Draft:Six Flags Power Plant
| Previously known as Six Flags Power Plant | |
| Location | Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Opened | July 8, 1985 |
Six Flags Power Plant, later rebranded as just The Power Plant, was a family entertainment center located in Baltimore, Maryland.[1]
History
[edit]At the start of the decade, Baltimore's Inner Harbor was experiencing an economic and tourist renaissance with the grand opening of Harborplace in 1980. But the dilapidated "Baltimore Gas and Electric Company" power plant, which dominated the skyline was viewed as an eyesore that needed to be corrected. In 1982, Six Flags submitted a proposal to turn the plant into a "time machine".[2] The idea was developed alongside writer Ray Bradbury, who was brought in as a consultant.[3]
In December 1983, Raymond C. Grable, who had been with Six Flags since the opening of the original park, was chosen as vice-president and general manager of the new subsidiary "Six Flags Power Plant, Inc."[4]
Former Walt Disney Imagineer Gary Goddard and his company Landmark Entertainment Group were brought in to lead the project.
Originally announced to present a wide variety of attractions and rides, the Power Plant opened with none. Famous author Ray Bradbury, who initially helped create the indoor park said, "We have so many ideas that we now have to weed them out."[5]
Positioned on Pier Four of Baltimore's inner harbor. The park featured revolutionary entertainment rivaled only by The Walt Disney Company, it included animatronic robot shows in the Magic Lantern Theatre, as well as fun-house style attraction in The Circus of the Mysterious. To change their image Six Flags decided no attractions would be included in the Power Plant, against the designer's recommendations.
Six Flags's continual dismissal on the concept of including rides in the Power Plant, was one of the marks that would later lead to its demise. As a direct result of the "No Rides" rule presented by the company, the design team had to resort to making everything a walk-through attraction, which are famous for failing. In promoting the new Power Plant, the company launched the "NOT AN AMUSEMENT PARK" campaign, or tried to. A giant banner was hung on the building in bold red letters spelling out NOT AN AMUSEMENT PARK, with the idea that every few weeks the banner would change to something else describing what it wasn't, to build up mystery around what Power Plant was supposed to be. It was determined to be a bad idea for a campaign but the banner was never removed.[6]
Poor marketing on behalf of the Six Flags company further led to more confusion surrounding the Power Plant. No commercials were run prior, no pre-sale tickets were sold. The GM didn't want to create a mass hysteria opening. At last minute they decided to have an opening ceremony, and due to the only advertising being the banner on the side of the building, the opening was abysmal.
List of Attractions
[edit]- The Laboratory of Wonders, a show in three acts with each one demonstrating how technology was making the world a better place.
- The Magical Lantern Theatre, a giant robotic Victorian Toy theatre hosted by the character, MR. ELECTRO and his assistant PROTO.
- The Circus of the Mysterious, In this walking tour, a host of strange and magical objects were on display, such as The Leprechaun’s Throne, The Fountain of Youth, Pandora’s Box, etc.
- The Sensorium, a show that allowed the audience to see, hear, and smell, the world of a time gone by.
References
[edit]- ^ Young, Josh (December 11, 2014). "Six Flags Power Plant 2: Not An Amusement Park". Theme Park University. Archived from the original on March 24, 2015.[dead link]
- ^ Banisky, Sandy (July 21, 1982). "Exotic Ideas Pile Up For Harbor Power Plant". The Baltimore Sun. p. D1.
- ^ "New life for Baltimore plant?". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. July 22, 1982. p. 14.
- ^ Berke, Richard (December 14, 1983). "Six Flags and city finalize Inner Harbor fun center deal". The Evening Sun. Vol. 148, no. 50. Baltimore, Maryland. p. F8.
- ^ https://search.proquest.com/docview/138059177/9314766F1BF74165PQ/1?accountid=39773
- ^ http://themeparkuniversity.com/extinct-attractions/six-flags-power-plant-3-closed/