Epic Universe construction update: Isle of Berk soars to new heights
Isle of Berk, Epic Universe’s “How to Train Your Dragon”-themed land, continues construction with new details and additions.
The Isle of Berk is home to dragons and Vikings alike. Soon, guests will enter one of Universal Epic Universe’s portals and be transported to an immersive land themed to DreamWorks Animation’s Academy Award-nominated “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise. Construction continues as Epic Universe nears its May 22, 2025 opening date. Thanks to @bioreconstruct on X, who captured the photos below on Dec. 25, 2024, we have a new set of aerial construction pictures to dive into. Saddle up, as there’s plenty to go over!
Dragon Racer’s Rally | Flat ride
No longer spending time hunting dragons, the citizens of Berk now pass time watching the sport of dragon racing. Dragon Racer’s Rally is one of three rides in the Isle of Berk, where aspiring dragon flyers will prepare themselves for what’s to come while in the air with a dragon. Guests will fly high, spin, and dive just like the dragon races they see in the beloved films.
Construction crews have placed banners on the stands behind the attraction, representing different dragons. In the photo below, the banner on the left showcases a long red dragon, known as a Hookfang. The banner on the right has a Night Fury, the same breed of dragon as Toothless.
Viking & fish statue
Color and weathering has been added to the Viking & fish statue in the village of Berk.
Fyre Drill |Boat ride
Fyre Drill — an interactive boat ride training Vikings to put out fires accidentally caused by dragons — received its entrance archway.
While we have yet to see the attraction’s wait time or Express signage, lanterns now decorate the entrance. The ramp leading into the attraction’s queue also took shape.
Banners instructing guests how to “play” now hang alongside the ride path of Fyre Drill. These instructional pieces of artwork are behind the set pieces on “fire” that guests will need to put out.
The small, ship-like ride vehicles are are in position within the ride’s path. It’s only a matter of time until Vikings-in-training walk off their boats completely drenched!
Haddock Paddock | Meet & greet
Construction crews placed stanchions throughout the queue for Berk’s character meet & greet location. Haddock Paddock is where guests can meet Toothless and Hiccup.
Spit Fyre Grill | Quick-service restaurant
Construction continues on the framweork for a structure above Spit Fyre Grill’s outdoor seating area. We hope the tarp used to cover this area is fire proof, as the food at Spit Fyre Grill is flame-seared by a dragon (so the story goes). Thankfully, Fyre Drill is right next door.
In the photos below, the presence of the American flag is a construction tradition representing the “topping out” of a new structure — indicating that Epic Universe teams finished building the Spit Fyre Grill canopy’s framing to its highest point.
‘The Untrainable Dragon’ | Stage show
Scaffolding is gone around the entrance and exit of “The Untrainable Dragon,” the live, indoor stage show in the Isle of Berk. With tarps and scaffolding gone, we can get a look at the vibrant paint and details on the exterior of the show’s building.
With only a little over four months until Epic Universe’s grand opening, work is starting to ramp up and wrap up across the park. Stay tuned for more construction updates as we approach the day we can finally visit the Isle of Berk.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
Ready for adventure? Our trusted partner Universal Fan Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the fun. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating epic vacations. Visit Universal Fan Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
