A
Magical Mystery Tour Through the Hard Rock Park
Part Seven - All Good Things…
by
Raymond Elling - Posted on Saturday, August 25, 2007
It must
come to an end. What a great experience it was this second
time around. I can hardly wait for my third. <hint, hint,
wink> But, honestly, we weren't done yet. We'd have to
walk past the All Access Entry Plaza one last time. We wrapped
around Cool Country on our way back, right through Born
in the USA and up to the area between Slippery When Wet
and the start of the steel frame for the base of the icon
guitar. The footers for Slippery When Wet are currently
going in and the base of the guitar, in its beginning stage,
already looks enormous. What a site it will be to see the
massive guitar and all the "stuff" it will do.
Speaking
of "stuff" we quickly chatted about the Halloween
event scheduled for October. Hopefully, we'll be able to
report on that once the park opens. But as we passed the
Queens Head Pub, we were told that it will provide a great
place to sit at the wrap around bar and look out over the
lagoon to watch the show. There's that mention of a "Show"
again. Now we've heard the rumors of a possible fireworks
and laser show, so while can't comment further, I did ask
what else there will be. I was only met with a devilish
little grin. That alone, was peaking my interest.
I was
told that part of the structure I originally reported as
being Reggae River Falls is actually a dive platform for
Malibu Beach Party. So as I left later on, I swung by for
a quick snapshot to see the newly painted yellow and purplish
platform at the front parking lot.
We took
a last walk through British Invasion and again saw plenty
of work being done at Maximum RPM! Reality was setting it
that the tour was all but finished.
Excitement
at what I had just experienced and depression that it was
over settled in all at once. With that great modern convenience
called air-conditioning blasting our faces we stopped to
return our hard hats and vests. That's when I realized where
I was…
…It
was the same room where we geared up. I had noticed everyone
working at their computers the first time around, but in
all my child-like anticipation, I never realized where I
was and what I "discovered" (pun intended). This
was what I have come to call the center of the hive, the
brainchild of the park. This was the nerve center where
all the magic is created. The- OK, I'm rambling. Sorry.
Lining the walls of the room I couldn't believe my eyes.
It was everywhere- Concept art, building interior designs,
fabric swatches, all of it right there! That "kid in
a candy store", "butterflies in my stomach"
feeling slapped me like a dead wet fish.
Now,
I'm sure I'm sworn to secrecy and the Hard Rock Park Gods
would strike me dead for giving away any details. SO I'M
NOT TALKING! You'll have to settle for name, rank, and serial
number. I'll have to make this like an epic movie with a
great cliffhanger ending to get you ready for the next installment.
So let me give it a try.
Everything
I've come to enjoy about seeing the Backstage Tour (and
I do enjoy it) suddenly became the grass which I thought
was green. But this- this was the greener side. All the
colors, layouts, designs, logos, everything was here. Imagine
if you will the ending to Raiders of the Lost Ark. A lone
man wheels a crate, carrying one of the greatest finds known
to man. But we zoom out to reveal it is just one of hundreds,
if not thousands of unearthed treasures, just as fascinating.
That is the best way to describe it. You really can't imagine
the details this dedicated staff is working on. So, we'll
end with saying- you'll have to come out and see it first-hand
come the spring of 2008.
Thanks
to all those at the Hard Rock Park who gave us this one-of-a-kind
opportunity. It was an adrenaline rush like the attractions
themselves will be able to provide. Now if you'll excuse
me, I need to get in line before you do.
Previous
Sections:
"Part
Six - We're in Heaven"
"Part
Five - All Acess, All Amazing"
"Part
Four - A Little Bit Country"
"Part Three - An American
Idiot in Born in the USA"
"Part Two - The British are
Coming!"
"Part One - Like a Kid in
a Candy Store"
