Editor’s Note: There are many phases to the creation of a theme park experience, ride, or attraction. The initial phase is the “blue sky” phase, where creators theorize what the idea could be. Next is the concept, which defines the ride or attraction, how it will work, what it will look like, etc. Beyond the concept stage, there are several more stages that a ride or attraction goes through before becoming a reality. In this article, Spencer Bollettieri explores a ride idea by a Universal Creative designer that went from blue sky to concept but didn’t appear to have progressed beyond that stage. While not going beyond the blue sky or concept stage isn’t unusual, it makes for a fascinating “what if” scenario when those ideas become public.
by Spencer Bollettieri, freelance writer for Theme Park Magazine
More mysterious than the Invisible Man and just as alluring as Dracula, many wonder what Universal’s Epic Universe has in development for the rumored Universal Monsters section of its new theme park. Concept art uncovered in the amazing public portfolio of theme park and Universal Creative designer, and Imagineer John Wiersma may offer insight into a once fascinating idea for a new horror attraction. The aptly titled Monster Drive-In appears to be a one-of-a-kind ride pitched as a love letter to Universal’s horror past.
Epic Universe
Announced in August 2019, Epic Universe is Universal Orlando Resort’s 750-acre theme park currently under construction. It joins Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure as part of Universal Studios’ expanding theme park portfolio. However, like most new theme park projects, little has been confirmed about the new lands, attractions, experiences, and rides. But that doesn’t stop theme park internet sleuths from digging through patents and other information to paint a picture of what the finished park might look like. Universal’s Epic Universe is slated to open in 2025 as one of the company’s most ambitious projects ever.
John Wiersma – Designer of Themed Experiences
With an impressive resume that includes Disney’s Spaceship Earth, Cars Land, and the Mario Kart ride at Universal Studios Japan, John Wiersma is an experienced entertainment designer. Among the various projects under his belt and in his future, Wiersma displays a once ambitious project idea for Epic Universe. With the only confirmed attractions based on Nintendo properties, there’s been a lot of speculation about what the resort might feature. If theories are true and his concept art is any indication, this might be one of the first in-depth looks at the supposed Universal Monsters area of the park or at least a pitch during its development.
Monster Drive-In Ride Concept
Monster Drive-In’s concept art portrays an advanced dark ride that takes guests into the world of films and television, portraying several key locations and characters from Universal’s horror catalog. In a 1950s drive-in, the art shows guests entering through the snack bar and into a showing of The Bride of Frankenstein. After boarding their cars, riders are suddenly sucked inside the movie screen to face a slew of familiar horror icons. The concept art prominently shows Frankenstein’s bride, a UFO straight out of a ’50s sci-fi B-Movie, and what appears to be the freak show from American Horror Story’s fourth season as part of the ride. The concept art hints at 1932’s The Mummy and 1954’s Creature from the Black Lagoon possibly making an appearance.
Estimated to be housed inside a 65,000-square-foot show building, Wiersma envisions multiple paths for clusters of cars that would share highlighted moments along their tracks. One part Halloween Horror Nights and one part The Great Movie Ride, Monster Drive-In depicts a delightfully frightful experience that looks as if it was stitched together by Dr. Frankenstein himself.
In 2017, two years before the announcement of Epic Universe, ideas for the park were in development, such as the blue sky and the concept for the ambitious Monster Drive-In attraction. The images appeared on Wiersma’s Website in 2021, indicating that the confidential idea likely ended up on the cutting room floor.
Monster Drive-In Ride Sequence
Based on the art designs, one can put together the following thrilling ride sequence:
- Step 1: Guests enter through a Drive-In Snack Bar to the show building.
- Step 2: Guests board into one of 24 cars that hold four people (96 guests per run).
- Step 3: Cars all start at the drive-in where guests watch a monster movie on the big screen.
- Step 4: Evil beings escape the movie, ripping apart the screen and sucking cars through the screen into a delightfully evil adventure consisting of approximately six smaller show sequences scattered throughout a dark and dense forest.
After the drive-in sequence, cars go in one of six different directions to smaller show areas. Guests will still see all show sequences but at different moments.
If Wiersma’s work is an example of what’s in development for Epic Universe, then it could be a strong start for Universal Studios’ newest massive theme park adventure. Since the closing of Beetlejuice’s Graveyard Revue and predominantly survived by Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show, Universal’s classic pantheon of monsters has lacked representation in any of the year-round attractions in Orlando. With Universal Studios helping define horror movie history, Wiersma’s Monster Drive-In is an apt homage and would have made for a run and unique experience at Epic Universe.
As 2025 approaches and new attractions take shape, aspirations are high, crowds are curious, and, hopefully, something truly epic awaits. Whether rides like Monster Drive-In are coming to Epic Universe remains to be seen. Regardless, Wiersma’s portfolio gives insight into the ambitions and imagination invested by Universal’s visionaries and glimpses at what the park could be someday.
Explore More (Videos)
The Theme Park Shark team discusses possible additions to a Universal Monster land at Epic Universe.
Explore More (Resources)
Website: John Wiersma
Web Page: John Wiersma’s Monster Drive-In Portfolio Images
About Spencer Bollettieri: As a biologist, journalist, and writer, Spencer Bollettieri has written for sites such as Screen Rant. Although mostly based out of New York, he’s traveled the world in pursuit of new stories.
