Skyflyers: Wings of Garudapterus

Skyflyers: Wings of Garudapterus is a new landmark attraction at Asiatique The Riverfront Destination. This thrilling giant swinging tower ride brings together world-class engineering, immersive theming, and a strong narrative inspired by Thailand’s paleontological heritage, creating a bold new riverside icon. Skyflyers is the tallest giant swing ride in the Asia-Pacific region at 135 meters tall, matching the height of a 36-storey building!

Situated adjacent to Jurassic World: The Experience, FORREC was tasked with creating the ride’s story and visual presence, which ultimately centred around the Garudapterus, a prehistoric pterosaur species discovered there in 2023. FORREC developed the narrative framework, attraction branding (name and logo), building façade treatment, props and graphics, as well as guest experience planning (including queue design, ticket stations, and overall guest circulation). These elements were delivered to AWC through a conceptual package that provided design guidelines for the local consultant teams to implement within their specialized scopes of work.

Working closely with Asset World Corporation (AWC), FORREC guided the vision beyond a conventional ride installation toward an immersive journey that demonstrates the power of storytelling in elevating attractions.

Following an exploration of three distinct creative directions, FORREC merged contemporary design sensibilities with local mythology and geological storytelling. The resulting concept, Skyflyers: Wings of Garudapterus, combines a contemporary take on dramatic rockwork, explorer inspired environments, and symbolic references to Garuda, the revered Thai emblem of courage and grace.

The journey begins as guests approach The Rocky Outpost at the base of the ride, themed to celebrate the “Site of the Find”; a craggy formation with depressions where the Garudapterus nested, which lends an organic flow to the facility. The Outpost is built using FRP panels on a steel substructure, with perforations for atmospheric lighting and an integrated tensile canopy to provide shade to guests and amenities located up on the Observatory Platform.

The Rocky Outpost houses a prehistoric-themed ticket lounge designed as an active excavation site, complete with sediment-inspired textures and fossil details. Here, families can interact with the Garudapterus Hatchery, an interactive zone where children scan their “egg ticket” to digitally hatch their own Garudapterus companion—introducing concepts of paleontology through playful, hands-on learning. The ascent continues through a mining-shaft-inspired staircase to the Observatory Platform, where guests can enjoy river views and food and beverage offerings that invite both riders and non-riders to linger.

To help avoid longer than necessary wait times and congestion, FORREC used their in-depth programming and planning expertise to make recommendations for facility sizing, guest circulation, ride capacity, and queuing strategies for the ticketing lounge and the ride.

Educational content throughout the experience was supported through AWC’s collaboration with the Palaeontological Research and Education Centre at Mahasarakham University, ensuring scientific authenticity. The attraction blends entertainment for all ages with education, aligning with AWC’s sustainability-led destination strategy.

Manufactured by Funtime of Austria, a globally respected amusement ride manufacturer, Skyflyers pairs cutting-edge engineering with meaningful storytelling. FORREC is proud to see the project executed with a high level of detail, including façade treatments, signage, queue railings, and pavement design that closely follow their original creative vision.

Skyflyers: Wings of Garudapterus reinforces Asiatique’s evolution into a global riverside destination and stands as a testament to how a strong narrative and thoughtful design can transform a single attraction into a memorable, place-defining experience.