Chapter 36 – "Full Layout & First Test Runs" (ThrillSeeker Ben POV)
Published: May 15, 2017 – YouTube
The video opens with Ben leaning toward the camera in his bedroom, eyes bright with excitement.
"Alright, guys—you're gonna want to see this. Elysion Park just dropped the full Serpent's Run POV in 3D, with theming, music, the whole shebang. And—yeah—they snuck in some real test run footage. Let's go through it, frame by frame."
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[0:15 – Station & Dispatch]
The render fades in: a shadowy temple station lit by flickering torches, the carved serpent motif winding across the stone arch. The deep forest green train glistens under the light, gold accents catching every flicker.
Ben pauses.
"That—right there—is custom work. Weathered textures, layered lighting… you don't see this detail on most family launch coasters."
The train rolls forward into a dim temple corridor.
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[0:35 – Dark Corridor Pre-Show]
Themed scenes pass slowly: stone serpent statues with glowing eyes, flickering oil lamps, faint hissing in the distance. Twice, the train halts—each stop met with a shift in lighting and sound cues, letting each group fully experience the build-up.
Ben rewinds.
"Timing is perfect—they're using block control to make sure every rider gets this reveal."
A glowing red crystal marks the end. Shadows of a giant serpent's body slide across the walls—then Launch 1 hits.
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[0:55 – Launch 1 & Jungle Outrun]
The train bursts from darkness into sunlight, flying over a sharp airtime hill before twisting right through S-curves between vine-covered ruins. Real test footage cuts in, the forest green track blending into dense foliage.
"That color match—perfect," Ben notes. "You almost lose it until the gold supports catch the sun."
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[1:10 – Lagoon & Jungle Splash Interaction]
The render shows the train racing across a bridge above the lagoon, threading over the final drop of Jungle Splash. In live footage, a flume boat splashes down just seconds after the train passes.
"That's the money shot. Guests will watch this for ages."
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[1:25 – Second Temple & Launch 2]
The train dives into a second, darker temple tunnel. Glyphs animate on the walls, chasing the train forward. Without stopping, it enters the glowing golden arch—Launch 2 fires: 38 → 79 km/h in just over 4 seconds.
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[1:35 – High Airtime Hill & Drop]
Immediately after Launch 2, the track climbs into the tallest airtime hill on the ride. The front row gets full sky before cresting; the back row gets yanked into sharp negative Gs. The drop is steep, dropping back toward jungle level.
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[1:40 – Bochtenslalom & Normal Airtime Hill]
From the drop, the train snaps into a tight left-right combo through low jungle turns, then punches over a normal airtime hill with clean, sustained lift.
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[1:48 – Double Outerbanks]
First, a left outerbank leaning riders toward the lagoon, then immediately into a right outerbank swinging them back toward the temple. The sequence feels fast, fluid, and constantly changing direction.
Ben slows the clip.
"That's gorgeous—outerbanks are such a sweet spot between thrill and comfort."
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[1:55 – Temple Wall Curve & Bunnyhops]
The train roars alongside the temple façade, close enough that riders could swear they could touch the stonework, then dips into two bunnyhops in quick succession—each a sharp pop of airtime before hitting the brake run.
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[2:05 – Indoor Finale]
From the brakes, the render shows the train rolling into darkness. A massive serpent head looms from the shadows, its jaw opening with a hiss. Strobe flashes, rattle effects, then pitch black as the train slides back into the station.
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Ben leans back toward his camera.
"This… is going to put Elysion Park on the map. Theming's world-class, pacing is relentless for a family coaster, and those two launches—man. You can tell they've thought about every transition."
He smirks.
"And yeah… test runs are already smooth as butter. July opening? I'm calling it—it's happening."
📺 YouTube – Elysion Park Official
Video: "Serpent's Run – Full Layout Reveal & Theming Preview (Opening July 2017)"
Uploaded: May 9, 2017
Views after 12 hours: 482,000
Likes: 41,000 👍
Comments: 5,723
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Top Comments
🎢CoasterNerd_92 – 2.3K likes
> "This isn't just a family coaster… This is legit world-class theming. That indoor temple before the launch? Chills. Absolute chills."
themepark_dad – 1.9K likes
> "My kids are gonna lose their minds when that giant snake head lights up. You guys outdid yourselves, Elysion Park."
DutchThrills – 1.5K likes
> "Love how they blended the jungle foliage with the gold supports. The whole layout flows so nicely. Outerbank after launch two is chef's kiss."
lucyexplores – 987 likes
> "Is it weird I just wanna walk around the queue and never even ride? Those details in the render… insane."
VintageVekoma – 861 likes
> "If the pacing in real life is anything like those test shots, this is going to be one of the most re-rideable coasters in Europe."
parkfan1998 – 723 likes
> "That bunnyhop finale is going to be crazy in the back row. Mark my words."
IronCoasterMike – 612 likes
> "Whoever is doing your theming… hire them forever. That rockwork around launch two looks like it belongs in a triple-A movie."
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🎥 Reaction from Other YouTubers
ThrillSeeker Ben (in his latest vlog):
> "So, uh… I was just here two weeks ago, and now THIS drops? You guys saw the indoor pre-launch, right? That snake motif wrapping around the wall? And the outerbank over the jungle paths? This thing's going to dominate mid-tier parks everywhere. I'm… I'm seriously impressed."
CoasterCam Chris (community post):
> "Not gonna lie, Serpent's Run just jumped into my Top 5 most-anticipated 2017. Also… props to Elysion Park for making the render actually match the test footage. You'd be surprised how many parks fake this stuff."
RideTheWorldTV (Twitter):
> "Serpent's Run could be the sleeper hit of the year. Layout looks like a perfect mix of family-friendly and enthusiast-approved."
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💬 Snippets from fan forums / Discord servers
JungleZoneHype: "Pause at 0:47 — you can see the snake eyes in the temple light up right before the launch. Please tell me that's synced to the sound system."
Trackspotter_Alan: "The roll into launch two is slightly banked. That means they're setting up for some lateral pops before the outerbank. Smart."
ThemeTeamNL: "Is it just me, or did they sneak a little nod to Secrets of the Silk Road in the queue design? Look at the lanterns in the first indoor section."
RMC_or_die: "Family coaster?? Bruh that last bunnyhop looks like ejector."