The February air was crisp, the kind that made every sound from the construction site ring sharper. Behind the solid construction walls that sealed off Serpent's Run from the public, Lucas walked along the gravel path that wound through the Jungle Zone's newest project.
Today marked a quiet milestone—quiet, because no guests or journalists were here to witness it. The very first section of coaster track was about to be set into place: the slow-moving, drive-tire–powered stretch that would guide trains through the dark temple corridor before the launch.
The emerald-green rails, fresh from Intamin's workshop, gleamed against the gold-painted steel supports. A mobile crane lifted the first piece, swinging it slowly into position above the bare concrete footers. Technicians guided it into place with practiced precision until the metallic clunk of locking bolts echoed through the site.
A ripple of applause went through the crew. No speeches, no cameras rolling—just a shared recognition among the builders that this was the beginning of the ride's physical form. Lucas allowed himself a small smile. Theming would come later; for now, this raw steel was the first tangible shape of the adventure to come.
Without wasting time, the crew moved on. More track sections followed, extending the pre-launch stretch until it met the point where the first launch would begin. This launch track, flanked by more gold-painted supports, slid into place under the crane's careful movements. When the final bolt tightened, the first complete launch run of Serpent's Run was finished.
Only the first one, though. The second launch—hidden deeper in the layout—was still a bare patch of footers, waiting for its turn.
From her internal filming platform, Emma Scholz caught every moment for the next official update video. "This is going to be the perfect opener," she said without looking up from the camera.
"Let them keep guessing," Lucas replied. "As long as the walls stay up, no one outside has a clue what's really going on in here."
Emma smirked. "Mystery makes the reveal twice as good."
Lucas glanced back at the newly placed rails. For now, they were just track and steel. But in his mind, the temple corridor was already alive with flickering torchlight, serpent carvings, and the slow build-up before the blast into daylight.
From the same elevated camera position, the crew shifted their focus to another key milestone. A crane, its boom stretching far above the site, lifted the tallest support piece into the air.
Workers on the ground signaled with precise hand gestures, guiding the steel giant into place. Its golden-yellow finish caught the light, matching the colour of the other supports already anchored into the foundation. The sheer height of the piece made it stand out instantly—this would be one of the coaster's most visible elements once completed.
Emma kept the camera steady as the support slowly rotated, aligning perfectly with its base plate. A dull, satisfying clunk echoed as it settled into position. Within moments, crews secured it with heavy bolts, moving quickly but carefully to ensure everything sat exactly to specification.
"Beautiful shot," Emma muttered under her breath as she zoomed in. "That's going to look incredible in the update video."
Lucas, watching from the side, couldn't help but imagine the future track sweeping over it. This wasn't just another piece of steel—it marked a turning point in the build. The skyline of the Jungle Zone was beginning to change.
Within minutes, the crane detached, and the crew gave a small wave of acknowledgment toward Emma's camera before moving to their next task. Every second counted, and the energy on site reflected it.
Three days after filming, the latest construction update for Serpent's Run went live on Elysion Park's official YouTube channel. Emma Scholz's calm narration played over crisp, steady drone shots of the Jungle Zone construction site. The opening seconds lingered on the gleaming gold supports and the deep forest green launch track, sunlight catching the curves as cranes moved in the background.
The video cut to ground-level footage: the first section of track before Launch 1, with its row of drive tires, already bolted into place. Workers in hi-vis jackets moved between scaffolding, tightening bolts, and guiding the massive steel spine into position. A final montage showed the completed first launch, stretching out of the station area and toward the site's open expanse — ending with a tease of the highest support being bolted in, silhouetted against the winter sky.
By the time the video hit the one-hour mark online, the comment section was already exploding.
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🎢 CoasterTalk Forum – Jungle Zone Thread
> SteelSerpent92: That gold + green combo is chef's kiss. Easily the best colour scheme in the park so far. You can tell it's an Intamin just from those track connectors.
LaunchFanatic: That pre-launch section with the drive tires? That's not just a straight shot — looks like a couple of curves in there. Could be some show scenes before we even hit the first launch.
VekomaVeteran: I think we're looking at something like Juvelen in Djurs Sommerland, but on steroids. Two launches, family-friendly height, themed like crazy.
JungleRunner: Anyone else notice the placement of that highest support? That's gotta be part of a sweeping turn after the second launch. No way that's a lift hill — confirmed it's all launch-based.
DropTheBrakes: Called it months ago — indoor show scenes + double launch = Elysion's signature ride.
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📱 Twitter/X
@ThemeParkInsiderEU
🚨 NEW UPDATE: Elysion Park drops fresh footage of Serpent's Run construction! First launch track + gold supports now in place. This Jungle Zone expansion is looking HUGE. #ElysionPark #SerpentsRun
@CoasterJunkieNL
That colour scheme is SO clean. Also… the drive tire section before the launch? We're getting story scenes for sure. 👀
@FamilyRidesFirst
My kids are already obsessed with the look of this. Fingers crossed it's smooth enough for everyone.
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📺 ThemeTube Channel Comments
> TrackHunter: Based on the support spacing, I think the second launch will take us over the Jungle Splash Adventure area before swinging back. That's gonna be amazing for visuals.
ParkNerd_1985: I can already imagine the on-ride POV — diving out of that temple facade into sunlight. Perfect.
MackOrNothing: Okay, okay, I'll admit — this might be the first Intamin in years I'm genuinely hyped for.
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🎢 Local News Snippet – "Elysion Park's Jungle Zone Taking Shape"
> Elysion Park has revealed new construction footage of its upcoming launch coaster Serpent's Run. The ride, manufactured by Intamin Amusement Rides, will feature two launches, an indoor show section, and a 22-metre-high peak visible from parts of the park. Opening is planned for July 2017, with theming work scheduled to begin in April.
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Lucas scrolled through the posts that evening, a faint smirk on his face. Everyone was guessing, dissecting, theorising. And none of them — not even the most experienced coaster enthusiasts — had the full picture.
That, he thought, was exactly how it should be.