Pirates of Speelunker Cave
As the third theme to be featured in the dark ride that originally debuted in 1964 as The Cave, Pirates of Speelunker Cave pays homage to the original ride while offering an all-new, high-tech experience fit for the whole family.
Pirates of Speelunker Cave blends technologies of both full-motion animatronics and cinema-style projections on physical and digital sets. Riders float through 17 scenes combining pirates and Speelunkers, the park’s peculiar alien-looking characters introduced on the original 1964 ride.
The updated adventure follows pirates encountering a storm and traveling to the secret caverns of the Speelunkers, attempting to steal their vast treasures and escape back to land.
2022-2023 Closure
Sign explaining Speelunker’s closure
In late August 2022, Pirates of Speelunker Cave sustained extensive flood damage, closing the ride after being open only 3 months. The area around Pirates is particularly prone to flooding, which eventually killed the previous ride (Yosemite Sam’s Gold River Adventure) back in 2018.
After considerable work, the park announced that Pirates of Speelunker Cave would reopen on June 24, 2023 with “technical rehearsals” and additional theming installed. The ride has since fully reopened.
Entrance
Pirates found at the entrance of Pirates of Speelunker Cave
Ride Station
Gone are the stairs that you previously had to climb over to board and exit for Gold River
Queue Line
Pirate-themed items are found throughout the queue
Wanted Posters
Wanted posters can be found plastered throughout the queue line
Queue theming
Several references to La Salle’s River Adventure can be found throughout the ride
Continuous Loading
Individual boats continuously creep through the station for unloading/loading
All Tied Up
One of the bizarre Speelunker characters doing his thing
Dinner Scene
Speelunkers feasting over their triumph
Pirates of Speelunker Cave Stats
| Year Introduced: | 2022 |
| Manufacturer: | Arrow Development (boats), Six Flags (theming) |
| Ride Model: | Water dark ride |
| Vehicles: | 26, 6-passenger boats |
| Height Requirement: | None with accompanying adult |
| Status: | Operating |
| Flash Pass Enabled: | Yes |
History of Pirates of Speelunker Cave
An original Six Flags over Texas Speelunker (with photos from The Cave ride in the background) from a 2011 UTA exhibit
The Cave opened at Six Flags over Texas in 1964. Guests floated down a water trough in tub-like boats through a number of scenes with peculiar-looking creatures known only as “Speelunkers.” The Cave didn’t have any sort of backstory, instead offering random glimpses into the lives of the long-faced, elfish beings.
Time Warner’s purchase of the Six Flags chain in 1992 inspired re-theming The Cave to Yosemite Sam’s Gold River Adventure, taking advantage of the new Looney Tunes IP. Fans of the quirky Cave ride and its Speelunker inhabitants were saddened to see the change.
Unlike its predecessor, Gold River had a loose storyline of Yosemite Sam robbing the bank and Sheriff Bugs Bunny (and his deputies — the riders) tracking him down. If you never experienced the ride, spoiler: he was captured and the gold recovered.
As the years went on, Gold River’s animatronics and effects aged and the ride quietly closed in late 2018 to never reopen due to flooding extensively damaging the attraction. After years of remaining shut down and no official word from the park, Six Flags management announced in 2021 the ride would be re-imagined as Pirates of Speelunker Cave and opening the following year, alongside Aquaman Power Wave (whose opening would ultimately be delayed until 2023).
Pirates of Speelunker Cave pays significant fan tribute by adding the unique Speelunker characters alongside the non-licensed pirate theme Six Flags corporate has previously used on other rides.
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