SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride now open at Circus Circus in Las Vegas

The SpongeBob-themed attraction, located at Circus Circus in Las Vegas, Nev., combines physical sets and animatronics with screen-based media. Though the vehicle itself moves relatively slowly, the journey may feel faster during simulator moments.

SpongeBob’s First Dark Ride

Riders board a five-person vehicle equipped with interactive devices to play along with SpongeBob, Patrick, and the gang at Mr. Krabs’ new carnival.

The attraction was created by Sally Dark Rides in partnership with Nickelodeon and Paramount. SpongeBob, Patrick, and several executives attended the grand opening in person.

“We approach each project with the goal of creating immersive, creative experiences that exemplify the artisanship and expertise of our team,” said Rolf Paegert, CEO of Sally Sark Rides. “This has been a rewarding project, and we are ready for guests to have fun with Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob, Squidward, even sneaky Plankton!”

“Creating Something Special”

The chaotic world of Bikini Bottom is a natural for adaptation into a dark ride. After all, in many theme park attraction stories, anything that can go wrong, will. In this case, when SpongeBob and Patrick help Mr. Krabs with his new carnival, they accidentally bring along Krabby Patty ingredients. Plankton, of course, seizes the moment in his unending quest to steal the Krabby Patty formula.

“From the very beginning we knew we were creating something special,” said Marie Marks, SVP of themed entertainment at Paramount, “and we are ready to welcome fans of SpongeBob SquarePants to this fun-filled new ride.”

SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride lasts six minutes and contains 15 scenes and six animatronics.

Take a peek inside SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride and hear more from its creators in our new video on the Attractions Magazine YouTube channel:

SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Tickets and Pricing (courtesy of Mr. Krabs)

Circus Circus is also home to Adventuredome, an indoor amusement park. Visitors should be aware, though, that SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride is not part of Adventuredome, but rather its own, separately-ticketed experience.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, admission for SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride costs $20 per person or $30 for two riders. Riders must be at least four years old and 36 inches tall. There does not seem to be on online purchase option on the Circus Circus website at this time.

SpongeBob’s Attractions History

Though this may be SpongeBob’s first dark ride, the world-famous fry cook has plenty of experience with attractions of other varieties.

Visitors at Paramount parks in the 2000s may have fond memories of SpongeBob 3D, a simulator chase after a missing pickle. Guests who visited Universal Studios Florida around the same time may remember SpongeBob’s appearance in Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast. These days, the character and his pals greet Universal guests in person at SpongeBob StorePants.

SpongeBob also, of course, appears prominently alongside his Nickelodeon peers at the Nickelodeon Universe indoor amusement park in Bloomington, Minn. and East Rutherford, N.J.