The early December air bit at Lucas's cheeks as he stepped onto the compacted dirt of the Jungle Zone construction site. His breath puffed out in quick clouds, mixing with the steam rising from the diesel heaters stationed around the area. Even without the sound of music or the chatter of guests, the park was alive — in a different way.
Floodlights cast stark shadows over the bare ground where Elysion Expedition – Cursed Ruins loomed on one side, its temple façade half-hidden under protective covers for the winter. In front of it stretched the future footprint of Serpent's Run, now a web of trenches, rebar, and wooden formwork.
A row of white trucks stood at the far end, each bearing the bold blue Intamin lettering across the side. Pallets wrapped in plastic sat nearby, some stencilled with "CH – Schaan" and serial numbers. The sight alone was enough to send a ripple of excitement through the small cluster of people standing beyond the perimeter fence.
Walter adjusted his scarf, his breath misting in the cold. "Word's going to get out fast," he murmured. "Those logos aren't exactly subtle."
Lucas smirked. "Let them talk. The more they speculate, the more anticipation builds. We still have months before opening — might as well let them do the marketing for us."
One of the Intamin supervisors approached, his hard hat already dusted with frost. "We'll start setting the first foundation blocks today," he said in accented English. "Weather's cold, but ground conditions are fine. We'll pour before lunch."
Lucas nodded, glancing at the glowing overlay in his mind's eye as the system confirmed the schedule:
> [System Notification]
Serpent's Run – Foundation Phase: Estimated completion – 16 December 2016.
Next stage: Vertical construction (track supports) – February 2017.
From somewhere beyond the fence, a camera shutter clicked repeatedly. A few locals had braved the cold to catch a glimpse, phones and DSLR lenses poking through gaps in the hedge. One man's muffled voice carried across the wind: "It's definitely Intamin. No doubt about it."
Walter gave a low chuckle. "You hear that? We don't even need a press release."
Lucas's eyes swept over the site. Rebar cages were being lowered into the trenches, workers calling instructions over the hum of a concrete mixer warming up. The sharp scent of wet cement would soon fill the air.
For a moment, he imagined the launch track stretching out from this very spot, the train accelerating past dense jungle theming, water spraying in the summer heat. It was still only a vision — but now, finally, the ground beneath that vision was solid.
"Alright," he said, pulling his gloves tighter. "Let's make this coaster a reality."
The wind cut across the empty midway as Lucas walked toward the marked filming spot in the Jungle Zone. Behind him, workers in high-visibility jackets moved like clockwork, filling foundation forms while the distant rumble of a cement mixer set the background tone. An Intamin truck stood parked just far enough back to frame neatly in the shot.
Emma Scholz stood a few metres away, bundled in a dark coat, a clipboard under one arm. A cameraman adjusted his tripod while she checked the angle.
"Alright," she called over the wind, "we'll go for a single take. Short, direct, and to the point. You're the face, Lucas — keep it confident, keep it warm."
Lucas smirked under his hard hat. "No pressure then."
Emma grinned. "If we mess it up, we'll just do it again. But this should feel natural. You're not an actor — you're the guy building this thing."
The cameraman raised his hand. "Rolling… in three, two, one."
Lucas turned to face the lens, boots planted on the frozen dirt.
"Hello from Elysion Park," he began, his breath visible in the cold. "Right here behind me, something big is taking shape for next summer. We've been keeping it under wraps for a while, but today, it's time to share."
He stepped slightly aside, revealing the churned ground and rebar where the first concrete footers were setting.
"Coming July 2017… our brand-new Intamin family launch coaster: Serpent's Run."
Emma's hand made a subtle fist pump just out of frame. The camera caught a quick zoom toward the construction site before fading to a black screen.
On it, bold gold lettering curled like scales across the dark:
Serpent's Run
Opening July 2017
A short montage followed — cement being poured, workers tightening bolts, the glint of steel parts under frost. The new coaster's logo spun into view before the video cut to black.
"Perfect," Emma said as soon as the cameraman stopped. "We'll have it online in an hour. Facebook, YouTube, Twitter — everywhere. And we'll announce monthly construction updates starting in January."
By the time Lucas returned to the office, his phone was already buzzing. Notifications rolled in: park fans sharing the clip, local news sites embedding it, and a popular theme park forum starting a new thread titled:
Elysion Park building Intamin launch coaster – Serpent's Run (July 2017)
One comment near the top read:
> 'Did you see the trucks in the background? That's legit Intamin hardware. This could be a game-changer for the park.'
Lucas leaned back in his chair, a small smile tugging at his mouth. The coaster was still months away from completion — but today, the hype had begun.
By the next morning, Lucas's inbox was dotted with links — mostly from Emma, Walter, and a couple of park staff who kept tabs on the fan community.
He sat in his office above the Globe & Griddle, a mug of coffee in his hand, clicking one of the links.
> ThemeParkCentral – Forums
"Elysion Park's new coaster is an Intamin family launch. Judging by the site size in the teaser, maybe 500–600 meters of track? Anyone else notice the angled supports in the background?"
Twenty replies deep, the thread was already full of speculation. Some users debated the speed. Others sketched rough layouts over screenshots from the teaser, tracing a launch track and guessing where the station might be.
Walter stepped in carrying his own coffee, giving Lucas a wry look. "You've got the enthusiasts talking. ParkFansNL has a whole thread about us."
Lucas smirked. "That's the fan crowd. Most of our regular visitors don't even know we've announced anything yet."
Emma came in a few minutes later, laptop under her arm. She set it on the desk and turned it toward him. "Here's my favourite so far."
On the screen, a YouTube video titled 'Reconstructing Serpent's Run – What We Know!' played over a bright thumbnail of a snake winding through jungle ruins. The narrator was enthusiastic:
"Based on our measurements, the launch will likely send riders into a twisted top hat element…"
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Twisted top hat? On a family coaster?"
Emma grinned. "They're guessing. And that's fine — let them. The enthusiasts will keep the buzz alive until we're ready for the public push in spring."
The system's quiet overlay blinked in Lucas's mind:
> [System Suggestion]
Maintain secrecy on final layout until Spring 2017.
Recommended next teaser: themed train reveal in March.
Lucas leaned back in his chair. "Alright. No stats, no layout. Just enough hints to keep the forums busy."
Walter chuckled. "By the time we go public, the fans will have already done half the marketing for us."
Outside, beyond the closed gates, machinery rumbled in the Jungle Zone. The real Serpent's Run was taking shape in the frost — far from the fantasy versions drawn in forum sketches.