AT: John W.C. Robinson
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Combining the best elements of an escape room, a haunted house, an art museum and an FEC, Otherworld is preparing to bring a truly unique experience to the Columbus area.
“I started creating haunted houses commercially when I was in college, transitioning into the escape game realm in 2015,” said Jordan Renda, creator of Otherworld. “I started looking for the next iteration of the concept — something that combines interactivity and narrative of an escape game but with a larger space and production budget that allows for more creative freedom.”
With 40 rooms for guests to explore, Otherworld features projection mapping, tactile experiences, puzzles and extensive theming.
“All of the different exhibits are meant to be viewed together, like different songs all working together to create a larger cohesive concept album,” Renda explained.
In one room, guests are confronted with playful monsters in their bedroom, only to crawl under the bed and find a doorway into the world of the monsters.
“People are craving tactile experience,” added Renda. “They want to be able to engage and interact with art and entertainment in new ways.”
Otherworld designers created the majority of exhibits and attractions in-house. Five rooms were designed by accomplished artists, allowing guests to literally step into the artists’ imaginations.
With a planned opening in May, Otherworld is readying for success.
“Our presale tickets have been popular, with over 10,000 already sold,” noted Renda.
Area15 immersive concept readies for Vegas debut
AT: Dean Lamanna
LAS VEGAS — Previewing the creative flair it promises to deliver upon its planned opening this December, Area15, an experiential retail and entertainment complex under construction west of the Strip, unveiled a giant “A” marking its entrance during a March 26 media event.
The 42-foot-tall, steel-framed letter is the portal to a 200,000-square-foot development that, along with dining and shopping, will house art installations and immersive experiences — transporting visitors into fantastic, story-driven realms. Meow Wolf, a Santa Fe, N.M.-based art collective and production company that has made waves with its multimedia, interactive walk-through exhibits (and recently completed a dark ride called Kaleidoscape for Elitch Gardens in Denver), will be the anchor tenant.
The project is a joint venture of creative agency Beneville Studios and real estate investment firm Fisher Brothers, both of New York. Its name is a play on its Interstate 15-adjacent location and Area 51, the secretive U.S. military installation 83 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
Speaking with Amusement Today during the event, Area15 co-founders Winston Fisher, CEO, and Michael Beneville, chief creative officer, were energized about the prospects for their concept, which they described as scalable and suited to other locations but one that could only be launched in this city.
“Vegas has an amazing art community and a creative class,” said Fisher, who is also on Meow Wolf’s board of directors. “We recognized that, and Meow Wolf did, too. So this is very much for the locals. At the same time, we’re trying to do something unique that taps into the fact that there are 42 million visitors who come here [each year].”
Fisher acknowledged that it was a challenge coming up with the right idea for the land owned by his company at the northwest corner of Desert Inn Road and I-15. “It took a lot of brainstorming, looking at things we saw happening in the world. Vegas has forced us to be so radically different and authentic.”
“Our philosophy is not that this is the shiny toy,” said Beneville, pointing out that Area15 won’t be competing with the Strip’s slick mainstream showmanship. “The consumer today wants to feel that they are choosing the adventure. Area15 is the raw landscape in which we can build those touch points and sensory pieces of the puzzle.”
Area15 will offer 126,000 square feet for leasing along with a 40,000-square-foot indoor / outdoor space for live music, festivals, corporate events and e-sport tournaments. The spaces will be connected from the outdoor parking lot through the building’s interior by the Spine, a promenade and bazaar lined with large-scale sculptures and industrial art.
The exploratory environment will deploy a range of technologies, including virtual / augmented reality, mobile apps and radio-frequency identification (RFID) bracelets.
“Getting the ‘A’ done is the symbol of being done with the outside,” Fisher said. “Now it’s time to build out the inside. It’s very exciting.”
These articles appear in the MAY 2019 issue of Amusement Today.
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