The following morning, Lucas was back at his desk with a fresh cup of coffee and an email draft open. The subject line read: Order Confirmation – Zamperla Discovery 16.
He reviewed the details one last time:
Location: Explorer Zone, north side near Sky Balloon Voyage.
Opening target: March 2017.
Theme concept: "Explorer's Compass" — custom paint and decorative panels to match the zone's adventurous style.
With a final click, the order was sent. Less than two hours later, Zamperla's sales department replied:
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Subject: Re: Order Confirmation – Zamperla Discovery 16
Dear Mr. Vermeer,
We are delighted to confirm your order for a Discovery 16.
Our production schedule allows for manufacturing to begin in late September, with delivery to Elysion Park in early February 2017.
Installation and testing will be completed by early March, in time for your planned opening date.
Best regards,
Marco Bellini
Sales Manager – Zamperla S.p.A.
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Lucas allowed himself a satisfied smile. One more piece of the puzzle in place.
Just as he archived the email, the system pulsed softly in his mind:
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[System Notice] – Intamin Design Phase Progress Update
Current status: Preliminary layout 75% complete.
Next milestone: First draft ready for review – August 5th, 2016.
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Lucas leaned back in his chair, feeling the momentum build. "Two projects, both on track," he murmured. Explorer Zone would get its springtime thrill, and the Jungle Zone… well, that was going to be something else entirely.
August 5th dawned bright and warm, but Lucas barely noticed the weather. He'd been checking his inbox every hour since breakfast. At exactly 10:12 a.m., the subject line he'd been waiting for appeared:
Subject: Preliminary Layout – Elysion Park Family Launch Coaster
He clicked it open. The email from Anna Keller was short and to the point:
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Dear Mr. Vermeer,
Please find attached the preliminary layout and basic statistics for your review. This concept reflects the site measurements provided by Markus Fischer and your initial ride requirements.
We welcome your feedback before we proceed to the next design stage.
Best regards,
Anna Keller
Sales Manager – Intamin Amusement Rides
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Lucas opened the PDF. The first page was a clean, top-down schematic:
Station tucked along the eastern path, disguised inside a temple façade.
First launch firing riders into a sweeping curve around a cluster of artificial rockwork.
Low airtime hill crossing over the main guest walkway for visual impact.
Helix encircling a waterfall feature.
Second launch sending the train through tight, ground-hugging turns before a final dive into the brake run.
The stats were neat on the second page:
Max height: 18m
Track length: 645m
Top speed: 75 km/h
Capacity: ~950 riders/hour
The system pulsed quietly in his mind. Projected construction timeline: 12 months from contract signing. Earliest opening: July 2017.
Lucas smiled. It was exactly what he'd pictured when he first saw the empty plot — speed, flow, and theming potential.
A knock on the office door pulled him out of the moment. Walter stepped in. "You look like someone who's just seen something exciting."
Lucas closed the PDF but kept the smile. "Let's just say… the future of the Jungle Zone is looking very good."
That afternoon, Lucas and Walter stood at the entrance to the fenced-off plot beside Secrets of the Silk Road. Walter held a rolled-up print of the preliminary layout; Lucas had a tape measure slung over his shoulder.
"Alright," Walter said, unrolling the paper against the fence. "Station here, along the path. That means guests can watch the trains launch right from the queue."
They stepped inside the dusty ground, the summer air heavy with the scent of warm earth. Lucas paced ten meters from the edge and planted a small marker. "Launch track ends about here," he said, tapping the map. "Then we swing wide, curve left, and head for the first airtime hill."
Walter walked the curve, stopping where the hill would rise. He looked back toward the path. "That's going to be a perfect photo spot — train cresting the hill, jungle theming all around."
They followed the route toward the far corner of the plot, where the helix would wrap around a waterfall feature. Lucas shaded his eyes and imagined the roar of water mingling with the sound of the train.
"Second launch starts here," he pointed, marking the ground. "Then it dives low, weaving back toward the station."
Walter grinned. "From here, you'll see trains twisting between the temple and the rockwork. Guests on the walkway will get a show before they even ride."
By the time they'd walked the full layout, the dry plot felt alive in Lucas's mind — not just dirt and stakes, but a living part of the park's future.
Walter folded the map carefully. "You know… once this is built, Jungle Zone will be the park's headline area."
Lucas smiled. "That's the plan."