Delaware North Parks and Resorts on June 18 revealed a new attraction for the millions of guests visiting Niagara Falls State Park.
Above the Roar, located inside the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Welcome Center at the park, is a fully immersive, multisensory virtual reality (VR) experience and takes participants on a thrilling journey around the most powerful waterfall in North America.
Through exclusive aerial footage, motion-enhanced seating and immersive sound, participants will soar along the U.S. side of the Niagara River just above the rapids and then over the American, Bridal Veil and Horseshoe Falls before gliding through the gorge and plunging into the depths below. There, under the water, they will encounter seven species of fish native to the river before returning to the brink of the American Falls and ending back inside the welcome center.
Delaware North – which has operated food and beverage, retail and other visitor services at the park since 1995 for New York Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation – developed and will operate the new VR attraction.
“Above the Roar offers a completely new way for people to experience Niagara Falls as part of their visit to the park,” said Derek Zwickey, chief operating officer of Delaware North Parks and Resorts. “We are proud of our partnership with New York State Parks and thrilled that Delaware North could bring this attraction to life as another way for visitors from around the globe to experience Niagara Falls State Park.”
The new attraction was covered by Buffalo Business First, WGRZ, WKBW, WIVB, Spectrum News, Buffalo Toronto Public Media (NPR) and The Buffalo News.
MDSX, an award-winning experiential design and media production firm that has helped develop several attractions at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, also developed the Above the Roar experience. The company produced a festive holiday story that was projected onto the visitor complex’s Gateway to Space building during Holidays in Space and several projection experiences for the Planet Play attraction.
Caption: Derek Zwickey (third from right), chief operating officer of Delaware North Parks and Resorts, on June 18 prepares to cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of Above the Roar, the fully immersive, multisensory virtual reality (VR) experience that Delaware North developed and will operate at Niagara Falls State Park. With Zwickey from Delaware North are Scott Socha (third from left), Delaware North senior advisor, and Michael Barnes (fifth from right), general manager for Delaware North at the park. They were joined by Mark Mistretta (fourth from right), regional director for New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; City of Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino (second from right); and other local and state government officials.
“Working with MDSX, we used cutting-edge virtual reality content to create a perspective that has never been accessible to the public – a cinematic, awe-inspiring journey that is as emotional as it is exhilarating,” Zwickey said. “Every moment is designed to bring guests closer to the scale, power and beauty of Niagara Falls in a way that feels immediate and unforgettable.”
Above the Roar is open daily year-round via a timed entry ticket, with advance booking on the website, and walk-ins welcome based on availability.
In addition to Above the Roar, the “Voices of the Falls” interactive exhibit is open this summer, exploring the past, present and future of Niagara Falls – the park as well as the surrounding community – in the voices of those that have been part of its history.
Featuring first person perspectives, historical narratives, artifacts, hands-on interactive and video presentations, the nearly 5,000-square-foot exhibit highlights the cultural, environmental and personal connections that have formed the nation’s oldest state park, including those of local indigenous communities.