Sally Dark Rides, a leading creator of immersive attractions, recently won several industry awards in Europe, in recognition of projects at PortAventura World and the work of the firm’s founder and president.
Uncharted: The Enigma of Penitence, which debuted this summer at Spain’s PortAventura World, won its first European Star Award as one of the Best New Roller Coasters in 2023. This brings together dark ride storytelling with an exhilarating roller coaster experience and is based on the Sony Pictures box office hit film and PlayStation video game.
It features Sally’s state-of-the-art animatronics and an interactive puzzle-solving queue, making this the latest example of the company’s ability to bring internationally renowned intellectual properties to life. Since its debut, Uncharted has received praise from PortAventura visitors and industry insiders alike. This ride marks the first time Sally and Intamin have collaborated on a project, combining world-class ride thrills with amazing theming and storytelling.
Awards for dark ride excellence & industry leadership
Another Sally Dark Rides project at PortAventura World, Sesame Street: Street Mission, the first-ever Sesame Street-themed ride in Europe, also received its third European Star Award. The family-friendly rollercoaster came in second in the contest for Europe’s Best Dark Rides. The interactive attraction won the European Star Award for Europe’s Best New Ride when it debuted in 2019 and is still entertaining guests of all ages four years later.
“It was such an honor to have two of our incredible projects recognized and celebrated by the European Star Awards,” says Lauren Weaver, vice president of marketing and business development at Sally Dark Rides. “We were elated to work with PortAventura once again, this time creating a new, hybrid storytelling experience for their guests. Their team have been outstanding to work with and we share these awards with them.”
John Wood, the chairman and president of Sally Dark Rides, was named the 2023 Park World Excellence Award winner for Industry Icon of the Year, capping off an already remarkable week. The Icon Award recognises just two people each year as outstanding industry leaders who have had a significant impact on the EMEA region: an industry operator and an industry supplier.
Wood, one of Sally’s initial founders, has led the company’s expansion into a global leader in the development of distinctive, cutting-edge, and internationally acclaimed dark rides. To date, Sally has eleven dark rides in the European region.
“I am humbled by this recognition,” says Wood. “The focus and passion our entire team has for our attractions industry and the projects they work hard to develop inspires me every day. This honor belongs to them as much as it does to me.”
These accolades come at a time when Sally is busier than ever. This year, the company debuted three rides: Treasure Hunt: The Ride, an independent dark ride located in Monterey, California; Uncharted: The Enigma of Penitence at PortAventura in Spain; and Whispering Pines Haunted Hotel at Funtown Splashtown in Maine. Its next project, SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride, the first SpongeBob SquarePants-themed ride ever, is currently under development.
