Press release: DCA's Grizzly River Run
GRIZZLY RIVER RUN: WHITE-WATER RAFTING AT ITS MOST EXCITING It is the longest, tallest, fastest and spinningest white-water river rafting ride of its kind in the world. Located amidst the pine trees and sequoias that dot the terrain of the majestic Grizzly Peak, the icon of Disney's California Adventure theme park, Grizzly River Run takes the white-water river rafting experience to new heights…literally! "We rode all kinds of white-water rafting rides around the country and looked at the best and most exciting parts of each to combine into our attraction," says Chris Tietz, show producer for Grizzly River Run. "We have created the longest ride at about six minutes; the tallest one with drops starting at about 45 feet up the mountain; the only one that incorporates spinning into the experience and, with the swift acceleration of the raft, the fastest ride of its kind on the planet."As the red, blue, green and tan circular rafts are swiftly carried along the rushing river, guests will be exhilarated by the experience of traversing up and down and around Grizzly Peak's natural wilderness setting. "The most thrilling aspect of the ride is the drops," adds Tietz. "This is the first time this technology has ever been incorporated into a river rafting ride." Grizzly River Run boasts two over-the-falls descents, one of which propels guests spinning over the rapids in a steep 22-foot fall." The rafts each accommodate eight adventurous guests on the wild and wet six-minute journey.
Grizzly Peak and Grizzly River Run are set within the overall Grizzly Peak Recreation Area of Golden State in Disney's California Adventure. Representing the beauty of the state's national parks, the area typifies the great outdoors. Chris Runco, senior concept designer for the Grizzly Peak, Grizzly River Run and the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, all encompassed within the area, worked on the project from the first "napkin sketches" to storyboards to final construction.
"The back story we created for Grizzly Peak Recreation Area is of the Eureka Gold and Timber Company which used to run the place from the 1800s through the 1930s," says Runco. "After they mined and logged the mountain of all its resources, the area was abandoned. Over time, the mountain reclaimed itself; trees grew back and the water rushed through once more. A group of young people have transformed it into a contemporary river rafting company that takes guests on the Grizzly River Run expedition."
Creating a unique raft ride that was different from all the rest was quite a challenge for Runco and his team of Imagineers. "We went through a lot of testing and trial and error to figure out how to engineer the rafts to spin while going over a drop in rushing water," he says. And according to Runco, the results is not just a passive circular motion, "It spins like a top!"
Grizzly Peak, the 150-foot-tall mountain that the ride traverses, features a California Grizzly Bear rock formation at its crest. The design was carefully created to resemble a natural rock configuration that just happens to look like a bear. Chris Tietz, explained the creative process. "We wanted the mountain to clearly represent the beauty of California's natural wilderness, much like Yosemite National Park. Along with that we wanted to develop an icon out of granite. The California Grizzly Bear fit the bill perfectly."
The complete mountain came to life through a series of models intricately sculpted to scale. For construction of the actual site, computer technology was used in conjunction with the models. "We used computers and laser scanners to get all the profiles," says Tietz. "A mechanism attached to the computer actually shaped the underlying metal rebar to replicate the rock formations. Those were then overlayed with lathe (wire mesh) upon which plaster was sprayed. A second layer of plaster was applied and hand-molded exactly to specification by a talented group of sculptures and artists, many of whom worked on the Tree of Life at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom." The results is an exact duplication of the models but built to full size.
Another section of the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area is the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, a family play area where adults and kids can enjoy the great outdoors. "It's themed around three ranger lookout towers and features a number of displays, activities, and interactive experiences," Tietz explained. Surrounded by redwoods and sequoias, guests can climb the towers, slide down cable runs, slip through hollow redwoods, scale a rugged sideways course along a rock wall and navigate suspension bridges among the many physical activities featured.
While Disney's California Adventure resides in the middle of the city of Anaheim, a trip to Grizzly Peak offers a unique glimpse into the wonder and beauty of the Golden State from the splendor of the wilderness to the thrill of white-water rafting. It's a not-to-be-missed experience for every member of the family.
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-- Posted October 23, 2000
Source: Company press release