Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion Explained

Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion
Location:Six Flags Fiesta Texas
Location2:Six Flags St. Louis
Location3:Parque Warner Madrid
Location4:Canada's Wonderland
Location5:Carowinds
Location6:Kings Island
Location7:Kings Dominion
Also Known As:Scooby-Doo! Ghostblasters: The Mystery of the Haunted Mansion
Altname2:Scooby-Doo! Ghostblasters: The Mystery of the Scary Swamp
Altname3:La Aventura de Scooby-Doo
Altname4:Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion
Altname5:Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion
Altname6:Scooby-Doo! and the Haunted Castle
Altname7:Scooby-Doo! and the Haunted Mansion
Section:Fiesta Bay Boardwalk
Section2:DC Comics Plaza
Section3:Cartoon Village
Section4:Hanna Barbera Land
Section5:Carolina RFD
Section6:International Street
Section7:KidZville
Status:Removed
Status2:Removed
Status3:Operating
Status4:Removed
Status5:Removed
Status6:Removed
Status7:Removed
Opened3:[1] [2]
Opened5:[3]
Previousattraction2:Castaway Kids
Previousattraction4:Bedrock Dock
Previousattraction5:Harmony Hall
Previousattraction6:Phantom Theater
Replacement:Pirates of the Deep Sea
Replacement4:Boo Blasters on Boo Hill
Replacement5:Boo Blasters on Boo Hill
Replacement6:Boo Blasters on Boo Hill
Replacement7:Boo Blasters on Boo Hill
Type:Interactive Dark Ride
Manufacturer:Sally Corporation
Designer:Sally Corporation
Theme:Scooby-Doo
Length Ft:377
Capacity:800
Custom Label 1:Scenes
Custom Value 1:17
Custom Label 2:Animatronics
Custom Value 2:80

Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion is a Scooby-Doo-themed interactive dark ride series created by Sally Corporation based on Hanna-Barbera's long-running animated television series. The ride transports guests in a vehicle equipped with light guns that are used to shoot at various targets to collect points throughout the ride. At its peak, the ride model was located at seven amusement parks around the world including Canada's Wonderland, the location of the first installation that debuted in 2000. Initially known under a variety of names, the ride's Scooby-Doo theme has been replaced by Boo Blasters on Boo Hill at several locations and removed from others. The last remaining installation is La Aventura de Scooby-Doo at Parque Warner Madrid in Madrid, Spain.

History

In the late 1990s, Paramount Parks-owned Canada's Wonderland collaborated with Sally Corporation to develop Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion. The ride opened to the public on May 7, 2000.[4] In November that year, the ride was recognized as the Best New Children's Ride.[5] Similar versions of ride were added to three other Paramount Park locations over the next few years.[6] [7]

In 2002, Six Flags bought into the ride concept installing it at two locations, Six Flags Fiesta Texas and Six Flags St. Louis, with the latter using an existing water ride system.[8] [9] On June 16, 2005, Parque Warner Madrid (while it was operated by Six Flags) also added an installation as well featuring a trackless ride system manufactured by ETF Ride Systems.[10] [11] The ride was opened by José Corbacho and El Terrat.[12]

Following Cedar Fair's acquisition of Paramount Parks, the Scooby-Doo dark rides at its properties were re-themed prior to the 2010 season.[13] The move was part of the company's objective to remove the Hanna-Barbera brand from all of its parks.[14] Sally Corporation assisted with creating a new theme that became known as Boo Blasters on Boo Hill. The makeover left the interactive shooting aspect intact, while the Hanna-Barbera characters were replaced in favor of ghost-like creatures.

During the 2014 season, Six Flags St. Louis put up a sign at the attraction that read, "Scooby-Doo Ghostblasters: The Mystery of the Scary Swamp will close permanently, September 14, 2014 for future improvements".[15] It was later announced that it would be replaced by .[16] [17] In late 2017, Six Flags Fiesta Texas announced that their installation of the ride would close permanently on January 7, 2018.[18] Its replacement Pirates of the Deep Sea opened to the public on January 12, 2019.[19]

Locations

Name Park Location Opened Closed Status Ref
La Aventura de Scooby-Doo "Scooby Doo's Adventure" San Martín de la Vega, Madrid, Spain 2005 Operating
Scooby-Doo! and the Haunted Castle Mason, Ohio, United States 2003 [20]
Scooby-Doo! and the Haunted Mansion Doswell, Virginia, United States 2004 [21]
Scooby-Doo! Ghostblasters: The Mystery of the Haunted Mansion San Antonio, Texas, United States 2002 Closed; Replaced by Pirates of the Deep Sea [22]
Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion Vaughan, Ontario, Canada 2000 [23]
Scooby-Doo's Haunted Mansion Charlotte, North Carolina, United States 2001 [24]
Scooby-Doo! Ghostblasters: The Mystery of the Scary Swamp Eureka, Missouri, United States 2002 Closed; Replaced by [25]

Ride experience

The ride is a dark ride experience for families which involves shooting laser guns at ghosts and ghouls infesting Ghastley Manor (known as Ghastly Manor on the ride's entrance). Riders in consecutive Mystery Machine-themed cars compete with each other to see who can shoot the most ghosts. Riders also shoot at Scooby Snacks, triggering appearances from Scooby-Doo. Also infesting Ghastley Manor is the Phantom Shadow, who at the end of the ride is caught by Scooby and Shaggy Rogers (who covers his eyes in fear) and revealed to be a counterfeiter named Dr. D.M. Ghastley, the owner of Ghastley Manor, who was illegally printing money in the dungeon of Ghastley Manor, and dressed up as the Phantom Shadow to scare away any trespassers. The riders then enter the garage, where Ghastley isn't sent to jail as a skeleton is driving the police van with the cop trapped in a box. The Scooby-Doo theme was licensed from Hanna-Barbera by the ride's creators, Sally Corporation. The riders come across a gigantic pipe organ, where in the Canada's Wonderland version, a rendition of the classical the piece "Fantasia in G Minor BWV 542" by J.S. Bach can be heard.

The installation at Six Flags St. Louis differed from the rest as it relied upon a water ride system. It was therefore themed to a journey through a swamp. It featured different monsters from the Scooby-Doo series as well as the Mystery Inc. gang popping out of trees and shrubs.[26]

The outsides of the show buildings are decorated with a fiberglass blue and purple castle with stylized turrets. Two circular windows resemble eyes while the entrance to the castle resembles a mouth. Guests entered the attraction by passing under a Gothic-style arch bearing the rides name, and that was adorned on either side by the letters "GM," standing for Ghastley Manor.

Voices

Awards

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sally Corporation: l'intervista. 19 November 2012. Parks Mania. 26 February 2007. fr.
  2. Web site: June 16, 2005. Warner Bros. Park, Madrid (Spain). Inauguration of the new funfair of Warner Bros. Park Madrid 'The Adventure of Scooby - Doo'.. Getty Images. 19 July 2018.
  3. News: Dean. Suellen E.. Carowinds ricochets into new season. 19 November 2012. The Dispatch. 9 May 2002.
  4. News: New Spine-Tingling Attractions at Canada's Wonderland. 19 November 2012. Ultimate Rollercoaster. 15 April 2000.
  5. Web site: Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion. https://web.archive.org/web/20130603050551/http://sallycorp.com/dark-rides/interactive/scooby-doos-haunted-mansion/ . 2013-06-03 . dead. Sally Corporation. 19 November 2012.
  6. News: Scooby-Doo Interactive Family Ride Coming to Kings Island. 19 November 2012. Ultimate Rollercoaster. 24 July 2002.
  7. News: Interactive Dark Ride Coming To Kings Dominion In 2004. 19 November 2012. Ultimate Rollercoaster. 27 October 2003.
  8. News: Six Flags Fiesta Texas Announces New Dark Ride. 19 November 2012. Ultimate Rollercoaster. 10 December 2001.
  9. News: Sally Corp. Dark Ride Coming To Six Flags St. Louis. 19 November 2012. Ultimate Rollercoaster. 14 February 2002.
  10. Web site: Mystic Mover. https://web.archive.org/web/20120425082146/http://www.etf.nl/media/PDF/ETF_Mystic_Mover.pdf. 2012-04-25 . dead. ETF RIde Systems. 11 May 2013.
  11. Scooby-Doo Adventure Best New Family Ride. 9 May 2013. 4 February 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20130208234509/http://www.etf.nl/nl/etf-ride-systems/news/?id=151&title=News&i=9. 2013-02-08 . dead. ETF Ride Systems.
  12. Web site: La Aventura de Scooby-Doo. Parque Warner Madrid. 19 November 2012.
  13. Web site: Life Without Scooby. https://web.archive.org/web/20130224064352/http://sallycorp.com/news/life-without-scooby/ . 2013-02-24 . dead. Sally Corporation. 19 November 2012. 6 July 2012.
  14. News: SpongeBob out, Snoopy in at Cedar Fair theme parks. 19 November 2012. Malaysia Star. 4 September 2009. https://archive.today/20130221023301/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/9/4/apworld/20090904090156&sec=apworld. February 21, 2013.
  15. News: Sad news from Six Flags St Louis. Their Scooby-Doo dark ride will be closing permanently in September. 22 July 2014. Facebook. Coaster Park Klub. July 22, 2014.
  16. News: MacDonald. Brady. Six Flags unveils new attractions for every park in 2015. August 29, 2014. Los Angeles Times. August 28, 2014.
  17. Web site: Construction. https://web.archive.org/web/20150522042506/https://www.sixflags.com/stlouis/attractions/battle-for-metropolis/construction. 2015-05-22 . dead. Six Flags St. Louis. August 29, 2014.
  18. News: Say Goodbye to the Scooby-Doo Ride at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. Martinez. Sarah. December 28, 2017. San Antonio Current. January 23, 2022.
  19. Web site: Pirates of the Deep Sea | Six Flags Fiesta Texas.
  20. Web site: Interactive Dark Ride | Boo Blasters on Boo Hill | Kings Island.
  21. Web site: Interactive Dark Ride | Boo Blasters on Boo Hill | Kings Dominion.
  22. Web site: Six Flags Fiesta Texas Construction Updates. https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191655/http://www.coastinusa.com/news/six-flags-fiesta-texas-construction-updates. 2018-10-29. dead.
  23. Web site: Interactive Dark Ride | Boo Blasters on Boo Hill | Canada's Wonderland.
  24. Web site: Interactive Dark Ride | Boo Blasters on Boo Hill | Carowinds.
  25. Web site: Justice League: Battle for Metropolis - Six Flags St Louis.
  26. Web site: Six Flags St. Louis Daredevil Daze 2014 - Page Thirteen. Negative-G. 6 June 2018.
  27. Web site: Sally Corporation Scooby Doo's Haunted Mansion Dark Ride. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/zboEEesmq7E . 2021-12-21 . live. YouTube. 6 June 2018. SallyCorp. 23 Apr 2009.
  28. Web site: Sally Corporation: l'intervista. 26 February 2007. Parksmania. 19 July 2018.