Truth Traveler Brings Immersive Biblical VR Experience to Branson

Truth Traveler, an immersive virtual reality experience developed by Answers in Genesis, will open at the former Andy Williams Moon River Theater in Branson this month. It will transport guests back in time to pivotal moments in biblical history, starting in Genesis, complete with motion benches and motion feedback.

Beyond the VR journey, the Branson complex also will feature a state-of-the-art planetarium and a 1,200-seat theater offering live performances and projection-mapped shows that extend the narrative, all designed to blend technology with captivating biblical teachings. A similar attraction already is open in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

“It’s more than just the ride,” Ben Wilt of Anwers in Genesis said. “We have very robust preshow elements. We have a faux elevator[hat makes you feel like you’re going down. We wanted to make it all intentional. We’re taking a chapter out of Disney and the Universal book.”

The Ark Encounter in Kentucky offers a similar Truth Traveler experience, while the Creation Museum features a planetarium show. The popularity of both allowed Answers in Genesis to consider offering them in other markets.

“We always wanted to do something in the Pigeon Forge and Branson markets, just given their attraction space,” he said. “People love going there on their vacations.”

The Pigeon Forge location also features a planetarium, while the Branson site will include a theater equipped for live productions and projection mapping. The planetarium show in Pigeon Forge spotlights the size of the universe. “You just feel the enormous nature of what God’s created just beyond earth, and the fact that we are at the center of all of that and his favorite creation,” Wilt said.

Wilt told “Crosswalk Headlines” that he hopes Branson guests have fun while gaining a deeper understanding of the truth of scripture. Each location includes food options and a gift shop.

“They’re on vacation, and so we’ve made this fun, but it’s also intentional about the message that we’re conveying, and we think that it’ll have a huge impact,” he said. “Both experiences, we think, will leave a lasting impression about biblical authority and the importance of that in our lives.”

For more information, visit www.truthtraveler.com.

–Dwight Widaman