Growing up, two things screamed summer to me: water parks and blockbuster movies. This year, French theme park Futuroscope has come closest to combining the two. Aquascope is the first truly immersive water park, with a colorful, digital landscape that looks straight out of James Cameron’s Avatar. The doors opened this July, and if you’re contemplating a trip to France, check out this deep dive to ensure your airfare will be well-spent.

The experience

Aquascope is not your mother’s water park. It consists of 13 water slides, five activities for children, and several indoor experiences, all equipped with awe-inspiring water and light effects. The venue in total covers 64,000 square feet and is split into outdoor attractions and the giant indoor aquatic building. 

When you walk into the park’s interior, it’s an immediate feast for the eyes. Everything from the walls, floors, and pools are pulsating with color, and you can even catch shooting stars radiating down on the massive pools. Speaking of the pools, they are all heated to a balmy 29 degrees Celsius/84.5 degrees Fahrenheit with the exception of the children's pool ‘La faille de Kraki’, which is two degrees warmer. Kraki is a mythical yet friendly creature from another world that roams through the child-friendly areas. Overall, the designers of Aquascope did a great job making visitors feel truly immersed in a unique and inspiring world. 

Aquascope's Kid's Zone, Image courtesy of Futuroscope.

The tech

Futuroscope is known for their cutting edge and immersive amusements, and the tech in Aquascope does not disappoint. The main AV technology at the park includes video mapping, spatialized audio, unique lighting displays, and massive LED screens. In one experience called Kiné’eau, a pool is surrounded by 270 degrees of video screen. While swimmers take in the scenery, the water begins to vibrate as a mysterious creature emerges from below. 

Les Abysses de Lumière is one of Aquascope’s three immersive indoor experiences, created in collaboration with Moment Factory. Moment Factory has been creating interactive experiences since 2001, and their designs can be found at shows, theme parks, events, and concerts around the world. 

“We’re always looking to provide visitors with the ultimate experience,” said Alexandre Lupien, Creative Director of Moment Factory. “and with the team at Futuroscope we’ve created Les Abysses de Lumière, a fully immersive space that is forever changing and bursting with surprises.” 

The experience allows visitors to discover multiple zones, including a mysterious cave inhabited by uncanny sea creatures and bio-luminescent beaches that make you feel as if you’ve traveled to another planet. While I haven’t visited myself, based on early videos of Aquascope, it seems like an attraction that really must be experienced in person.

Aquascope's Immersion Zone, Image courtesy of Futuroscope.

More from Futuroscope

If you’re interested in more jaw-dropping experiences, Futuroscope has other amusements worth checking out. Their dry park has over 40 attractions, including Tornado Chasers, a ride featuring the world’s largest indoor LED surround screen. You can also take in a 4D experience called Arthur, in which you shrink down and travel inside a ladybug, whizzing through a city of elf-like creatures called Minimoys. If neither of those are your style, there is also a 23 foot-high robot arm that lifts you up and dances to the hits of DJ Martin Solveig. 

Also of note are Futuroscope’s immersive hotels. Hotel Station Cosmos lets you sleep in a futuristic cabin that evokes living in an actual space station. Within the hotel you can also check out Space Loop Rollercoaster Restaurant, an immersive dining experience that lets you watch your meal take a trip along a coaster track. The company also owns Futuroscope Arena, where you can take in a show, concert, or sporting event.

What do you think of Aquascope? Are immersive water parks over-hyped or a must-see?