Special Premiere Shows During Zoo Boo and Weekends Through October

ROYAL OAK, Mich., October 15, 2009 – Detroit Zoo visitors will literally be “blown away” by the 126-seat Wild Adventure 3-D/4-D Theater opening Friday, October 16, 2009, at the Ford Education Center.  The first and only theater of its kind at any Michigan zoo delivers a high-definition viewing experience in 3-D with 7.1 digital audio surround sound, enhanced with full-sensory 4-D special effects such as wind, mist and scents.  The new permanent attraction debuts with the visually stunning wildlife adventure “Wild World Africa”.   

The Wild Adventure 3-D/4-D Theater opens with continuous shows during Zoo Boo October 16-18, 23-25 and 29-31, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  There will also be shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. beginning Saturday, October 17, through Saturday, October 31.  A regular schedule will be effective beginning Sunday, November 1 (availability and show times may vary; click on the 3-D/4-D banner at www.detroitzoo.org for the most up-to-date information).  The introductory ticket price is $3 with Zoo admission for visitors 2 years and older, available at the main entrance or the Wild Adventure 3-D/4-D Theater ticket booth.

While a 3-D experience engages sight and hearing, 4-D special effects engage the other senses as well.  “Imagine feeling a rhino’s hot breath on your face or being splashed by a Land Rover going through a mud hole,” said Executive Director Ron Kagan.  “We love to provide our visitors with memorable, engaging and immersive experiences, and this one really delivers.”

Shot on location at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya, “Wild World Africa” tells a story of a lion tracker, veterinarian, poachers, game rangers and a young boy.  (The film contains a few graphic images and may not be suitable for children under 5 years old.)  The 10-minute experience features never-before-seen 3-D footage of some of Africa's most endangered animals – including elephants, rhinos, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, cheetahs and lions – many of which can also be seen at the Detroit Zoo.  With special 3-D glasses, audience members feel as if they can reach out and touch these amazing animals and, thanks to 4-D technology, even smell them. 

The film is projected onto an enormous screen with a viewing area of 15x27 feet by a dual projection system.  A series of pipes underneath the floor deliver blasts of air, mist and scents to the audience through each seatback.  The seats themselves offer additional sensory surprises such as vibrators, back pokers and leg ticklers, all timed to the action on the screen. 

The Detroit Zoo’s Ford Education Center Theater was transformed into a 3-D/4-D theater over the summer months.  The revenue-enhancing $1 million attraction was created by SimEx-Iwerks, an entertainment company specializing in 3-D and 4-D cinematic experiences.  

The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo.  Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak.  The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through Labor Day (with extended hours until 8 p.m. Wednesdays during July and August).  Admission is $11 for adults 15 to 61, $9 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7 for children ages 2 to 14; children under 2 are free.  For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org.  The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks.  Admission is free.  For more information, call (313) 852-4056. 
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