Disney's America Park - The one and only, really truly Bench Four...and The End

[Wabigbear]

Yes Sports fans, it's FINALLY come to an end...the very last bench of the Disney America park project!  If you've followed along through all four benches up to now, well, congratulations, you have a stronger pain threshold than most! 

And yes, I know this is labeled "Bench Four" when it's the Fifth Bench released...  It's a long and painful story as to why, but lets just pretend it never happened and just call this one 'the last', sound good?

This FINAL Bench includes Enterprise 1885, representing America after the Civil War when the Industrial Revolution took off.  Hundreds of thousands of new immigrants flocked to our shores.

Then we visit New Orleans in the Roaring Twenties, a bustling port city with gin joints and voodoo practitioners.

Then finally we take in Rushmore Station, a salute to our National Parks...and those Country Bears who inhabit them.

So let's get started before another year goes by...

We enter from Patriot Plaza, the central area by the park's entrance...

We then enter small town America in 1885...

There's stores on the left, outdoor dining on the right...

Here is a tribute to Ellis Island, where thousands of immigrants passed through on the arrival in the United States...  Our version also contains a museum illustrating where they came from...

Now we'll visit some of the warehouses...

China Warehouse being the main one here...

There are also recreations of some famous structures connected to American ingenuity...Singers original workshop, Ford Motors and Edison's Menlo Park buildings..

Marvel of steam power provides some thrills here too...

Ford introduces his original Tin LIzzie to the masses with The Ford Experience...

"The American Experience" showcases the era's accomplishments...

Next door "Telsa vs Edison"...which ride will YOU try?

A modern department store from this era marks an alternative entrance to the area around The Industrial Revolution coaster...

Inside the Department Store...

There's a small food court along the way...

Directions on where to go next...

Down this hall...

Passing through we'd come out in an Industrial part of the town...Wagi Woolen Mills...for all your itchy, scratchy apparel needs...

Right across from Rich Mills...  Ol' Hank busy shoveling coal to keep the furnaces burning...

The entrance to The Industrial Revolution Rollercoaster...

The factory the ride circles and enters is large...

Ride station... (Nope, I didn't build the coaster itself, it's a wonderful Workshop find that strangely enough was also called "Industrial Revolution" that I just added more theming to...)

Lift hill...

Here we go!

It's a little hot in here!

Around and around and back to the station finally...

A path under the coaster superstructure...

Leads to an iron works...

Inside we find a small food court and The Whip ride...

While outside crews are busy stacking iron beams to send out by rail...

Oil...Black Gold...Texas Tea as the Beverly Hillbillies used to claim...

This path heads on towards Rushmore Station...we'll visit there a little later...

We'll finish our visit to Enterprise 1885 and then it's on to our next stop...

 

 

 

 

Edited August 7, 2023 by Wabigbear

[JB]

Wow, you guys have been busy behind the scenes! Really cool 1880s architecture, including factories and machinery. I like that steam-powered flat ride (don't know the name of it) with the undulating track. It appears to be a working ride, since the in-game exit is there. It really fits the theme.

"Edison vs Tesla": I'm more interested in Tesla, so that would be my first choice. But obviously, I would do both! Are there any actual rides inside?
The Department Store interior looks great! Too bad that the merchandise billboards are milky looking; or was that intentional?

The Wagi Woolens building is a fine example of 1800s industrial architecture. And what would the 1800s be without "itchy, scratchy apparel"? I assume one can buy plush versions of the Cat and the Mouse inside? Disney does own The Simpsons after all.

That looks like "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" digging a hole under the Industrial Revolution track. I remember reading that book in our grade school library when I was 7 or 8, around 1960.
I love the dingy, faded coloring of the coaster.

A long, but excellent update. Thanks!

[Wabigbear]

On Telsa vs Edison it's just a couple flat rides to bring in the peeps I'm afraid.

The merchandise billboards are behind the glass on the in-game storefront windows...I blame Frontier for not employing proper widow-washing practices!

"Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel" kind of rings a bell...  I'll have to ask Citytrader if he read it when he was little too...was probably written on papyrus back then...

 

Thanks for the comments JB!

[Wowman]

all these buildings a street scenes you made are amazing. Its basically a town build as much as a park build.

[citytrader]

Thanks for the great comments guys! This bench was always one of my favorites! Wagi took my little industrial town and really pumped up the volume (and the piece count!) on this one! He has a wonderful knack for squeezing every square inch out of the game and is a master of detail.

Edison versus Tesla was originally planned as duelling coasters, but we couldn't find any that really fit the bill, (neither one of us are that great at coaster building)so we just employed a couple of Weisshorn flats, a Himalaya type ride. One runs forward, and the other reverse. The peeps seem to prefer Tesla, BTW! The American Experience is just another flat ride, no real interior to speak of. We tend to shy away from interiors unless there is a real need. It just adds to the piece count!!!

If and when Frontier ever releases PC2, I would love show buildings where you can set the duration, the excitement, etc. with sliders, maybe even the capacity and set it all in just a big box so you can make these beautiful facades and have all kinds of different shows. Of course, a real outdoor show like a stunt show would be great as well. Ah, well...

[wolfpaw]

Absolutely love that woodie in the factory! Please tell me this project isn't ending - IT CAN'T BE OVER 

Someone donate the park a billion dollars so they can expand into 5 new areas

[Gin]

I really like the theming to this!

The wooden coaster fit perfectly.

Really great job!

[Wabigbear]

7 hours ago, wolfpaw said:

Someone donate the park a billion dollars so they can expand into 5 new areas

Well, there IS a bit of vacant land left...but Rich would shoot me and the bench would slow down to a crawl!  LOL!

To be honest I HAD toyed with the idea of one more area...themed to 1950's era with Googie-style buildings and early space-age looks.  While it just wouldn't fit on this last bench without breaking it, it's an idea that perhaps we'll revisit sometime in the future...

[citytrader]

[Wabigbear]

Well, first we need to finish looking around this park before doing anything else!

Let's visit New Orleans in 1928...the Roaring Twenties!

First stop, along the lakeside is the magnificent Big Easy Restaurant.  Combining New Orleans wrought iron with Southern hospitalitry, and featuring both fine dining and a more informal space, they also offer special events in the spacious rooftop rotunda...

Jazz quartets often play in the small gazebo outside...

The lakeside view gives a glimpse of the ornate conservatory...

Ceiling fans cool those dining below...

Directly across the street is Parc Duc d'Orléans...

Dedicated to Phillpe II, Duke of Orléans, who served as Regent during the early years of King Louis XV, and for whom the City of New Orleans was named...

The water fountains are shaped like trumpets in a nod to the City's musical heritage...

Next we'll explore the riverside, with the many warehouses.  The Mississippi has a few boats working on it this morning...

Just to the right is the bridge that leads to the Seaside Boardwalk section of the park...

Royal Street runs along the river's warehouse district...on the left is a small museum showcasing the City's history...

Crawdads and catfish is available to dine on at the Fish Market...

Just ahead is the Krewe Warehouse, where parts of the Marti Gras floats are built...

The Port of New Orleans is a busy place, and there's much more to see, but I see a famous streetcar headed our way, so for now...see you next time!

(And yes, I know "Krewe" is mis-spelled on the sign!  Yikes!)

Edited August 10, 2023 by Wabigbear

[Wowman]

wow - this is a lot in one post. The Big Easy looks like a nice Southern charm building, but not sure if it was intended or not...but almost looks like a land version of a paddle boat.

[Wabigbear]

8 minutes ago, Wowman said:

wow - this is a lot in one post. The Big Easy looks like a nice Southern charm building, but not sure if it was intended or not...but almost looks like a land version of a paddle boat.

It does, doesn't it?  I actually found a couple New Orleans buildings that had a similar 'wheelhouse' on the roof.

The original building is from the Workshop, I tore it apart and re-did parts of it, then added on the conservatory to the back, but the original work was really outstanding and just fit the Southern theme...

[JB]

A paddle boat, yes. But I think the Big Easy is reminiscent of Disneyland's old Chicken Plantation restaurant, which was torn down in 1962 to make room for New Orleans Square. Big Easy is more elegant, though. Really nice fountain in the "parc", and I love the trumpet-shaped drinking fountain.

I'm glad we get to see inside the Krewe (or Kewe) Warehouse to see the various parts of the floats. Isn't that the same scary Jack-in-the-Box that we saw in one of Fisherman's(?) parks? It's been a few years, so I'm not sure.

[Wabigbear]

52 minutes ago, JB said:

I'm glad we get to see inside the Krewe (or Kewe) Warehouse to see the various parts of the floats. Isn't that the same scary Jack-in-the-Box that we saw in one of Fisherman's(?) parks? It's been a few years, so I'm not sure.

You know, I think you're right, but yeah, it's been a few years!  LOL!  I think it was Kaleidoscope Piers...

[Gin]

I've never been to New Orleans, but I'm really liking the architecture on the 'Big Easy Restaurant' and it's ornamental features.

It's what I really like about that era - its architecture has always been fascinating to me.

Fantastic work, Wabigbear!

[wolfpaw]

You guys seriously nailed that old Louisiana street look - my only complaint is that it's clean... too clean, haha but that's not something you can really change in PlanCo! Another awesome update, still so sad to see this project end but what a ride it's been!

[Cody]

Hmmm giving me ideas on how to approach sub-sections of the America section at World Of Discovery. Thinking about doing small areas for more food and merchandise locations to diversify the offerings instead of having bbq being the only option for that country.....not pointing fingers at Epcot. 

Amazing as always, I have always loved how crafty you have been with this massive project. It is nice to see a park not dominated by IP and the IP that is present is done so effectively it flows into the experiences rather than in-your-face here is an IP.

[Wabigbear]

Thanks for the nice comments everyone - much appreciated!

We'll continue down Royal Street...first these signs caught our attention...

The Customs House was a Workshop find, based on the real building I believe...here it serves as a small museum outlining NOLA history...

French influences abound, of course...

Just in case anyone missed the smaller sign...

Another wonderful Workshop blueprint which was transposed into a streetcar...named Desire  (Yeah, I know the real one runs nowhere near this part of the city!)...

Just past is Wharf Street...

Home to some food vendors...

At the end of which is the entrance to the "Search for Bonnie & Clyde" ride...and a good place for Cajun Fast Food!

 

To the right there's a ramp down to the boat docks...The Cotton Warehouse holds the exit to Bonnie & Clyde...

Not so sure I'd take a ride on the SS Leaky Boat...

River traffic is building at this hour...

Next up:  A spin on the "Search for Bonnie & Clyde"...

 

[JB]

Wow, seems like you built the whole town! The closest I've been to New Orleans is 30,000 ft.... flying over in a jet. But I like the totally immersive experience you've created here.

The town needs to fire its sign painter; "Kewe Warehouse" still hasn't been fixed.  Love the old, worn planking on Wharf Street.

[Disneyland Colorado Resort]

First time seeing this project and I loved all the different areas and images that you've shared! I was always fascinated by the Disney's America Park and wondered how it would have turned out. You've done a great job capturing the spirit of what it could have been. Each area is so immersive and well-detailed. I especially love the Port of New Orleans section. Great work!

[Wabigbear]

Thanks everyone!

 

We'll continue our tour where we left off...right in front of "The Search for Bonnie & Clyde"...

Sadly this attraction didn't turn out as I had envisioned it.  It was meant to be a shooter, where guests rode along chasing the Barrows Gang and joining in on the firefights.  Deciding to error on the side of caution, I thought that might be a little too realistic, not being space aliens, or cartoon critters.  So I revamped it just as the Luna Autos traveling around following the gang.  Besides, at this point on the bench the in-game textures on the targets looked horrible even with settings cranked up...  So here we enter the dockside warehouse...

Our chariots await  (Citytrader relates to that term...)

Our purpose on this adventure...keep a sharp lookout!

Down a narrow New Orleans alleyway...

Gunfire breaks out just ahead at the Last National Bank!  The Barrows Gang has struck again...

We'll head around to the back and hope to cut off their escape...

Oops!  Looks like the Bad Guys had the same idea!

More gunfire ahead!

Looks like part of the Gang escaped through this tunnel...

We've followed them to the countryside outside of the city...

The desperadoes have held up Hank's Garage!   There's ol' Barney standing out in the open watching the Gang and Feds trade shots...  Barney never was quite right in the head since that incident with the hay baler...

We'll sneak past them...

Louie and his Boys have their still running full-time to meet demand from all the speakeasies in the city...

Looks like the Gang didn't appreciate Louie's bootlegger's muscling in on their territory

The trail ends near this farm, we'll cut through the barn...

Looks like one of Clyde's cars...maybe the Feds will be lucky?

You'll have to wait and see how it turns out...  In the meantime we'll head back into the Big Easy...

Back to the Warehouse where we began...

We'll grab something to drink on the way out...

There's much more NOLA to explore...

[JB]

Even without the dead bodies, full of holes, this is a decent ride. The setting is the star of the show: The NOLA buildings and architecture, and the countryside outside the city (the gas station dog seems to be taking all the noisy ruckus in stride). It's sort of like a Bonnie & Clyde version of Pirates of the Caribbean; nobody gets killed or hurt in that ride either.

[Wabigbear]

That's Hank's old deaf dog Brutus...he's just waiting for somebody to come too close so he can flop on his back for a belly-rub.  He only barks when he see's Hank coming, so he looks like he's earning his keep. 

The ferocious guard dog that he is...

 

[Kablary]

Absolutley love the in-depth storytelling of The Search for Bonnie & Clyde - you really don't even need the narration to follow along! Fantastic work on the ride. 

When you're building such an attaction, are you putting track pieces together one section at a time and then creating the set and scene around it? Or did you layout the entire track with the storyline in mind and then go back and theme it all out? I've always been so curious what the creative process is behind these epic dark rides in theme park sims 

[citytrader]

When I built Ichabod's ride for the Sleepy Hollow section of this park, I had the story in mind, and built four or five rooms, each with a different story to tell and made a rough drawing of the track layout. 

Then I laid out the entire track, and built the scenery along the way. I also used a number of billboards which gave me a fantastic sense of depth in just a tile or two.

Edited August 17, 2023 by citytrader