Crystals City – Oberschelp
A glass maze full of 3D effects and surprising routes
Operator: Ron Oberschelp (Bielefeld) · since 2014
Crystals City Oberschelp is a portable 3D fun maze where you don't simply walk through a maze: from the start, a water course, glass corridors and surprising light effects make the route a little adventure. The family business run by Ron Oberschelp combines the idea of a classic glass maze with interactive elements and a striking presence at the fairground. Part of the course is visible from outside, so spectators can also see when visitors choose the wrong way at a pane of glass.
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What to expect
- Dark ride / indoor
- Light show / LED facade
- Fog & special effects
- Sound system / music
- Live host (ride MC)
- Covered / weatherproof
- Family-friendly
Highlights & records
Glass maze on two levels, water course, spectral glasses, turntables, moving panels, blacklight pole maze and laser course.
Here, the route itself becomes the attraction: there is something to discover around every corner among the glass panels, water course and blacklight.
Experience Crystals City Oberschelp
The route does not start immediately behind a closed door. First, a water fun course takes you into the attraction. Then turntables, moving panels and wind effects create unusual movements and new perspectives. In the actual glass maze, you have to find the right route between transparent obstacles. The glass elements make the way seem more open than it really is. Colourful curtains and changing passages alter the impression even further.
Spectral glasses enhance the 3D effect of light and fog. At the end, a dark blacklight area awaits, with a pole maze and laser course. The operators also use their own jingles, music and personal commentary. This mix of participation, searching, amazement and watching is what sets Crystals City apart from an ordinary amusement ride: you set your own pace and discover the individual stations one by one.
General
- Manufacturer
- Soldati s.r.l. (Italy)
- Model
- 3D fun maze / glass maze
- Premiere
- 2014
Ride
- Height
- 6 m
Set-up & transport
- Footprint
- 17 × 5 m
History of Crystals City Oberschelp
The attraction was made by the Italian manufacturer Soldati and was previously operated by the Italian showman Seminara. Under Ron Oberschelp, Crystals City Oberschelp made its debut at the Easter funfair in Bochum in 2014. Since then, this compact walk-through attraction has appeared at various German fairs. For 2021, the operator describes an extensive redesign with new lighting and electronics. Its features include energy-efficient LED and RGB LED technology, light shows and a variable route layout.
Timeline
Debuted under Ron Oberschelp at the Bochum Easter funfair 2014. Extensive redesign, new lighting and electronics in 2021.
- Operator
- Ron Oberschelp (Bielefeld)
- With operator since
- 2014
- Type of operation
- Travelling
- Status
- Active / in operation
Previous operators
L. Seminara (Italy), until 2013
The Oberschelp showman's business
The Oberschelp family emphasises on its own website that the business is run personally and has a long showman tradition. Despite its many effects, Crystals City requires a comparatively narrow space. This makes the glass maze suitable for smaller fairgrounds and those with a more restricted layout too. When you visit, it is worth paying as much attention to the exterior and the open section of the course as to the surprising rooms inside. If you like similar walk-through attractions, browse the attraction overview for more funhouses.
Who is the 3D fun maze for?
Crystals City is especially suited to families, groups of friends and visitors looking for a different kind of funfair experience between faster rides. The focus here is on finding your way, optical illusions and little surprises, rather than high speeds or loops. If you enjoy solving puzzles together, you can make your way through the different stations and laugh at the others' reactions. Watching is part of the concept too: the visible areas mean the action is not completely hidden behind a façade.
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