NOW FUNDING: Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time

Dormant for a few years now Memphis, Tennessee’s Mississippi River Museum at Mud Island Park is set to be reimagined into Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time a 33,000 square ft. immersive playground and interactive experience aimed at providing an unforgettable experience for families in and visiting Memphis.

Currently funding on the WeFunder platform, which offers revenue share, the project has an overall fundraising goal of $10 million to transform the space which originally opened in 1982 and closed in 2019.

On the creative side the BVO team isn’t starting from scratch, with a sold out two-month pop up called Quadrant 360 that took place at Memphis’ Off the Wall Arts in the Spring of 2020.

We checked in with BVO’s Chief Visionary Officer Christopher Reyes about the project, which is aiming for a Spring 2025 launch to bring the family friendly River of Time alive.

This is No Proscenium’s NOW FUNDING, a look at immersive experiences & events currently crowdfunding. To learn more about how your event could be considered for the feature check out How To Get Covered By NoPro.

NO PROSCENIUM: Tell us a little bit about this planned experience. What’s it about? What makes it immersive?

Christopher Reyes: In its simplest form, Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time is a fantastical playground where you can run, jump, climb, crawl, and teleport to alternate universes. It’s a “choose-your-own-adventure-style” story that’s full of discovery and wonder, interactive puzzles, and games that will give you access to secret worlds and rewards.

NP: What is the inspiration for your upcoming experience?

CR: In 2016, I created an immersive underwater world called Fish. It was a simple 360 project with murals, projection, and a soundscape. I was surprised by the level of joy that it brought to the audience and participants, and it made me realize that I wanted to dedicate myself to creating these types of immersive experiences.

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I set out to create a multiverse of worlds and stories. I created a character named Baron Von Opperbean, who was inspired by Indiana Jones and Doctor Who. The Baron became the backstory for the participants who would ultimately be the heroes of their own stories. I was also inspired by Meow Wolf’s sense of eclectic art, but the true inspiration came from St Louis’s City Museum and the sense of endless play without any technology.

NP: What do you think fans of immersive will find most interesting about this upcoming experience?

CR: I think participants will experience a new level of immersive play and storytelling.

As for the experience, think Meow Wolf’s artistry plus the playground depth of the City Museum, but with a richer narrative backcloth and character development, actors in character, more immersive visuals, holographic AI characters, and greater interactivity.

NP: Have you crowdfunded before? If so, is there anything different about your experience (or expectations) this time?

Crowdfunding is a regular thing for us, as we have been building our local creative network for years through various creative projects, and building trust in our community, both in our audience and creative partners. However, this is, by far, our largest ask from our community.

In addition, we use a lot of reclaimed materials, which we also gather from our community. Our community has been instrumental in providing money, materials, and volunteers.

Discover the latest immersive events, festivals, workshops, and more at our new site EVERYTHING IMMERSIVE, home of NoPro’s show listings.

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