Ripley's Moving Theater in Gatlinburg Readying For a Renovation

Otherwise known as the attraction on the Parkway in Gatlinburg with the giant T-Rex dinosaur head above it, the Ripley’s Moving Theater in Gatlinburg is about to get a whole new state-of-the-art ride. For 40 years, this was an “Omni Platform” motion ride, but soon it will move into the 21st century with the newest innovation in technology most others are utilizing for their media thrill rides.

As for the history of this particular one, it opened in 1987, featuring the new-of-its-time “Motion Master,” which involved moving seats. Before that, it simply involved paying customers standing in one spot while a panoramic scene played around them. This was called “Cinema 180” and employed a different form of entertainment prior to the moving seat one. Ripley’s estimates more than 8 million rides have been given on this nearly 40 year run.

Ryan DeSear, the Vice President of Attraction Operation and Technology of Ripley’s, says many guests have come back mentioning if they still have the same movies playing for the ride. These involved rollercoasters, snowmobiles, and dune buggies in a dizzying array of speed, obstacles, and excitement we’ve enjoyed on several of our visits.

The new Triotech motion simulator is set to be installed on August 19th, so it will be closed until its expected completion and reopening in October. Triotech debuted in 1999 with its inception in coin-operated arcade games. In 2004, they developed the Madwave Motion Theater, which still ranks as the top 5 best video games after the end of production. The envelope has been pushed further with its innovative strides through the last 20 years, with the introduction of more immersive user experiences mainly through games and 3D animated films specifically for its attractions.

Picture from the Triotech website.

If you still want to catch one more ride on this now outdated, “Motion Master” technology, you have until August 19th before it transforms into a more modern, immersive experience Triotech has streamlined. I’m sure prices will likely change, but the dinosaur on the outside of the attraction will remain. For more details and pricing on the Ripley’s Moving Theater at 904 Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg, go to www.ripleys.com for information on tickets and bundles regarding all of their attractions!

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