Late February 2016
The morning sun cast a pale golden glow over Elysion Park, its light glinting off fresh paint, polished brass fixtures, and the crisp lettering of new signs. A cool breeze carried the scent of coffee and warm pastries from Globe & Griddle, drifting across the central plaza where small clusters of invited guests were beginning to gather.
It wasn't an official opening. The gates would stay shut to the general public for another two weeks. But today was a carefully orchestrated soft opening—a first look for select press, a few local influencers, and industry enthusiasts. Just enough to build a spark of hype before the real debut.
From the plaza's edge, Lucas surveyed the scene with a mix of pride and nerves. Global Explorer's Delight spun gently in the background, its music box chimes blending with the laughter of a few early riders. Max Around the World rattled cheerfully through its sharp turns, and the newly reimagined haunted house—Elysion Expedition: Cursed Ruins—was already drawing small groups into its shadowy entrance.
Beyond the finished rides, construction barriers marked areas still in progress. To the left of the central path, the site for the Sky Balloon Voyage towered half-complete, a steel skeleton wrapped in scaffolding. Nearby, the expanded and soon-to-be-themed playground was taking shape—slides and climbing frames still bare, awaiting the decorative touches that would tie it into the adventurous spirit of the park. The distant jungle zone hummed with quiet work, where the Jungle Splash Adventure log flume and Secrets of the Silk Road walkthrough were in their final stages.
Walter stood beside Lucas, hands tucked behind his back, scanning the crowd with a calm, almost protective presence. Emma, clipboard in hand, moved between arriving guests, checking names off the list and handing out lanyards with "Soft Opening Guest" printed in bold, gold letters.
Lucas drew in a breath and stepped forward. Emma caught his eye and gave a small nod—it was time.
He raised his voice just enough to carry over the plaza.
"Good morning, everyone, and welcome to Elysion Park—or at least, an early version of it." A few light chuckles rippled through the group. "What you're about to see today is the result of months of planning, renovation, and more coffee than I care to admit. While not everything is finished yet, I wanted to open the gates to a few of you early—so you could see what we're building here, and maybe share it with the world."
He gestured around the plaza, the lampposts, the fresh facades, the carousel turning gracefully behind him.
"This is Explorer's Landing. It's the first step into the park, and soon, the rest will follow. Over the next hour, Walter, Emma, and I will be giving you a guided tour of the areas that are ready, and showing you glimpses of what's still to come."
A murmur of interest passed through the group. Cameras shifted into hands, lenses were uncapped.
Walter took a step forward, his voice steady. "Safety first—stick with the group, and please don't cross any construction barriers. There's still a lot of work happening, especially near the balloon ride, playground, and the jungle zone."
Lucas smiled faintly. "Alright then—let's start."
The group began to follow him toward the carousel, the first stop on the tour. As the sun climbed higher, Lucas felt a quiet confidence settle in.
Today was only a preview—but it was the first time the park's heart would beat in front of an audience.
From behind the viewfinder of his camera, Koet adjusted the focus and slowly panned across the plaza. Even though this wasn't the park's official opening, the scene already felt alive—music drifting from the carousel, families of invited guests wandering with lanyards swinging, and the steady, careful voice of Lucas guiding the group.
Man, he thought, this is not the Löwenpark I remember.
He'd been here once before, back when the place was clinging to life. The paint had been fading, the rides looked tired, and the atmosphere was—well—flat. Today was different. There was a shine to everything, like the park had been given a second chance and knew it.
His camera lingered on the entrance plaza—Explorer's Landing—clearly the crown jewel so far. Detailed facades, themed lampposts, and banners with the park's compass logo gave it an immersive feel. The carousel, Global Explorer's Delight, spun gracefully, its carved animals and ornate panels gleaming under the crisp morning light.
But as Koet's lens followed the group deeper into the park, the shift was obvious. Outside the entrance area, the pathways were fresh and clean, but bare. The rides themselves were repainted and themed—Max Around the World with its adventurous travel motifs, the haunted house now transformed into Elysion Expedition: Cursed Ruins—but the spaces between attractions still felt open and unadorned, waiting for their turn.
Off to one side, Max rattled through its course, riders laughing and squealing. Koet made a mental note to film a full POV later. Near the plaza's edge, the unfinished Sky Balloon Voyage stood in raw steel, scaffolding clinging to its frame. Beside it, the playground's structure was rising—larger than he expected, but clearly still awaiting decoration.
The camera drifted toward the jungle zone entrance. Tall construction walls, painted with stylized vines and faded treasure maps, marked the path. Above them, part of a rock-carved temple peeked out—the early work for the upcoming log flume. Right next to it, a stone archway was forming, draped in colorful banners: Secrets of the Silk Road.
Koet lowered the camera for a moment, watching Lucas speak to the group. The young owner didn't look like your typical theme park manager—no suit, no rehearsed corporate smile. Instead, there was an energy in his gestures, a kind of excitement that reminded Koet of the park founders he'd studied from decades past.
He smiled faintly, raising his camera again.
This was exactly the kind of transformation story his viewers loved: a park that had been left behind, now cautiously stepping into a new era. And from what he'd seen so far, this place had only just begun to show its potential.
As the last small group of invited guests drifted out through the entrance plaza, Lucas finally let himself exhale. The soft opening had gone better than he'd dared to hope—smiles, questions, and plenty of camera flashes.
Walter walked up beside him, hands in his coat pockets, eyes scanning the plaza. "Crowd seemed happy."
Lucas nodded. "Yeah. I think we made the right call opening just these few areas for now."
Emma joined them, holding a clipboard full of quick notes from the day. "Carousel was a hit. So was the Wild Mouse. Even the haunted house had people going back for a second round."
Walter chuckled. "That queue for Max Around the World was longer than I remember seeing here in… well, ever."
Lucas's eyes drifted toward the far side of the plaza. Beyond the fence, the raw steel frame of the Sky Balloon Voyage rose against the winter sky. Next to it, the playground was slowly taking shape—slides, climbing frames, and rope bridges still waiting for their colorful panels and themed elements.
"Those are going to make a big difference once they're done," Lucas said. "Right now, it's a bit of a contrast—this entrance zone feels alive, but once people head deeper into the park…"
Walter nodded. "It's clean, it's fresh, but it's not themed yet. Just bare paths and rides standing there. We'll get there, but I think people will notice the difference for now."
"That's fine," Emma said. "Gives us room to grow. And honestly, today they were too busy enjoying what's open to worry about the rest."
Lucas smiled. "True. And once the log flume and train open, the flow will change completely. Add the playground and the balloon ride, and we've got more reasons for people to stay longer."
Walter glanced at him. "You thinking about anything else before summer?"
"Maybe," Lucas said carefully. "But I want to see how guests react in March first. If the feedback's good, we can talk about another addition later in the year."
They stood in silence for a moment, watching the plaza lights flicker on against the early evening sky. The soft opening had been just that—soft. But it was also the first real sign that the park's future might actually be bright.
And Lucas intended to make sure it stayed that way.