Construction has started on The Bear Grylls Adventure, a one of its kind attraction where thrill-seekers can experience physical and mental challenges inspired by explorer, Bear Grylls.
The 8,000 square metre permanent Merlin Entertainments attraction, costing £20 million, is being built at the NEC in Birmingham, and will open in 2018.
Work has begun on site with initial ground clearance currently taking place to make way for the unique attraction. Installation of external and dividing walls which will house the series of extreme adventure challenges has also commenced.
Foundations for the adventure park’s iFLY indoor skydiving wind tunnel, and zip wire and high ropes course will also start this month, with development of the structural walls for the enormous 886m3 diving tank also underway. This would fill more than 6,500 bathtubs. Contractors have also begun mechanical and electrical work.
McGoff Construction are leading building works on site and have recently completed the Castle Hotel at LEGOLAND Windsor Resort and CBeeBies Land Hotel at Alton Towers Resort in partnership with Merlin Entertainments.
The attraction will use number of local building material suppliers and will employ more than 200 staff during the various construction phases.
Following the initial construction stage, a team of creative specialists will work on theming the attraction to achieve an immersive and authentic wilderness experience which will house the series of planned challenges and activities. The dedicated team will create life like rock formations based on El Capitan and Fontainebleau, as well as unexplored jungle scenes.
Taking inspiration from Bear’s real-life expeditions across mountains, deserts and jungles around the world, the attraction will give guests the ultimate platform to truly test themselves with challenges inspired by Bear Grylls.
The attraction will feature five different activities to push daredevils to their limits:
Dive – experience the thrill of a new environment as you take on the ultimate dive experience
Fly – learn how to spin, roll, flip and fly high with the help of highly skilled parachute experts in the iFLY indoor skydiving wind tunnel which simulates the incomparable feeling of freefall
Climb – choose and conquer a route inspired by breathtaking famous terrains – from the boulders of Fontainebleau to the face of El Capitan to the steps of Mount Everest, climbers of all experience levels will be able to scale nature’s giants
High Ropes – Zip slide from a Chinook helicopter onto the most extreme high ropes action in Europe. The multi-level, high rope challenge (more than 5 stories high) is inspired by the commando Tarzan course at the Royal Marines Centre and requires ultimate levels of courage to complete the course.
Basecamp – a collection of four mental, physical, group and individual challenges designed to help you learn the core skills for adventure. These activities will test adventurer’s limits and require both brains and brawn. Including military style training course, themed breakout room and a secret face your fears nerve testing experience
General Manager, James Thomas said: “We’re thrilled to be part of this world first project, that will bring adventurers to Birmingham. This attraction has been years in the planning with the team from Merlin and Bear himself, so we’re very excited that the build is now underway.
“The Merlin team has worked very hard on the theming of the attraction and we will be taking delivery of a huge number of authentic artefacts of all shapes and sizes over the coming months – ranging from a Chinook helicopter to a light aircraft, army vehicles, Bear’s equipment from his own adventures and the large scale construction pieces needed for the indoor diving experience and Europe’s highest free roam high ropes course.”
Prices and activity times will vary for different activities, with Basecamp entry tickets starting at £25.
Guests are encouraged to book in advance for this experience as on the day tickets will be extremely limited. For more information please visit www.beargryllsadventure.com
