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Preview: Evermore Theme Park

“You are cordially invited…” 

That was printed on the invitation for the exclusive Lore party hosted by Evermore park and FanX. 

“Come join us for a thrilling night of Victorian-themed fantasy,” the invitation continued. “As the gates of Evermore Park open for the first time, discover the darkness lurking within…” 

Evermore is a new immersive fantasy theme park that will open later this month in Pleasant Grove, UT. In conjunction for the annual comic convention, the new park held a pre-opening party, inviting visitors to see the park before it is finally finished and open for the public. 

As those who know me can attest, I am a cosplayer. I collect or build costumes and wear them to conventions or other geek-related activities. Among my costumes is a rogue, an original character I have created over the years. My father has a warrior outfit and my brother a paladin set. When we dress up, we become an adventuring troop right out of a video game or Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Sometimes we get friends or significant others to dress up and our party grows. 

After a costume-filled weekend at FanX, it was only natural that we dressed up for the Lore Party.  

I have known about Evermore since the beginning when it was first announced at the second annual Salt Lake Comic Convention in 2014. It was an exciting idea – a fantasy theme park in Utah. A place where I could be a pirate or a fairy and go on quests. It was also an ambitious idea and I heard a lot of people wonder if it would actually become a reality or if it would die because of lack of funding and support.  

In the early days, Evermore park was originally designed to be 45 acres, less than half the size of Lagoon. Right now, it is 11 acres. The sheer size of the original park design would have taken more than $150 million, according to a Salt Lake Tribune article written in 2014. Since that first design, the park has gone through a lot of ups and downs, and its creation has taken a lot longer than planned. But the founder and creator of the park, Ken Bretschneider, has persevered and the park is almost ready to open.  

Walking through the doors of Evermore, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I had been seeing regular updates from the park’s Facebook and Instagram page and was excited to see everything come together. There were actors waiting by the gates, ready to introduce us to their world. Jack-o-lanterns galore lined the pathways, adding an autumn festival feel to the Victorian-style buildings that populated the area. Among the visitors were fellow costumers that added to the atmosphere. 

I enjoyed conversing with the characters in the tavern, who talked of a darkness spreading throughout the land. One character said to ignore it, while another adamantly assured us it was coming. I found myself drawn into the world of Evermore, fitting right in with my dagger at my side and my small dragon companion, Hawke, riding my shoulder. One fairy squealed in delight when she noticed the winged creature and asked if she could pet it. 

Wandering the park further, I watched sword fighting demonstrations and fire dances. I listened to ethereal music as I filled my platter with free meats, cheeses and fruits laid out on the banquet tables. While eating, I met a merchant of ale and his companion, a runaway noblewoman who had tired of her life and wanted adventure. Then, I wandered through a maze of tunnels under giant pumpkins and met the baby dragon, Aelin, and his tamer. 

I also saw a preview for a haunted house in the mausoleum. And, from behind chain linked fences, I saw some of the statuary, three of which were 400 years old and had been transported from Europe; the others were commissioned and made for the park. 

Other highlights of the party included briefly sitting on a horse, trying my hand at archery and listening to a band of minstrels playing. I also really enjoyed talking to people, not just the character actors but the visitors who dressed up and came prepared with a whole backstory about their original characters.  

As the sun went down, the ground lights were brought out to illuminate tents, structures and activities. However, there wasn’t enough light to really appreciate everything about the park. Visitors and employees blended together, and the features of the park were lost in the darkness. I expect there will be better lighting installed when the park is finished, but at the party, a good part of the experience was lost because of the lack of light. 

Nonetheless, I was impressed by the amount of detail in the areas I was able to see. The creators of the park have truly put a lot of effort into this project and it shows. But, judging by the lack of lighting, the number of unfinished buildings, the areas that were blocked off by fences and the lack of finished paths, I doubt the park will be ready by the deadline they have set themselves, which is sometime this month. 

I really hope this park will succeed. After years of watching Evermore’s journey, it is so exciting to see it so close to being finished. I have seen it survive setback after setback. I have watched it go through redesigns so it would be more manageable to build. I have participated in discussions about its viability after new updates were announced. I want to see this park become a Utah staple, a weekend activity where my dad, brother and I can dress up in costume and visit a few times a year. Yet, there is still some part of me that wonders if it will survive. Will it be the full immersive experience it promises to be? Will it be able to expand to include all the features the creator wanted it to have in the first place? 

I don’t know where Evermore will go from here, but I do know that I will plan on visiting it again after the gates open to the public. I want to know more about the darkness they kept mentioning. I want to interact with the characters more. And I want to listen to the musicians and storytellers. I think it will be worthwhile to visit once it is fully finished. Until then, I will wait and resign myself to watching the growth of Evermore, hoping it not only succeeds, but thrives. 

 

—miranda.lorenc 

@miranda_lorenc