September 16, 2015 – Hi all! Welcome to the latest edition of our photo update – this time focusing on the Lankershim pedestrian bridge, the new parking structures, CityWalk, the House of Horrors replacement project, Halloween Horror Nights, Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the former site of the NBCUniversal Experience.
Let’s get started.
» Lankershim Pedestrian Bridge
» Parking Structures
» CityWalk Stores
» Universal’s House of Horrors Replacement Project
» Halloween Horror Nights
» The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
» NBCUniversal Experience
With the completion date for the Lankershim pedestrian bridge project looming, more and more progress is being made.
As seen in our previous photo update, three new vertical structures had emerged. Now, as you can see, the bridge has started to travel horizontally. This bridge will serve to provide a safe way for both guests and employees to cross the busy Lankershim intersection into Universal Studios.
Moving on to another area of immense progress, we have an update on the new parking structures. It has been a while since we last covered this project, and since then, vast progression has occurred and it appears as if the structures are nearly finished..
While this continual construction has been a bit of a headache, especially when entering the parking area, the new parking structures will prove to be extremely beneficial for when the Wizarding World crowds start to swarm in.
Consistent with the rest of Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk is going through many changes, as well. The previous locations of Salvatory Shoes and Stop and Play are in the works to become Shoe Palace, Tommy Burgers is turning into a Smashburger, and, most recently, Quicksilver has closed to make way for a “new concept.”
From the outside, it doesn’t appear as if much progress has been made on the former site of Things From Another World. However, a look inside the Universal Studio Store proves otherwise. With the store cut in half, a grey wall with some black tarp separate the current store from its future expansion.
Outside the park, more construction is being made on the back side of the Globe Theater. Guests are now being directed around the construction to access Frankenstein Parking.
Within the park, the progress on the previous House of Horrors location continues to steadily move along.
With Halloween Horror Nights only days away, graphic and disturbing props and decorations have started to take over the park. Universal Studios is being proactive in warning guests of what they may see while in the park with signs announcing the preparation for Halloween Horror Nights. Despite the proximity of many gruesome sights to child-centered areas, guests don’t appear to be bothered.
For those excited for Halloween Horror Nights’ quick approach, you may be happy to see some walls coming down, specifically around Halloween: Michael Myers Comes Home. The last bit of progress remains hidden within the mazes.
Next, we have another update on the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
As more and more scaffolding continues to be taken down, we are granted a better view of what is to come in the near future. With most of the main construction nearing completion, the focus has now been placed on smaller details like snow and rust.
Finally, let’s take a look at what’s going on at Universal Studios Hollywood’s most recent closure, the NBCUniversal Experience.
As of now, the only visible progress is the creation of more walls. At this point in time, any change happening with this location is likely occcuring inside the building.
That wrap’s up our update Universal Studios Hollywood for this month. Please follow Inside Universal for all the latest news from Universal Studios Hollywood, and be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more information from the park. See you next time!
Christopher Tillman is an editor for Inside Universal.
Christopher is a California native who grew up visiting all of the Golden State’s theme parks. While studying theatre in college Christopher bounced around working at a few different attractions in Orange Country and Los Angeles. Now the father of a two year old, he is experiencing theme parks in a whole new way and has become the old man saying things like; “I remember when KITT and the A-Team van used to be here.”
You may contact Christopher at christophertillman@insideuniversal.net.
