Ruby’s Inn introduces virtual reality rides
By Alex Sousa
Virtual reality is arriving at Ruby’s Inn to kick off the summer season. Starting Memorial Day weekend, Innovation Entertainment’s VR motion rides will be open for guests, giving them a high-flying view of Utah’s majestic landscape without ever leaving the ground.
Innovation Entertainment, a home-grown VR company run by Daniel Thompson and his wife Amber, has partnered with Ruby’s Inn to create a permanent home for their VR experiences.
For the ride, participants don VR headsets and take a seat in a fully-operational motion simulator, which is synchronized with the sounds and visuals to give the sensation that they’re actually flying above or through the locations. With VR technology, participants are able to freely look all around them and see these stunning sights as though they were actually there.
“We are very excited to add this new experience to our slate of offerings and feel like it’s a perfect fit,” said Lance Syrett, general manager of Ruby’s Inn. “We realize that most people visit us because we are the closest lodging and services to Bryce Canyon National Park, but we hope that adding even more things to do like ‘Soaring’ will make Ruby’s Inn a destination all by itself.”
The VR experience will debut at Ruby’s Inn with two rides, “Soaring Southern Utah” and “Montezuma’s Treasure Ride.” Highlighting Utah’s geological wonders, “Soaring Southern Utah” recreates a helicopter ride across the stunning desert landscape and gives a bird’s-eye view of some of the state’s most iconic landmarks. “Montezuma’s Treasure Ride” is an animated mine-cart thrill ride inspired by the legend of the lost Aztec treasure.
Thompson, the creator and developer of the experiences, has long been passionate about robotics and his home state. A Cannonville native, Thompson graduated from Southern Utah University with bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
Having spent abundant time hiking through southern Utah, discovering hidden places only known to locals, Thompson was struck by the realization that many people, even those native to the state, would never get to experience all the beautiful places that the state has to offer. Creating a VR experience to give people that opportunity seemed like the perfect solution.
“Some people worry that experiences like this will discourage others from going out and doing things, but we’ve seen just the opposite,” Thompson said. “People get off the ride and they want to go hike and explore these areas.”
“We’re interested in giving our guests the full experience,” said Syrett. “We want to make sure that they can see southern Utah in whatever way they want, whether that’s on foot, horseback, flying through virtual spaces, or flying over them for real.”
