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Art on display at Dreamwalk Park at University Place in Orem.
Courtesy of Dreamwalk Park
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Art on display at Dreamwalk Park at University Place in Orem.
Courtesy of Dreamwalk Park
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Art on display at Dreamwalk Park at University Place in Orem.
Courtesy of Dreamwalk Park
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Art on display at Dreamwalk Park at University Place in Orem.
Courtesy of Dreamwalk Park
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Art on display at Dreamwalk Park at University Place in Orem.
Courtesy of Dreamwalk Park
Ben McPherson and John Pope had to hide their dream project from the world for the three years it took to build it.
Starting this month, they can’t wait to show it off.
The duo’s creation is Dreamwalk Park, a micro-theme park located in the University Place shopping center in Orem that will open to the public on December 12.
It is billed as an “extraordinary digital experience” that “transports visitors to new worlds, both on and off screen, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in cinematic environments” through “music and light shows, interactive elements, hidden scenes, poseable creatures, games and collectibles.
For McPherson, the park’s co-founder and creative director, it’s the “perfect fusion” of everything he wanted to do.
He brings together his extensive experience as a filmmaker (he has produced and directed content for National Geographic and IFC Films) and his artistic training, where he specialized in classical realism.
“There’s the painting aspect, the sculpture aspect, the cinema aspect, and really we think it’s an opportunity to bring people into a narrative, film-like experience,” McPherson said.
The Daily Herald was invited on an exclusive tour of the park, which creators say is unlike any other type of entertainment destination in the state.
Spanning a two-story section of the mall, the park takes visitors on a nearly half-mile journey through cave-like rooms featuring intricate settings and creations, all visually appealing and some interactive.
Many displays may seem familiar, evoking memories of different media. There are giant mushrooms that look like they were plucked from Mario’s world. An entire room gives the impression that the visitor has entered the setting of Nickelodeon’s “Legends of the Hidden Temple”.
Other artworks are completely alien, like an alien-like plant sculpture designed to blow air when you run your hand over it.
“You walk in and see some of these areas, and they look very familiar, not just because we created them, but because in our minds, I think we have a collective imagination, and we draw from that and draw inspiration from a lot of people who came before us,” said Pope, co-founder and CEO of the park.
“Although we have some aspects here that might fall under traditional storytelling,” McPherson added, “we really wanted people to feel like there was a singular and real vision here that was totally unique and different.”
Throughout the journey, customers receive a card that can be scanned at different stations to view the screens or, in a room, play small games and accumulate points. You also receive a flashlight, which is used to illuminate walls to see hidden messages and images.
Every inch of this mystically geeky experience feels painstakingly curated. There are hidden Easter eggs, crawl spaces, and a lab-grown fish.
Place your hand on an artistic rendering on a wall and it will read your mood. Beware of ancient mummy faces carved into the wall that will yell at you.
A significant part of the production is showrooms, which are three cavernous areas offering a variety of performances using visual and audio effects every two minutes.
The first room is intense and adventurous and features a large waterfall. Pope describes the second room as more “zen”; it offers an audio and light show in a futuristic garden.
The final show takes place in a room that looks like a Star Wars cantina. Visitors are surrounded by robots and drones that seem determined to incite a dancing party.
Several screens were designed to be interchangeable, and the lighting and sound can be changed to match certain holidays or times of year.
“People want adventure and want to see what’s beyond the next bend, what’s around the next bend,” Pope said. “And so we constantly have to add more for them to discover.” Add more terms, add more hidden scenes, add more so they can come and be kids a little bit and explore.
McPherson and Pope recognize that they are taking a big step forward in trying to provide a new form of entertainment for people to enjoy. The project is a huge undertaking in which a number of people have been involved.
They are delighted to see how much people like it. “It’s like the pinnacle of what you could ask for or dream of as an entrepreneur,” Pope said.
The park will generally be open evenings and Saturdays, but this will vary depending on the week. Entrance fees are $32.95 for adults and $24.95 for children ages 3-12.