The state's tourism industry is using virtual reality, such as Visit Hot Springs' two-part VR experience "Hot Springs, The Experience of a Lifetime," to keep connected to visitors during the coronavirus pandemic.
"You can still visit some of your favorite Arkansas attractions via virtual efforts across the state to keep the community connected to the many places that make Arkansas unique," according to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism website.
" ... Hot Springs was the scene of the first tourism film in Arkansas using virtual reality technology. 'Hot Springs, The Experience of a Lifetime' is a two-part virtual reality experience that you can see on the Visit Hot Springs YouTube channel."
The two short films are each about three to four minutes long.
VHS Director of Marketing Bill Solleder said one video is "a lot more exciting," featuring Magic Springs, the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Northwoods Trails system and Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort.
"You can actually be on a roller coaster at Magic Springs in the front seat and that is spliced together with some shots of the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade, and then, of course, the Northwoods," Solleder said. " ... The 360 Oaklawn one is actually on top of the gate, so it's like you're standing on the gate and you can look down and all the horses are in the gate and then they take off and it's like you're right there."
He said the other video is narrated and "much more serene," featuring Garvan Woodland Gardens, Lake Hamilton and Bathhouse Row.
"It takes you through Garvan Gardens and onto the lake and Bathhouse Row and that one's actually narrated and it gives you a little bit about Hot Springs and Hot Springs National Park," Solleder said.
VHS worked with the Freelance Society and videographer Dylan Roberts to create the videos, he said.
The two videos can be accessed on VHS's YouTube channel via computer, phone or VR headset.
"You can watch it on YouTube and drag your mouse around or move your phone around, or if you have the virtual reality headset you can put it on and literally look 360 (degrees)," Solleder said. " ... It's a great experience,"
He added that "everything's a good thing right now, just to stay busy," in the midst of the pandemic.
"It's a great time, I think, while isolating to try some new things and VR is a new technology and it's kind of a household thing," Solleder said. "('Hot Springs, The Experience of a Lifetime') is a great thing to watch and I believe that people who are outside of Hot Springs, around the world, can access our films through VR and see what we have to offer in Virtual Reality and the films are so beautiful, I think it's an enticing piece for us to have more visitors, when we can have more visitors."
Local on 04/04/2020