Hologram zoo ‘Zoocade’ now open in Texas
Zoocade opened its doors in Austin, Texas this past month as the first “hologram zoo” in the U.S.
Photo courtesy of Zoocade
Zoocade opens in Austin, Texas
Zoocade includes several different holographic zoo experiences, taking guests through Africa, Asia, and dinosaur-themed hallways. There are also “adventure rooms,” which give guests the chance to “feed” fish, “swim” with humpback whales, and even come face-to-face with Dracula.
Image courtesy of Zoocade
The experience as a whole takes around thirty minutes, though the museum also offers an extended dinosaur exhibit option that adds another half hour to the visit time.
Zoocade’s hologram zoo is rated for all ages, and starts at $24.95 per experience plus tax. All guests will receive a cardboard “holographic-style” gift at the end of their visit.
Photo courtesy of Zoocade
Zoocade also includes an attached arcade, which features a “Jurassic Park” game and skeeball, among other classic games.
How does a hologram zoo work?
The hologram zoo concept works by augmented reality, or AR. Guests wear 3D glasses into the museum’s “hi-tech hologram tunnels,” which work together to refract lasers. This creates the illusion of a hologram, or a projection of various animals onto the walls around the viewer.
Photo courtesy of Zoocade
This technology is not the same as virtual reality: that involves having screens cover both eyes to project images. AR tech like the hologram zoo only projects images onto real-world objects that the viewer can still see, which means that you’re still interacting with a real environment.
Studies have shown that AR projections are less likely to trigger symptoms of motion sickness as well, since the viewer can still orient themselves in the real world as well as in virtual reality.
Photo courtesy of Zoocade
The world’s first holographic zoo, the Hologram Zoo, opened in Brisbane, Australia in 2023. Time Magazine named the technology “Invention of the Year,” and similar attractions have since opened in China and Canada.
Image courtesy of Zoocade
To learn more about the Zoocade’s hologram zoo or to buy tickets, visit their website and make reservations.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
No matter where you want to go, our trusted partner MEI-Travel will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation-planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. Visit MEI-Travel for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.
