OUR STORY – ThemeWorks Incorporated

OUR STORY

Twenty-Six Years of Building Experiences that Create Connection

A Look Back in Time

From the very outset of our company, our clients have relied on us to deliver unique and challenging projects — Like that time we built the world’s largest installation of a urethane rockwork system for a zoological facility… Or when we successfully built an interactive play structure inside of a forty-foot sculpture for a children’s museum.

Tackling projects of this magnitude early on led naturally to establishing integrated processes and a culture of collaboration. Now, more than two decades of experience separates us from our bootstrapping beginnings. We’ve learned a lot. We’ve built a lot. And our collaborative processes have become expertly honed.

Today, we’re grateful for the opportunity to apply our collaborative approach and innovative problem-solving to increasingly complex projects (things are never dull around here!). But, it’s also fun to look back at our early years and reflect on how far we’ve come.

1995

Our Journey Begins...
Our first project! We created the faux limestone main entrance signs for the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana.
1996
Our Big Break
We’re selected to create the Brookfield Zoo’s Living Coast exhibit- The world’s largest urethane rockwork project and a great challenge for our fledgling team.

1996
1997

Building and growth…
We purchase the building we’ve been leasing for a year- an old tobacco auction warehouse. It’s large interior area, the size of a football field, allows us plenty of room to grow…
1998
Growth...

…And grow we do, creating environments for SeaWorld Orlando…

1998
1999

...and more growth

…Universal’s Islands of Adventure,
Cabela’s, and several others in quick succession.
2000
Into the Great Wide Open
At the dawn of a new millennium, our fifth anniversary, we are working throughout the country, with projects at Brookfield Zoo’s Habitat Africa! exhibit, Providence Canyon Visitor’s Center, the Toledo Zoo, and the Airborne & Special Forces Museum and several others.

2000
2001

Have Claws, Will Travel

We produce our first traveling exhibit— an in-depth exploration of crabs— for some of the most popular aquariums in North America— Ripley’s Aquariums.
2002
To New Heights

We’re scaling up! We create the “world’s largest boy”, Eddie, standing (sitting actually) at 40′ tall for EdVenture Children’s Museum in Columbia, South Carolina.

2002
2003

Return to Atlantis

We return to the lost city of Atlantis, this time in San Diego, California. As SeaWorld’s theming contractor for the new attraction, we’re responsible for the majority of themed elements in the project, including painting the very tall ride towers.
2004
A Capitol Idea?

We contribute to our first Smithsonian Museum project- The Price of Freedom in The Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

2004
2005

Monumental Museums

New significant museums are our focus over the next few years as we begin work on the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Jamestown Settlement Museum, and the Virginia Museum of Natural History, amongst others.
2006
Museum Quality

Our craftspeople enjoy the painstaking research and exacting detail that museums require. Our perfectionist nature is brought out by these challenges and the results, like this period window reproduction for the Jamestown Settlement Museum, speak to our dedication to getting it “right”.

2006
2007

Sets in the City

We’re in Times Square at the beginning of the year, developing experiences for Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not, including this entrance portal, based on a Ceylonese mask, into which we integrated a video fog screen.
2008
Almost Heaven

We always have fun with our clients, but one of the best times ever was courtesy of the West Virginia State Museum. From the gracious hospitality that then Governor Joe Manchin extended to our team, to singing “Country Roads” with all the attendees at the opening, we’ll always treasure our adventures in “The Mountain State”.

2008
2012

Plastic Fantastic
We add additive manufacturing (3D printing) to our toolbox, initially producing scale models and props.
2013
Witchcraft...

From unique (and purple!) transportation…

2013
2014

…and Wizardry

…to a replica of London’s Eros Fountain, we’re busy during this period helping to create truly magical lands.
2015
Flying Beneath the Waves

Together with PGAV Architects and SeaWorld’s Deep Blue Creative team, we create an undersea realm for the new coaster experience, Mako, including developing a fly-through shipwreck.

2015
2016

Elevating Experience

We work with our friends at Design & Production on our 5th Smithsonian project: The National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, DC.
2017
Tikis and Trees

As usual, there’s never a dull moment in our studios. From fabricating tech-integrated tiki components for a volcano themed waterpark to realizing the iconic Liberty Tree exhibit for the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, our growing team relishes the diversity of our work.

2017
2018

Tree-mendous Tableau

In addition to creating major elements for a coaster ride themed around the classic Slinky Dog toy, we’re also covering the entire facade of the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in Gatlinburg, Tennessee with sculptures inspired by the scenery and folklore of the Smoky Mountains.
2019
Art Deco and Real Butter on the Popcorn!

We complete the interior fit-out package for our 5th Warren Theatre, a chain of theaters in the Midwest that feature beautifully designed art deco inspired spaces, huge screens, THX sound, and real butter on the popcorn! Our install crews didn’t want to come home.

2019
2020

25th Anniversary
We celebrate our 25^th Anniversary and wrap up one of the longest projects in our history— Eight years of work on the National Museum of the US Army.
Into the future...
With our eyes on the horizon,
We reflect on our past with gratitude for our clients’ support, for our team members, past and present, who contributed their time and talent to our team, and the opportunity to create positive experiences for people. We embrace the challenges to come. Onward and Upward!

Into the future...