2
Credit: Universal PicturesJurassic Park is one of the most popular and beloved franchises of all time. Like many others, it has long transcended the silver screen into other storytelling mediums, from comic books to cartoon shows, and video games to actual theme parks.
Since its inception in 1993, the franchise has found its way into Universal Studios theme parks—first with attractions like Jurassic Park: The Ride and, in more recent years, following the incredibly successful Jurassic World rebranding that has produced three movie sequels, with all-new experiences such as Jurassic World: The Ride and VelociCoaster.
But while these attractions are each incredibly immersive in their own right, there’s another official Jurassic Park theme park experience coming soon that will plunge fans even deeper into the world established in Steven Spielberg’s original 1993 film. And, unlike the Universal Studios themed areas, this one will feature a Jurassic Park hotel.
While the first film alone is enough for any Jurassic fan–love them or hate them, the sequels are merely optional–fans are still craving an experience that immerses them deep into the Jurassic Park 1993 timeline. There are also many unanswered questions about the film.
Though we get front-row seats to the dinosaur-inhabited theme park’s collapse through the eyes of characters such as Alan Grant (Sam Neill), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), there’s still a lot of Isla Nublar we don’t get to see on-screen.
Not only are there several species of dinosaur in addition to the ones we see on-screen–Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, Parasaurolophus, Gallimimus, Brachiosaurus, Dilophosaurus, and Triceratops–but there’s a lot more to the Costa Rican island than just dinosaur paddocks and visitor centers.
As revealed in the 1990 best-seller by Michael Crichton upon which Spielberg’s film is based, there are several areas of interest dotted about Isla Nublar, including an aviary that houses prehistoric flying reptiles, a lagoon, several other dinosaur enclosures, recreational zones, and even a hotel known as the Safari Lodge.
It’s hardly surprising that there’s a hotel on a remote island that’s home to a theme park resort–where else are all the tourists supposed to stay?
In the book, we spend a bit of time at the Safari Lodge; first, during the early parts of the story when everything is seemingly going well for the guests’ exclusive VIP tour of the park, and towards the end, when an injured Ian Malcolm finds himself hiding from raptors that are trying to break into one of the rooms.
But while the hotel doesn’t appear anywhere in the film, it still exists off-screen. The chances of ever seeing it in the series are now as extinct as dinosaurs are here in the real world, especially since Isla Nublar was blown up in 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but soon, fans will get the chance to spend some time there in an upcoming Jurassic sequel.
Related: Fate of Universal Studios’ Jurassic Park/Jurassic World Attractions Confirmed in New Report
Jurassic World: Rebirth (2025) might be getting a lot of attention from fans lately, but another Jurassic sequel that’s in development is the first-person action-adventure video game “Jurassic Park: Survival” (TBA) which pits stranded InGen scientist Dr. Maya Joshi against the park’s loose dinosaurs just 24 hours after the events of the 1993 film.
Though we’re yet to see a follow-up to the first trailer that premiered online last December, earlier this year, Universal and Saber shared with IGN an internal Q&A conducted with Universal Products & Experiences, in which the game’s developers confirmed that players can expect iconic locations from the film as well as never-before-seen parts of the island.
Related: New Jurassic Park Theme Park Experience To Replace ALL Universal Attractions
“We have been working with all our stakeholders on what the island would have looked like after the events of the film,” Universal Products & Experiences executive producer John Melchior told IGN, adding, “This includes areas we all love like the Visitor’s Center and the T-Rex paddock. But also, what we didn’t see, things that were not part of the tour or got cut off by the storm. Those on the island were supposed to be there overnight, so what does that mean? What would they have seen and where would they have stayed if everything went according to plan? That is where we are starting. One thing is certain – the island is as much a part of the story as the characters and dinosaurs.”
So, it sounds like the Safari Lodge will appear in the game. There’s another hotel in the novel called the Pteratops Lodge, but it’s revealed that the pterosaurs in the aviary–where the building is foolishly located (but hey, this is Jurassic Park)–have been causing problems for construction workers, which has stalled development.
Either way, whether or not you’ll be able to “stay the night” in the Safari Lodge remains to be seen, although it will more than likely be one of many save points littered about the island. And with prehistoric predators lurking at every turn, you’re going to need plenty.
Watch the official trailer for “Survival” below:
Related: Universal’s Jurassic Park Likely To Be Permanently Demolished in 2025
“Return to Isla Nublar the day after the events of the beloved 1993 Jurassic Park film in an original adventure 65 million years in the making,” the official synopsis says.
“Survive thrilling first-person action as InGen scientist Dr. Maya Joshi, who was unable to evacuate Isla Nublar, in this single-player action-adventure game and discover a never-before-told story. Through thrilling encounters, experience the wonder and danger of dinosaurs, each with their own distinct and adaptive behaviors brought to life by John Hammond’s vision.”
“Jurassic Park: Survival” is expected to be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and other popular gaming platforms such as Steam sometime in 2025.
Are you excited to see the Jurassic Park hotel appear in the new game? Let us know in the comments!