26 February 2017 – Final Test Rounds
The late winter sun cast a pale glow over Elysion Park, glinting off the deep bronze finish of The Discovery 16. The arm rose high above the Explorer's Zone, its metallic sheen broken only by the circular gondola at the end — upholstered in rich bordeaux seats, each fitted with gleaming brass-coloured restraints. The central hub was panelled to resemble worn leather travel cases, decorated with faded stickers from cities around the world.
Lucas stood just outside the fenced test area, hands in his jacket pockets, watching as the Italian engineers from Technical Park performed final checks. Wrenches tightened the last bolts, a smear of grease on a hinge here and there, and then came a thumbs-up from the control booth.
With a low hum, the ride came to life. The single bronze arm began to swing, at first in a slow, deliberate arc, the gondola's bordeaux seats rotating gently. On the second pass, the spin quickened, catching the light on the brass trim. By the fourth swing, they were nearly vertical, the rotation sending the horizon turning in smooth, dizzying rolls.
Walter stepped up beside him, a faint smirk tugging at his mouth.
"Now that," he said, "looks like it belongs here."
Lucas nodded, eyes on the ride as it climbed again. "Exactly what I wanted."
When the arm slowed, returning to its upright rest position, one of the engineers approached, his accent thick.
"You want to try? One full cycle. Safe."
Lucas smiled. "Let's do it."
Moments later, the restraint clicked down over his shoulders, the polished brass cool against his jacket. The ride began its build-up, swings growing higher, spins more forceful. At the peak, the seat pitched forward, the sky tilting before the drop pulled him back down. The wind rushed past, cold and sharp, and by the time the cycle ended, his pulse was racing.
He stepped off, a grin breaking through the chill. "She's ready," he said to Walter. "This is going to turn heads."
Later that afternoon
By mid-afternoon, the February light had softened, giving the bronze arm of The Discovery 16 a warm glow. A camera crew from the park's marketing team stood ready just outside the safety perimeter, tripods planted firmly on the paving stones. Emma Scholz, wrapped in a scarf against the cold, checked her notes one last time before looking up at Lucas.
"Alright, we'll do two full cycles — one with empty seats for clean motion shots, and one with volunteers. We'll cut it together with close-ups later," she said.
Lucas gave a small nod, stepping aside as the engineers powered up the ride again. The bronze arm began its graceful swing, the bordeaux seats spinning smoothly against the late-winter sky. Emma's cameraman crouched low to catch the silhouette of the arm cutting across the sun, then moved to the side for a tracking shot as the gondola rolled over the top.
The second run brought in a group of staff volunteers bundled in park jackets, their laughter and shouts caught by a small boom mic. As the ride picked up speed, their voices mixed with the mechanical hum and the whoosh of air. Emma stood just behind the cameraman, smiling as she watched the footage on his monitor.
"This is exactly what we need," she said quietly. "It feels big, fast… and different from anything else we've got."
When the final shot wrapped, the crew began packing up, their breath misting in the cooling air. Lucas glanced back at the towering bronze arm, now resting silently in its cradle. In just over a week, it would no longer be a test project — it would be one of Elysion Park's star attractions.
That evening – Online release
By seven o'clock that evening, Elysion Park's official social media channels lit up with a new post. The thumbnail showed Sky Discovery in mid-swing, the bronze arm cutting against a pale winter sky, the bordeaux seats a blur of motion.
Caption:
> "Opening March 2017 — Take flight on Sky Discovery, our brand-new pendulum thrill ride! Swing, spin, and roll through the air for the ultimate adrenaline rush."
Official Ride Stats:
Ride name: Sky Discovery
Manufacturer: Technical Park (Italy)
Model: Discovery 16
Height: 17 metres at full swing
Max speed: 65 km/h
Max G-force: +3.6 G (short bursts)
Ride cycle: ± 2 minutes
Capacity: 16 riders per cycle (~320 riders/hour)
A slick one-minute video played beneath the text: sweeping shots of the bronze arm swinging higher and higher, the bordeaux seats spinning smoothly against the late-winter sky. Riders laughed and screamed as the gondola rolled over the top, the brass accents catching the light.
The comments section filled quickly.
> @ThemeParkFan89: "That bronze and bordeaux colour scheme is gorgeous. Fits the park so well!"
@LoopingLarry: "Finally, a proper thrill ride at Elysion! Can't wait to ride."
@FamilyFirstDE: "Looks amazing, but +3.6G? Not sure my kids will handle that…"
@ThrillSeekerNL: "17 metres isn't massive, but the spinning will make it feel intense."
@OldSchoolCoasters: "Interesting choice for a smaller park. Hope it doesn't scare away the family crowd."
Lucas scrolled through the feed from his office, the glow of the monitor reflecting in his eyes. The mix of excitement and hesitation was exactly what he'd expected. Curiosity, after all, was the best marketing tool he could ask for.