How Six Flags Over Georgia Got Its Legendary Dark Ride: Monster Mansion

This article is a continuation of the history of Tales of the Okefenokee.

Reimagining the Swamp

Shortly after Six Flags Over Georgia closed for the 1980 season, work began on the new ride. Crews demolished many of the set pieces in the Tales of the Okefenokee show building. Essentially, all that remained after demolition were the building, the ride track itself, and very few props as well as murals. It has been rumored that the animatronics were destroyed during this process, but it’s currently believed some of the characters were saved by team members before demolition began.

Either way, Tales of the Okefenokee was officially gone, and Six Flags had intentions of creating a new fan-favorite ride that would be just as entertaining for adults as it would be for kids.

Former Disney Imagineer Dave Gengenbach was serving as Six Flags’ production supervisor at the time. According to Gengenbach, he made a “nasty crack” once about some rides in the chain. So, with a replacement for Tales of the Okefenokee on the way, leadership challenged him to head the development efforts of the company’s upcoming attraction in Georgia. Gengenbach accepted, saying that he had “one last good show” in him.

The project at hand would be a challenge as the new ride would have to be retrofitted into the existing ride layout and show building. Nevertheless, Gengenbach was determined to make it special.

“I know a lot of people liked the Okefenokee, and if they liked the Okefenokee, we’re going to blow their socks off.”

— Dave Gengenbach, production supervisor and former Imagineer

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The Disney Touch

Gengenbach, using his connections from Disney, recruited the most talented professionals in the industry for the project. The up-and-coming Gary Goddard Productions team was brought on to create the concept, story, characters, art direction, music production, and set design.

Gary Goddard’s team was experienced and innovative, including legends such as “Big Al” Bertino, of Country Bear Jamboree fame, and a phenomenal artist in Phil Mendez, among many others.

The team of creatives was in charge of coming up with the concept for the ride. They were looking to have a Southern theme to retain the local connection. An early idea wasn’t too far from the defunct Tales of the Okefenokee: a concept of hillbillies and singing rabbits.

While brainstorming, the team eventually landed on the idea of a sunken plantation, but that wasn’t enough.

Building on that idea, “Big Al” Bertino was inspired when playing with his granddaughter one day when she was pretending to be a monster. That moment sparked the concept for the upcoming ride.