List of amusement rides
As part of its worldwide popularity, SpongeBob SquarePants has had various attractions at Nickelodeon amusement parks, as well as other themed resorts and locations around the world.
The first amusement ride dedicated to SpongeBob was SpongeBob's Boatmobiles, which opened at Paramount's Great America (now California's Great America) on March 29, 2003.[1] Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast, based off the Nickelodeon movie Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, opened on April 11, 2003 at Universal Studios Florida,[2] replacing The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera. It is a simulator ride featuring characters from several Nicktoons, including SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D: Ride debuted on May 10, 2003 at the Action Theater in Paramount Parks locations.[3] The ride would later be featured in various locations worldwide, with some still open today. The ride is a 3D motion simulator, where riders sit in a 3D theater with chairs that rock and tilt with the 3D movie.
The Flying Dutchman's Revenge was added to Carowinds, owned by Paramount at the time, on March 19, 2005,[4] and Plankton's Plunge was added to the Nickelodeon Universe area of Kings Island a year later.[5] Nickelodeon's presence in theme parks started to expand in the late 2000s, with the opening of the Nickland area at Movie Park Germany in April 2007,[6] and Nickelodeon Universe in Minnesota's Mall of America in March 2008.[7] The latter location includes Rock Bottom Plunge, the first SpongeBob-themed roller coaster. The two locations both expanded to three SpongeBob-dedicated attractions by 2008 and 2009 respectively, while SpongeBob FlyPants was added to the Nickelodeon Central area of Dreamworld Australia in June 2008.[8]
Nickelodeon Land opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in England on May 4, 2011, with three SpongeBob-themed rides.[9] A second 4-D ride, SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D: The Great Jelly Rescue!, debuted on April 19, 2013 at the Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark (formerly Nickelodeon Suites Resort) in Orlando, Florida.[10] Like the previous 4D ride, this ride would also later open in various locations worldwide. Further Nickelodeon Land parks would open in the mid-2010s, at the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid on April 30, 2014,[11] and at Sea World Australia on September 24, 2015.[12] Both of these locations feature three SpongeBob rides.
A second indoor Nickelodeon Universe park opened in the American Dream mall in New Jersey on October 25, 2019, with half of the rides open at launch, and the other half opening later.[13] SpongeBob's Crazy Carnival Ride, the first SpongeBob dark ride, opened at Circus Circus Las Vegas on March 1, 2024. A new Nickelodeon Land location opened at The Land of Legends in Turkey on March 1, 2025, featuring seven SpongeBob rides in a Bikini Bottom-themed area, with a mix of new rides and some that are carried over from other locations.[14]
Ride list
References
- ↑ Ten New Nickelodeon Rides and Attractions For Paramount's Great America - Ultimate Rollercoaster
- ↑ From The Vault: Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoons Blast - Inside Universal Forums
- ↑ SpongeBob 3D / 4D ride opens in May 2003 - Newspapers.com
- ↑ Explore this! - GoUpstate
- ↑ PKI's "Nickelodeon NewsKid" Contest 2006...Winner Announced - FOX 19 Cincinnati
- ↑ Nickelodeon To Open "Nickland" In Germany - Animation World Network
- ↑ Nickelodeon Universe Opens in March - Animation Magazine
- ↑ Spongebob Flypants blasts off - Brisbane Times
- ↑ Nickelodeon Land at Pleasure Beach Nears Completion - NewsPlusNotes
- ↑ Are You Ready Kids for SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D? - About.com
- ↑ Nickelodeon Spain And Parque de Atracciones de Madrid To Open Nickelodeonland On Wednesday 30th April 2014 - NickALive!
- ↑ Sea World - Gold Coast, Australia on Facebook: "Nickelodeon Land is now open!"
- ↑ Nickelodeon Universe at American Dream mall is open, but only half the rides are running - NJ.com
- ↑ Now Open! SpongeBob's Crazy Carnival Ride at The Land of Legends - Sally's Dark Rides