ORLANDO, Fla. — ICON Park has shared more details about the new game it’s adding to The Wheel.


What You Need To Know

  • ICON Park is adding a new game to The Wheel

  • "The Great Florida Road Trip" is expected to debut early next year

  • ICON Park shared more details about the game, which will let visitors learn about Florida's classic roadside attractions

“The Great Florida Road Trip, A Classic Vacation and Photo Travelogue” will be a game inspired by Florida’s past roadside attractions.

It will allow visitors to snap photos of various retro-style billboards during their 20-minute ride on the 400-foot observation wheel. At the same time, they will learn about history of the state’s attractions.

During a news conference at IAAPA Expo on Thursday, ICON Park shared more details about how the game will work as well as a look at some of the billboards that will be featured.

“The Great Florida Road Trip” will use infrared devices designed to look like retro cameras. During their ride, visitors will look for different billboards from their capsules and take a picture with the device. The billboards — styled to the 40s, 50s and 60s — will depict a different Florida location such as Tampa or Ocala.

For each picture they take, visitors will get a point. There will also be oranges in various spots. Taking pictures of them will garner even more points.

At the end of the game, everyone will get a memento, but the person with the highest score will get a special prize.

In addition to the game, a new preshow video will be added to The Wheel’s redesigned queue.

ICON Park worked with Orlando-based company Ideas, Knoxville-based Creative Amusements and Lafayette, Ind.-based Steradin Technologies to come up with the theming, style and product development.

The idea was to pay tribute to the Florida’s early attractions — those that existed long before the arrival of Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld.

“I have always been intrigued by and inspired by the role of the Florida tourism pioneers — the roadside attractions and short-stay entertainment venues that paved the way for everything else that followed,” ICON Park President Chris Jaskiewicz said in a statement. “This concept provided a way for us to pay homage to their contribution, while at the same time educating visitors on the diversity of experiences that Florida has to offer.”

The game replaces "Bullseye Blast," the target-shooting game ICON Park suspended shortly after its summer debut because of public backlash. After pausing the game, the complex said it would pursue a new concept.

“The Great Florida Road Trip” is to debut early next year, although no exact date has been announced.