue heard through hidden speakers. The loading area itself would look like a London study.

This would be a log flume ride with a very basic track mostly considering of turns, small drops, and uphill climbs. It would also highlight the important features of the story such as Sherlock explaining his plan to John and the guests, the three events that nearly kill Sherlock, the telegram that informs Sherlock Moriarty has escaped, and John being tricked by the letter. This ultimately builds up to the final drop, at the bottom of the lift hill John is panicking and worried about his friend. He calls for Sherlock and talks to himself through hidden speakers, hoping Sherlock is safe. As the car climbs higher, guests hear John’s concerns fade away, and they see Sherlock and Moriarty fighting.

The big drop itself represents Reichenbach Falls, which leads guests to an enclosed area where they see John reading a letter Sherlock left him. As they go through the area and to the loading station, they hear John’s voice reading the letter aloud over the speakers.

1) The Hound

Everyone is familiar with the famous Sherlock Holmes story, The Hound of the Baskervilles. In this tale, an attempted murder is inspired by a legendary, loathsome Hellhound. The Hound would be a wooden roller coaster and would have an enclosed entrance, featuring rooms with clues from the case, important and iconic conversations between the characters playing from hidden speakers, and at times, Sherlock’s violin playing a mysterious yet eerie tune. The rooms will be designed to be Sherlock’s residence and the Baskerville residence.

After walking through the rooms, guests will enter the main chamber: the foyer of the Baskerville residence where Watson, (a live actor) will explain to everyone that the Hound is loose and that they must follow Sherlock’s lead in order to be safe. After this, the gates will open, and guests will go to a loading area themed as a forest before the moor where the hound is. Sherlock’s dialogue will be playing over the speakers urging guests to stay close, be careful, and that the game is afoot side while owls hoot, crickets chirp, and a chilling howl is heard at times along with snarling.

The cars will have safety bars and its track will bear a similar resemblance to Disney’s Big Thunder Mountain, being an indoor/outdoor ride. Guests will go up the first hill as the forest is splayed around them, with animatronics of Sherlock and Watson talking about the hound. As guests reach the top of the hill, the hound appears before them howling at a luminous moon, and they drop down the first hill. They are taken through a series of curves, hills, and miniature drops while surrounded by a forest exterior.  At times, the hound appears with glowing eyes and gnashing teeth as well as Mr.Baskervilles who is seen running through the forest or hiding.

Once again the guests return to a dark enclosure where Sherlock and the hound are facing off. This entire section is another climb as the hound is heard snarling and growling at Holmes. Sherlock yells at Watson to find Mr.Baskerville and run. No sooner he gives this command, the cars drop from the hill and plummet into more curves, sudden drops, and swift turns. At last the ride ends with the hound defeated, Mr. Baskerville found, and everyone returning to the forest themed station.

What would you like to see at the Sherlock theme park? Feel free to comment and as always, feedback and followers are welcomed.