French theme park Futuroscope has opened its new €57 million Aquascope water park, a unique concept offering an immersive aquatic experience.
Covering an area of more than 7,000 square metres, the indoor water park is home to three immersive indoor areas, 13 waterslides, and an outdoor area.
‘Les Abysses de Lumière’ is an immersive zone with digital technologies like projection mapping and lighting, as well as choreographed water effects.
Another area is created for thrill-seekers with eight waterslides, while ‘La Faille de Kraki’ is a colourful world for children with aquatic play experiences, five waterslides and interactive games.
In the 4,500-square-metre outdoor area, guests can enjoy a lazy river, a swimming pool and a beach. These are only open during the summer months.
Futuroscope’s CEO Rodolphe Bouin said at last year’s IAAPA: “In 2024, we’re going to create a water park unlike anything that’s been done before in France or Europe.
“The park will offer highly original aqua-digital experiences based on mapping projected on the water.”
Aquascope is Futuroscope’s largest investment since opening in 1987, and its second indoor water park.
Digital technologies in water parks
Universal Rocks, an expert in planning, building and developing themed areas to reproduce the beauty of nature, participated in the construction of Aquascope, building the rock scenery of La Faille de Kraki, Les Abysses de Lumière, and the shower room.
Moment Factory, the multimedia entertainment studio specialising in the conception and production of immersive environments, also worked on the park’s immersive area.
Futuroscope, located outside the city of Poitiers, welcomes nearly 2 million visitors every year and offers more than 40 attractions, including the Thea Award-winning Tornado Chasers.
In 2020, it opened its first coaster, Objectif Mars. Unlike most theme parks, many of its attractions are media-based and housed within pavilions.
Last summer, Futuroscope launched the new Hôtel Ecolodgee, which contains 120 wooden lodges in a biodiverse site with woodland and river views.
Images courtesy of Futuroscope
