Walltopia Caves: Underutilized Spaces Become Revenue Streams
From Watersport to Adventure Center:
The Dunmore Adventure Story
Dunmore Adventure, Ireland, started as a watersports centre in 1993, offering windsurfing, sailing, kayaking and snorkelling to holiday makers and schools in the area. Early on the need for a broаder, weather proof range of activities occurred as a way to overcome the seasonal nature of the business. One such activity is the center’s artificial caving system, designed and produced by Walltopia back in 2014.
The cave was built into a part of Dunmore Adventure core building that was empty. With the cave it was successfully turned into a revenue stream for the park.
The Dunmore Adventure Cave is used in many ways:
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- For individual visitors – families and groups of friends
- For school tours – they do a quick exploration session, where the children are brought to the briefing chamber, and then let exploring in groups. As the caving system is in a loop, there is no fear of losing anyone
- For Stags and Hens parties they have a challenge in the cave where guests have to find stars to win a prize
- For team building events where tackling the challenge as a team is a perfect exercise
- This year, the center also launched an escape game of the cave that’s been very successful for all of the above target groups
In 2020 the center was awarded Best Small Business in Ireland as a recognition of their great service and ability to always up their game and add new challenges.
Edutainment at its best
Dunmore Adventure’s cave was among the first in Walltopia’s portfolio. Ever since, Walltopia caves have risen in popularity. There are two main reasons for that trend – caves offer a unique mix of fun and education.
The realistic appearance of rock caves is achieved using molds from actual rocks, produced from durable glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP). Popular features include stalactites, stalagmites, fossils, and lava formations. Tours typically begin with an operator’s briefing and may proceed as guided or self-guided, depending on the cave’s length and complexity.
Guided tours provide extra educational value, especially for kids and schools, as children crawl through tunnels and navigate obstacles, combining physical challenges with learning, much like exploring a real cave.
The theming in the cave was the best and most realistic from any companies that we tendered, we even have an LED lava entrance which is always a big hit with everyone! - shares Karen Harris, Owner at Dunmore Adventure, on their choice of Walltopia. “The cave is very easy to operate, we have safety hatches in the event that someone becomes claustrophobic and needs to get out quickly, although we have never had to use them for that purpose - just for maintenance. - continues Karen.
Inside the Cave
During a cave visit, kids are treated like little explorers, equipped with helmets, headlamps, knee and elbow protectors, and torches. They not only experience the look and feel of a real cave but also enjoy sound and special lighting effects. Walltopia’s expertise in GFRP rock-realistic climbing walls allows them to develop artificial caves to a superior level. Clients can choose from standard or custom designs, all featuring safety measures like fire-resistant materials, emergency exits, lights, and ventilation systems, ensuring a safe and immersive experience.