The Realm Town Explained

The Realm Town is an upcoming fantasy adventure theme park in Pleasant Grove, Utah. It first opened to the public as Evermore Park on September 29, 2018, under the direction of Ken Bretschneider. The park allowed guests who visited to interact with trained actors who portrayed fantasy characters.^{[1] [2]} The only traditional ride was "The Evermore Express", a small train that travelled around the park.^{[3] [4]} Evermore had been compared by critics to the fictional Westworld, renaissance fairs, and Choose Your Own Adventure books.^{[5] [6]}

On April 8, 2024, the property's landlord declared the park closed.^{[7] [8]} On August 5, 2024, Travis and Michelle Fox took over the property.^[9] On September 20, 2024, the new tenants revealed that the park will be renamed to "The Realm Town".^{[10] [11]}

History

Evermore Park

Evermore Park was created by Ken Bretschneider, the founder of DigiCert. According to Bretschneider, the idea for Evermore partially arose from his tradition of elaborately decorating his home in Lindon, Utah for Halloween each year.^[12] The concept for Evermore Park was debuted at Salt Lake ComicCon in 2014, with the park announced to be opened the next year.^[13] Josh Shipley left Walt Disney Imagineering to become CCO of Evermore in 2017.^[14] The park had its grand opening on September 29, 2018.

The park experienced financial difficulties, with some buildings and areas of the park remaining unfinished throughout the park's life.^{[15] [16]} By June 2020, several lawsuits had been filed against Evermore by contractors who had not been paid in full for the construction of the park's buildings.^[17] One of the attraction ideas Bretschneider and visual effects artist Curtis Hickman had envisioned for the project, which would combine virtual reality with a physical environment, was spun off from Evermore into a separate business known as The Void, which also faced difficulty due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^{[18] [19] [20]}

In 2021, many of the park's actors were laid off, and the land and buildings of the park were sold to Brandon Fugal, the chairman of Colliers International-Utah, a part of Colliers International, reportedly allowing the park to break even.^{[21] [22]} On April 8, 2024, Fugal announced that the park's previous tenants had defaulted and been evicted from the property, and that a "new enterprise" would be making improvements to the park.

The Realm Town

On August 5, 2024, Travis and Michelle Fox took over the property. On September 20, 2024, they revealed that the park will be renamed to "The Realm Town". By September 29, 2024, author Brandon Sanderson bought land next to the park, with the intention to build a bookstore, as part of a project called "Dragonsteel Plaza".^{[23] [24]}

Features

Evermore did not have traditional rides. Instead, most of the guest experience revolved around interactions with actors in the park's fantasy setting, where guests were encouraged to roleplay for themselves and take part in the park's storyline. Visitors in the park were referred to as "World Walkers", and were permitted to come in costume.^[4] Guests were able to join one of the park's guilds by completing tasks given to them by characters.^[25]

The park also offered archery, axe throwing, and a themed train experience. Vander's Keep, a themed building attached to the park, was a restaurant and bar, and later an events venue.^[26]

The park was seasonal and only open on weekends. The first seasonal experience was called Lore, a Halloween-themed storyline during the fall. During the day, there was the Magical World of Lore, a family-friendly Halloween experience; at night, the park became the Cursed World of Lore, a haunted attraction. The second seasonal experience was Aurora, a winter world loosely inspired by the works of Charles Dickens. The final seasonal experience was Mythos, lasting from spring into summer.^{[27] [28]}

Taylor Swift litigation

Evermore entangled itself in legal proceedings with American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.^{[29] [30]} In February 2021, Evermore Park filed a lawsuit against Swift over the name of her 2020 album Evermore, alleging trademark infringement.^[31] Later that month, TAS Rights Management countersued the park on behalf of Swift, claiming that the park was playing Swift's songs "Love Story", "You Belong with Me", and "Bad Blood" without proper licensing.^[32] In March, both parties agreed to drop their lawsuits.^[33]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tuttle . Brittani . September 10, 2018 . Evermore Park to host experience park's grand opening on Sept. 29 . November 6, 2022 . Attractions Magazine . en-US.
2. Web site: Erickson . Courtnie . August 26, 2022 . Evermore Park In Utah Is The Stuff Of Childhood Dreams . November 6, 2022 . . en-US.
3. Web site: Evermore Park Mythos Explore Utah Valley . November 6, 2022 . Utah Valley . en-us.
4. Web site: Evermore Park FAQ . November 6, 2022 . Evermore.com . en-US.
5. Web site: MacDonald . Brady . September 24, 2019 . Is Evermore the future of immersive theme park experiences? . https://web.archive.org/web/20190926195015/https://blooloop.com/features/evermore-future-immersive-experiences/ . September 26, 2019 . December 1, 2024 . Blooloop.
6. News: Martens . Todd . November 9, 2018 . Westworld, Ho! Inside Evermore, where the future of theme parks is not about rides but play . . December 1, 2024.
7. Web site: Jayswal . Palak . April 9, 2024 . Utah's fantasy-themed Evermore Park has closed permanently . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240410012203/https://www.sltrib.com/artsliving/2024/04/09/utahs-fantasy-themed-evermore-park/ . April 10, 2024 . April 9, 2024 . The Salt Lake Tribune.
8. Web site: Wixom . Cassidy . April 10, 2024 . Utah immersive fantasy park Evermore shutting down; property owner promises a 'new attraction' . May 26, 2024 . . en.
9. Web site: Johnson . Emma Everett . Evermore's new owners to reveal hints about opening with interactive clues, cash prizes . August 6, 2024 . August 7, 2024 . . en.
10. Web site: Name revealed for new fantasy-themed venue at former Evermore Park property . Kayla . Baggerly . . September 20, 2024 . November 30, 2024.
11. Web site: Name revealed for new fantasy-themed venue at former Evermore Park property . . Kayla . Baggerly . September 20, 2024 . November 30, 2024.
12. Web site: Anstey . Tom . October 16, 2018 . Interview - Ken Bretschneider and Josh Shipley . November 27, 2022 . Attractions Management.
13. Web site: McFall . Michael . September 5, 2014 . The ambitious dream of Evermore Park on its way to reality in Utah . November 27, 2022 . . en-US.
14. Web site: Merlin . Lalla . June 12, 2018 . Evermore - how Utah's new smart park is imagineered for fantasy gaming . November 27, 2022 . Blooloop . en-GB.
15. Web site: Horwitz . Abel . September 25, 2019 . Evermore: A World Unto Itself . November 6, 2022 . . en.
16. Web site: Evermore Park in Pleasant Grove is Ever So Remarkable . November 6, 2022 . Front Row Reviewers Utah . en-US . November 6, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221106140945/https://frontrowreviewersutah.com/?p=9315 . dead .
17. Web site: Foreman . Kelsie . August 21, 2020 . Evermore faces financial ruin after failing to pay contractors . November 6, 2022 . Utah Business . en-US.
18. Web site: Haddock . Sharon . August 11, 2015 . Evermore Adventure Park concept evolves into 'The Void' . May 9, 2016 . Deseret News.
19. Web site: Hall . Charlie . May 5, 2016 . Welcome to The Void . May 9, 2016 . . Vox Media.
20. Web site: Hollister . Sean . November 17, 2020 . The VR arcade that Disney crowned is teetering on the brink of extinction . November 27, 2022 . . en-US.
21. Web site: Burt . Spencer . January 17, 2021 . Evermore Park cancels winter production, dozens of employees laid off . November 27, 2022 . . en.
22. Web site: Alsever . Jennifer . May 16, 2022 . Evermore is not dead yet . November 6, 2022 . Utah Business . en-US.
23. Web site: A famous Utah author bought land in Pleasant Grove. Here's what he has planned for it. . . Palak . Jayswal . September 29, 2024 . November 30, 2024.
24. Web site: September 30, 2024 . Brandon Sanderson announces 'Dragonsteel Plaza' and reads from upcoming book at FanX . Caitlin . Keith . November 30, 2024 . . en.
25. Web site: Ockey . Natalie . January 3, 2021 . Evermore Park Pleasant Grove . November 27, 2022 . Utah's Adventure Family . en-US.
26. Web site: Vander's Keep . November 27, 2022 . VandersKeep.com . en.
27. Web site: Evermore Park Mythos Fantasy Renaissance Faire . May 26, 2024 . Evermore.com . en.
28. Web site: Davis . Genie . May 30, 2019 . Evermore: Utah's New Fantasy Theme Park Adds Summer Event . May 26, 2024 . Amusement Park Warehouse . en.
29. Web site: Stutz . Colin . February 3, 2021 . Taylor Swift Sued by Utah Theme Park Over 'Evermore' Album Title . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220503230914/https://www.billboard.com/pro/taylor-swift-evermore-utah-theme-park-trademark-lawsuit/ . May 3, 2022 . December 1, 2024 . Billboard.
30. Web site: Bloom . Madison . February 4, 2021 . Taylor Swift Sued By Utah Theme Park Evermore Over Trademark . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220522020012/https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-sued-by-utah-theme-park-evermore-over-trademark/ . May 22, 2022 . May 22, 2022 . Pitchfork.
31. Web site: Peterson . Kolbie . February 2, 2021 . Utah fantasy theme park Evermore sues Taylor Swift over alleged trademark infringement . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210203024814/https://www.sltrib.com/news/2021/02/03/evermore-park-sues-taylor/ . February 3, 2021 . May 26, 2024 . . en-US.
32. Blistein . Jon . February 24, 2021 . Taylor Swift's Rights Management Company Countersues Evermore Theme Park . May 26, 2024 . . en-US.
33. Web site: Willman . Chris . March 25, 2021 . Taylor Swift and Evermore Park Drop Lawsuits Against One Another, With No Money Exchanged . May 26, 2024 . . en-US.