Flyover is an immersive experience of awe and wonder, transporting guests through the planet’s most epic places through exhilarating flying journeys. The attraction features flight motion seats designed to swoop, dip, and turn, giving guests the sensation of flying as they take in stunning views on a 65-foot spherical screen. The experience is enhanced by special effects like wind, mist, and scents, creating an immersive journey through iconic locations and breathtaking natural landscapes.
Each of the Flyover experiences are helmed by creative director Rick Rothschild and associate creative director David Mossop. All filming is done entirely in house, in association with music and stories by local talent.
Before entering a long art-filled hallway, visitors to the Las Vegas Flyover are asked “Are You Ready to Soar?” in bold letters across the wall. If they are, they can now choose between four multi-sensory exploratory experiences in one of the two “flying theaters” onsite. Each Flyover theatrical experience plays several times throughout the day, and tickets can be purchased online at a discount, or at the door for full price.
With the loud sounds of Vegas and zooming cars blaring from outside, the general manager of the Las Vegas Flyover, Reece Westerland, explains that the intention of the space is to “cleanse your palette” to enable the guests to truly enjoy the power and beauty of nature. The sights, sounds, and smells of the outside world must be left behind.
The hallways are tall, slim, and punctuated by surreal digital art in 20-foot high panels. The flashing, color changing lights that frame each section of the journey give off a hypnotizing vibe as brave adventurers walk towards the theaters. The hallway meets its end in a theater lobby, a high, jagged, nature-inspired room reminiscent of a slot canyon.
The transition from city to hallway to lobby to theater is certainly an interruption of city life. To heighten each experience, and take them into the final sensory dimension (taste!) guests can enjoy themed cocktails for all four of the experiences at the lobby bar called Lost Cactus.
Legendary Iceland
“Legendary Iceland”, one of the four experiences, takes viewers on a magnificent journey above mountains and lava, through fjords and into warm Icelandic homes to experience as much of Iceland as one can without leaving Las Vegas. Visitors fly above the breathtaking scenery, the chair moving in time with the view, the wind on your ankles, the smells wafting through the air. Viewers are exposed to awe inspiring views in Iceland that include the Northern Lights and areas of the country only accessible by helicopter.
Paired with “Legendary Iceland” experience is the “Iceland’s Fire and Ice” cocktail, a take on a vodka punch made with Iceland’s own Reyka vodka, Apple Pucker, lime juice, lychee syrup, and Sprite.
Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies
“Windborne: Call of the Canadian Rockies” is a flight over the northern end of the largest mountain system in North America. With simulated wind, the scent of wildflowers, and choreographed chair lifts, guests are taken to 18 different filmed locales. In addition to the stunning peaks and breathtaking scenery, visitors also learn about the local Blackfoot Indigenous community from Blackfoot Elder Peter Strikes With a Gun as he narrates the pre-show.
To enhance your Canadian immersion, try the “Canadian Sky” cocktail, a sweet Gin Collins made with Canadian Empress Gin, floral St. Germain, lime juice, cotton candy and club soda.
Believe Chicago
The newest adventure, “Believe Chicago” is the only one filmed entirely by new drone technology designed for Flyover. Swooping down from a bird’s eye view of the Chicago grid to deep into the city’s most famous attractions, from the Joffrey Ballet studio to a movie set with a carchase to fireworks over the river, the almost dizzying 9-minute experience takes you through the city in a spectacular way. The hyper-smooth flight of the drone camera makes the Chicago experience unique to the other Flyover experiences.
The theater’s mesh chairs allow the unique sound system to deliver a multidimensional experience, with a soundtrack led by composer Elliot Wheeler and featuring local Chicago musicians and choirs.
The Chicago themed cocktail is an homage to the Local 130, a Chicago Plummer’s Association, and their annual dying of the Chicago River bright green each St Patrick’s Day. It’s called the “130”, is electric green, and contains coco rum, peach schnapps, blue curacao, Sprite, lime juice and melon liqueur.
Wonders of the American West
“Wonders of the American West” takes the guests closer to home (if home is Las Vegas); guests soar on top of Lake Tahoe, Zion, the Mohave Desert and the Grand Canyon. From the cowboy feel of being horseback on a butte, to gliding up the ocean itself, it is a vast and varied view of the rugged American western landscape.
After flying above and into Chicago, exploring Iceland, coasting over the mountains and deserts, guests are returned to the real world. Slowly, they transition back out through the lobby, back through the trippy halls, and finally back onto the loud streets of Las Vegas.
Overall this was an experience that we would want to do an again and again and we can’t wait to be back in Vegas to soar again. We also recommend stopping by the gift shop where you can pickup items for the whole family. We bought an amazing candle that has the same scents that you experience in the theaters during the movie presentations.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://stage.flyoverlasvegas.com or in person. Locals currently receive a 30% discount. Hours are 11am to 8pm.
Words by Caitlin E. Bower and Amy Harris @thetraveladdictig