A major construction milestone was reached this morning at Kynren – The Storied Lands as the final timber was lifted into place atop The Lost Feather arena ahead of the attraction’s opening this summer.
The official topping out ceremony marked the completion of the arena’s extraordinary eagle nest inspired roof structure – one of the most distinctive new builds within the UK’s first live action historical theme park.
Created using thousands of interwoven timber poles designed to resemble a vast woven nest suspended above the arena below, the structure is set to become one of the defining visual features of the new attraction when it opens on 18th July.
During the ceremony, the final log, etched with the signatures of key members of the project and construction teams, was carefully lifted into place high above the arena using a cherry picker.
Senior figures from Kynren joined project teams, creatives and members of the bird, conservation and education team for the event, alongside a series of bird flying demonstrations offering an early glimpse into The Lost Feather live show experience.
Guests saw free flying European black kites soar above the arena, while macaws swept overhead and a Verreaux’s eagle owl flew in to meet one of the attraction’s costumed Bird Guardians.
The Lost Feather will form one of several large-scale experiences within Kynren – The Storied Lands, a new daytime attraction being developed alongside the internationally acclaimed night show Kynren – An Epic Tale of England in Bishop Auckland.
The 2,500 seat arena will combine live performance, large scale set pieces, birds in free flight, storytelling and immersive theming within a landscape featuring waterfalls, lagoons and extensive planting.
“Today was an important moment for everybody involved in bringing Kynren – The Storied Lands to life,” said Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren.
“Seeing the final signed timber lifted into place marked the culmination of an enormous amount of creativity, craftsmanship and teamwork.
“The Lost Feather arena is unlike anything else in the UK and really captures the ambition and imagination of this project. It was fantastic to share a first glimpse of the experience this morning with invited media and partners ahead of opening this summer.”
The event also offered behind the scenes insight into the scale of ongoing work taking place across the wider Kynren – The Storied Lands site as teams continue preparations for opening.
The Lost Feather is expected to be one of the flagship attractions within the new development, combining large scale spectacle with a wider message around conservation and humanity’s connection with the natural world.
Kynren – The Storied Lands opens this summer in Bishop Auckland. Further details can be found here.