Merlin Entertainments, the global theme park and attraction operator, has created two new, first-of-their-kind attractions in the US.
Super Neon and WONDRA, have burst onto the global stage, designed to amaze guests with larger-than-life visuals, interactivity, and unforgettable storytelling. Conceived, designed, and brought to life in under a year by Merlin Magic Making, the creative powerhouse behind Merlin Entertainments, these highly immersive spaces are now open in partnership with Fever, the leading global live-entertainment discovery platform.
WONDRA, a fantastical, nature-infused journey, is now open in the Chicago area, and Super Neon, a glowing, mood-enhancing world, is open in the Minneapolis area.
The more than 11,500-square-foot WONDRA, located at Woodfield Mall, allows guests of all ages to embark on an unforgettable journey to discover the wonders of the natural world. Features such as a dreamy sky filled with personalised clouds, and bringing flowers to life with just a voice, are designed to spark curiosity and ignite awe.
Super Neon, with its more than 11,700-square-foot space at the Mall of America, brings a neon wonderland that sparks wonder, elevates senses, and leaves guests feeling uplifted. The illuminated playground features interactives like a colourful rainstorm with underwater umbrellas hanging from the sky and a magical forest where a guest’s touch brings towering trees to life.
“WONDRA is rooted in the idea that people are drawn to nature and we all crave more of it in our lives. Super Neon all started with the trend and fascination in awe-inspiring lighting installations and how light has a mood-boosting impact on us all,” said Liz Cummings, Merlin Magic Making Creative Lead for New Products & Concepts.
“By making these world-first attractions from start to finish in less than a year, we can hone in on current trends and make them relevant for our guests immediately. Throughout the creation of WONDRA and Super Neon, we have had to completely rethink how we bring attractions to life—working differently with our teams to deliver faster while still bringing the depth, quality, and signature Merlin magic our guests expect.”
Immersive storytelling
“At Fever, we are passionate about bringing unique, world-class experiences to life for audiences everywhere,” said Tom McElwee, RGM North America at Fever. “WONDRA is imaginative, meaningful, and designed to connect guests to the wonder of nature in a whole new way. Super Neon is a perfect example of immersive storytelling done right. It’s imaginative, meaningful, and designed to spark wonder while elevating the senses. We are thrilled to bring these unique experiences to both the greater Minneapolis and Chicago areas.”
In addition to these new worlds, the creative team at Merlin Entertainments’ most recent achievements include the opening of SEA LIFE Florida with the unique theme park under the sea in June, Legoland Shanghai Resort in July, and Hyperia, the UK’s tallest and fastest rollercoaster, which opened last year.
Merlin Magic Making has even more surprises in store in the near future. The creative team is now focusing on Merlin’s largest ever investment in its Legoland Resorts, with the most technologically advanced indoor space-themed coaster opening in early 2026 in Florida and California, as well as ‘world-first’ permanent location-based immersive Minecraft attractions.
