Porto Boega, an all-new resort and visitor attraction on Boega Island in Portugal, is now in development.
BlueCrow Capital has partnered with Obvious Gravity and Storyland Studios, a global experience design and strategy firm comprising former Disney Imagineering, Universal Creative and Merlin Entertainments alumni with offices and staff across the US and Europe, to bring the Porto Boega attraction to life.
The rapidly growing Storyland has recently announced several new projects, including the design for the all-new LibertylandUSA theme park planned for South Dakota’s Black Hills. There is also the new studio city in Lagos and more projects in the US, including Storyville Gardens in Tennessee.
The 50-hectare Boega Island was previously a farming settlement but has been unoccupied for many years. It is located on the Minho River, along the Portuguese-Spanish border.
“This enthralling adventure unfolds in a world-class resort with a theme park, retail, dining, and entertainment,” says Adam Booth, Storyland Studios’ senior project manager for the Boega Island project. “Its story is uniquely inspired by historical themes, and the heroes and people of Portugal.”
Booth speaks to blooloop about Porto Boega – a project which combines significant ecological challenges with the potential for jaw-dropping storytelling. From BlueCrow Captial, Rodrigo Passarinho Gonçalves Silva, investments associate, gives his perspective.
Igniting ambition
Storyland Studios was appointed to the project early on, originally for scoping and strategic consulting. What began as an idea for a nature adventure park evolved into a full-scale guest experience.
As BlueCrow’s vision for Porto Boega grew, so did Storyland’s role in the project. According to Booth, the Storyland team’s remit has now expanded into both strategic consulting and executive design for the guest experience component of Porto Boega.
“The ambition became grander and bolder,” Booth says. “Originally, we were looking at a different idea. It was more like a stereotypical nature adventure park. It was in a small corner of the island and there was a different vision for the main portion of it. But we found through conversations with the client and getting out to meet them, that the ambition is much bigger, greater, bolder. And it’s a testament to them really, in wanting that, once we started to get into the discussions.
“Now, we’re creating a project the scale of a theme park within the island.”
The result is a plan for this large-scale attraction which will breathe new life into the abandoned island.
“We want to create something unique. Something that can not only inspire the world of today but can also stand the test of time,” says Silva. “In a world of ‘remakes,’ original ideas like this one are one in a million. With the right team, it can become something legendary.
“We believe that Porto Boega will not only put Portugal on the map, as one of the stages of the entertainment world but will also showcase our culture and identity in a way no one has ever seen before.”
Porto Boega: spearheading a national revival
The island sits near the mouth of the Minho River in Portugal.
“The Minho River is along the border between Portugal and Spain, and the island sits on the Portuguese side. It’s a beautiful part of the world,” says Booth. Although the location offers much to inspire and entice visitors, it also poses significant challenges. Ecological concerns were at the heart of the client’s brief.
“The island has kind of been left, but it’s important to the river. It needs some form of intervention and management. So, occupying the land is key to its longevity. So that’s the first piece – we need to do something with it.”
The project brief also set out a desire to champion the region.
“Secondly,” Booth continues, “the client is serious about having this be a catalyst project for national revival and showing what Portugal has to offer. And they’re passionate about it. And that put a fire in our bellies to do the project justice. They know they can do more, and they want more. So, they want to be the guys that can bring this project to the table for the nation. It is amazing to be a part of.
“From that, we already had a great partnership with that client team. And it is super collaborative. We’ve been leaning on them for local history knowledge, lots of Portuguese stories and folklore, and characters from history.”
The Storyland Studios team has worked closely with the client. This relationship will be key to the development of the attraction.
Verdant views
The area surrounding Boega Island offers ample inspiration for storytelling.
Silva explains:
“Boega Island is indeed a special place. From the landscape to the local culture and its strategic location, this place breathes potential. Not to mention the fact that it is an island in the middle of a river, surrounded by nature. What better place in the world to create something magical, powerful, and transcending?”
Booth adds:
“The island is close to a place called Vila Nova de Cerveira and the wider region is all verdant green with stunning views. The region’s main road is the Portuguese route of the Santiago Trail. In Cerveira, you’ll see all the Santiago trail symbols showing which route you’re supposed to take. There are mountains on the Portuguese side, and it’s slightly flatter on the Spanish side. You can observe the cultural differences between Spain and Portugal. It’s a beautiful part of the world.”
Boega Island’s landscape provides a sense of intrigue anticipation and discovery. According to Booth, it’s surrounded and shielded by tall trees, which provide an air of mystery and intrigue. Where possible, the team aim to minimise the disruption on the site and enable visitors to experience the forgotten island for what it is, with its diverse flora and natural landscape.
“We’ve explored the island, and you just get the smell of wild mint everywhere,” Booth says. “The island is dense on the outside, and then it opens up into what was the grazing field. But it’s almost rewilding, in a way, because it’s been left for years.”
Booth says Storyland aims to avoid creating an overly manicured landscape:
“We want to be able to get that sense of discovery, the smells of the field.”
Stewardship of Boega Island
While the island offers the team ample inspiration for storytelling, there are vital questions surrounding the site development. Particularly since the land has been unoccupied for so many years. Its location poses significant challenges and ecological concerns. It also poses vital questions for the development of the site.
Aside from the risks posed by curious visitors, the island is also open to issues arising naturally vulnerable to potential natural disasters. According to Booth, it’s currently at risk for wildfires and flooding. Wildfires on the island could result in the loss of the island’s trees, which in turn could destroy the island itself.
“If the island disappears, it will change the dynamic of the river,” Booth says. “The Portuguese side of the river is where all of the boat traffic flows through because it’s deeper. When you look at the geography of the mountainside, where the rivers meet, that’s essentially created the depth of the river.”
“On the Spanish side, it’s much flatter. The water at low tide is less than a meter in pockets against the mouth. If the island goes, it will destroy the dynamics of the river, so the island must remain. It’s keeping the flow of the river going. So, that’s one of the reasons why they want to develop this site now.”
On the other hand, Booth says there’s a potential for flooding as the rains come down from the mountains. He says the team will use minimal interventions and complimentary materials to counter the elements and protect the landscape.
“There is also a potential for flooding as the rains come down from the mountains. There’s a tidal marsh already and you can see the ring of the trees but in the 100-year flood that does present a risk.
“Again, our intervention is not there to stop those things happening. We need to be able to counter it to things we’re going to do. In the nature walk, for example, it won’t be all manmade and lifted, it might be kind of raised walkways to allow any kind of flooding to happen, and we’ll do that with complementary materials.”
Positive environmental management
The project has a strong emphasis on championing positive environmental interventions. According to Booth, the themed entertainment industry has become cognizant of how its human-made interventions could potentially impact the environment.
While creating a theme park-scale project, Storyland and BlueCrow want to have a positive impact on the planet and show responsible management of natural resources in the process.
“Their foundations and guiding principles are rooted in ecological considerations and regional understanding” explains Booth. “So, you can have the theme park and you can look after the island. At the same time, you can be more connected to nature, and BlueCrow is keen to see that happen as well”. It’s a very important ecological point that we need to meet that challenge.”
Guiding principles
From a design point of view, the Porto Boega project team is still at an early stage.
“Our first engagement was feasibility and to know if we could get the numbers to start something in an entertainment sense. Now we know that that’s achievable,” says Booth.
“The first thing that we did was to go and visit the island, go and see the region and meet the team in person. We’ve had many discussions but unless you see it you don’t know properly. We spent a whole day exploring the island and then the next day we explored the region, going around checking where the locals go and where tourists would go, on both sides of the river.”
Building a relationship with the client team has been vital to the development of the project.
“We got a lot of the local feel from the team who are all Portuguese, and it was great to see it from their perspective. That was one of the most fundamental things we needed to do. And that allowed us to bond as a team and grow in rapport. That allows us to be more collaborative and get more out of what we want to do.”
By gaining a deep understanding of the attraction’s locality, Storyland is well placed to effect wider influence.
“We’re creating the story, but we want bigger interest and involvement so that we, and the client, can then go and take that to a more national level of government to get them interested. We need to have the appetite from the industry to show the government that this is something people want to do.”
Crafting the story of Porto Boega
The Porto Boega story has begun to emerge and respond to both practical and narrative considerations. According to Booth, the team is crafting a story that can evolve over time.
Porto Boega’s story centres around characters from different locales and cultures, including Portuguese, who have travelled to the four corners of the globe and back. They’ve now been invited to Porto Boega, where they can discover all Boega Island has to offer.
“It’s a culmination of all of that exploration and the characters’ explorations, back on the island,” Booth says.
Silva explains: “We are especially eager to present to the world, a vision of our culture and identity, which will inspire, not only the people of today but also future generations. Ours is a history filled with adventure, bravery, and venture into the unknown. We want to tell the stories of our very best countrymen, the ones that not only shaped who we are today, but also the entire world we know.”
Guests will explore, discover, and experience the adventures at Porto Boega as their own. According to Booth, the attraction’s storyline will contain fantastical elements and a positive spin on exploration:
“The coverage of the island allows us to create a story that’s a bit more fantastical in those elements. We want to make it a bit steampunk-y so it’s not just a normal ship, it’s a balloon Galleon kind of ship. And visitors will see that as the landscape opens up. It’s there for you as the guest, it’s your adventure to play out. You are going to explore and discover these things.
“So that’s what we want to portray, and in a positive way as well. We like stories. Our mission is to tell stories that lift the spirit, and we want a positive spin on that exploration. The way we want to craft it, the programming, and how we’re going to do it, transcends a normal theme park experience.
“Typical iron rides and coasters occupy a lot of land. We think we can offer more than that. The way we want to craft the layout of the park sort of acknowledges that. We want to tell a story from start to finish.”
Engaging with the local community
The attraction is set to offer a range of facilities and rides, including theme park-style attractions as well as retail, dining, and entertainment (RDE) offerings. In addition to concepting an illuminated nature attraction, the teams want to ensure that Portuguese culture is celebrated, complete with local vendors providing food and retail goods.
A key consideration is how the development will support the local community.
Booth explains: “It’s not just for tourists, even though that’s quite a key component to getting people in the region, and we’re keen on doing that. But we want it to be positive for the locals as well. How do we create something that allows local people to want to come to the island regularly and ensures there are offerings there for them as well?”
Building momentum for Porto Boega
The Porto Boega project, says Booth, also offers an opportunity to showcase how the attractions industry can protect its environment and the planet.
“We all fell in love with Portugal and the region,” Booth says. “Yes, we’re putting a theme park on the island, but we’re looking after the island, too. It’s going to bring more people to the area.
“I’m excited about the ambition of wanting this project to be this real national treasure. All of us want to do right by that. And I think that gives us the impetus to get the most out of the island and get the most out of the project, and do it right – precisely because that’s how passionate and serious the client BlueCrow is about making this happen.”
Sean Featonby, head of business development for the UK & Europe at Storyland Studios, expresses his appreciation:
“The collaboration with Obvious Gravity and BlueCrow on this endeavour has been truly remarkable. They have entrusted Storyland Studios with the stewardship of Boega Islands, and we are honoured by this responsibility. I take immense pride in the remarkable efforts put forth by Adam Booth and the entire Storyland Studios team in bringing this project to fruition.
“Our commitment to ensuring cultural relevance in the markets we serve is unwavering, and Boega Island is no exception, as it will stand as a tribute to Portuguese people, culture, and history. This project signifies the first world-class destination of its kind in development within the region and one that is set to contribute significantly to the European-themed entertainment industry. Watch this space for more project announcements coming soon!”
About Storyland Studios
Storyland Studios is a full-service strategy and design firm on mission to imagine, design, and create immersive experiences and environments that lift the spirit. With offices in California, Atlanta, Orlando and London, its team of professionals have significant experience designing projects such as theme parks, museums, resorts, and more, around the world.
Storyland helps its clients arrive at a story-driven big idea and then shape it into narratives that resonate with guests and users across the globe. The firm’s collaborative process launches a journey through strategic storytelling to master planning and production design while aligning the creative efforts with client business goals, and providing memorable guest experiences.
