Over 2,750 m² of themed rockwork across a 7,000 m² ride environment, from 3D design through carving and final paint.
01 / Details
Overview
Over 2,750 m² of themed rockwork across a 7,000 m² ride environment, 3D design through carving and final paint, for Mack Rides' hybrid boat-and-coaster Bermuda Triangle attraction (the world premiere of Mack's 'Rocking Boat' ride system, ending in a 16-metre waterfall drop at over 60 km/h). Opened June 2025 as the final phase of Futuroscope's €300m Vision 2025 plan.
Place
Poitiers, France
Company
Petro Art Productions
Role
General Foreman
Client
Mack Rides
Year
2024
Project Brief
Mission Bermuda: Theme Park Ride, Poitiers, France.
2,750 m²
Themed rockwork
7,000 m²
Ride environment
16 m
Waterfall drop
2025
Opened
The Challenge
Make it read as real
A theme park ride has to read as natural rock, reef or carved stone up close, and still meet the structure, safety and schedule demands of a live build.
01
The Solution
Shaped and finished by hand
Scope on this project: rockwork, 3D Design, carving and final paint. Delivered as General Foreman with Petro Art Productions.
02
“
The Outcome
A finished theme park ride for Mack Rides at Futuroscope, Poitiers, France.
Key Features
01
Rockwork
Artificial rock surfaces shaped and textured to read as natural stone at close range.
02
3D Design
Forms, levels and sightlines worked out in 3D before any steel is cut.
03
Carving
Texture, strata, cracks and detail cut by hand while the material is still workable.
04
Final Paint
Base coats, washes and dry brushing that make the surface read as real.
Visual Gallery
29 photos
More from the build05 / 29
PRO
Process
Typical build sequence for themed rockwork
01
Design
Forms, levels and colour references agreed from the concept or 3D design before work starts.
02
Armature
Steel bent and fixed to carry the final shape, with mesh tied over it as the base for the surface.
03
Shotcrete
Sprayed concrete built up over the mesh in layers to form the rock shell.
04
Carving
Texture, strata and cracks cut by hand while the surface is still workable.
05
Paint
Base coats, washes and dry brushing, worked until the surface reads as real.
02 / Stack
Methods
Materials & Methods
Every build stands on its methods. These are the disciplines this project called on, from structure to final finish.
RC
Core Layer
Foundation / Primary discipline
Rockwork
Artificial rock surfaces shaped and textured to read as natural stone at close range.
Role on siteGeneral Foreman
Scope
04
Disciplines on this build
Year
2024
Project year
Team
PAP
Petro Art Productions
3D
L02
Capability
3D Design
Forms, levels and sightlines worked out in 3D before any steel is cut.
ScopeIncluded
CR
L03
Capability
Carving
Texture, strata, cracks and detail cut by hand while the material is still workable.
ScopeIncluded
FP
L04
Finish
Final Paint
Base coats, washes and dry brushing that make the surface read as real.
