How about a new attraction for Fiesta Village?

Rumor has it that the Fiesta Village section of Knott's Berry Farm may be next in line for the same sort of sprucing up that Camp Snoopy received this year. This most likely won't happen next year, so we have plenty of time to start speculating. Of course, it'll get the theming touched up and and will probably look better then ever but why not add a new attraction to anchor the refurbished area? Time for some backseat Imagineering. 


To me, an interactive dark ride would be a perfect way to inject some energy into this area and the best way to do it would be by removing Jaguar. Wait, what? Oh NOOOOOOS!!! Don't touch Jaguar. Well lets be honest here, Jaguar is important for the fact that it accommodates families but at the same time it's not really exciting. It also kind of junks up Fiesta Village with all it's supports. Instead, let's replace it with another family ride. As mentioned before, it'll be an interactive dark ride. Let's call it: Curse of the Jaguar. Let's also have it reuse the existing queue and ride station, as the temple looks awesome and will fit the theme of the new attraction. What we do from here is build a show building that we attach to the back of the current temple structure, and dress it up much the same way as Disney did with their Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT Center. Of course, we can inclose a chunk of Montezooma's Revenge within the new themed show building and have it rocket out of a new show tunnel (maybe add a 360 projection screen ala Manta or some cool fog / lighting effects in the tunnel), while the new dark ride will sit above it on the second floor. The back of the show building facing Camp Snoopy can feature some rock work. 

Top Image: Mexico Pavilion at Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center
Bottom Image: Jaguar at Knott's Berry Farm's Fiesta Villiage

As for the story, it should be set in the 1920's and should revolve around some explorers entering the ancient temple (treasure hunting or looking for artifacts). It's here they awaken an ancient Aztec god who will then curse the riders and take the form of a Jaguar. You then play "Indiana Jones" as you dodge traps and mythical creatures, narrowly escaping with your life. The story will be set up in the existing queue with props, possibly even animatronics if they decide to go with a pre-show.

While it would be easiest to take the Wonder Mountain's Guardian route and use coaster track (considering the coaster station that is already in place), I certainly hope they would keep it grounded. Coaster track would just unnecessarily inflate the cost of the attraction, increase the size of the show building and shorten the ride time. If they go TrioTech, hopefully they will use their proprietary system and keep at a slow pace. If they don't go TrioTech and instead Sally Corp., then I hope it's exactly like Challenge of Tutankhamon (only it takes place in Mexico instead of Egypt). 

Either way, Fiesta Village needs something new and exciting while also removing some of the roller coaster supports that are currently suffocating it.