Short Summary
I'm John Rigdon and my father Jeff (Ragnar) started Vikings of the Valley to celebrate and share our viking heritage and culture.
Based in Roanoke, VA, the Vikings of the Valley have made a lasting impression on community events for nearly two decades. We have participated in various parades, festivals, school and afterschool education events for all ages.
Now it is time to build a permanent home for our way of life and brand of entertainment. We are going to create an immersive theme park to educate and entertain the public. Guests will be able to enjoy authentic food and beverage (including ale and mead), battle and raid reenactments, themed rides and "living history" activities, including axe-throwing, armament and sailing/rowing a real replica Viking longship.
People of all ages are welcome, though there will sometimes be specific adult or child-themed events. We aim to partner with local schools and childcare programs for fun and educational field trips.
What We Need & What You Get
We are looking to procure several acres of land (10+) with water access for our longship. We will also build a Viking longhouse/feast hall, log flume ride, 4D theater and tavern/meadery. Our park aspires to be eco-friendly, utilizing sustainable energy and preserving the ecosystem and wildlife as much as possible.
The easiest way to get this project started is to pre-sell passes so that you can reap the benefits of your investment. We are offering single, one-year and five-year passes to our park, with family passes also available.
We will also send (while supplies last) those who donate $25 or more a high quality plastic Viking helmet inspired by the Yarm and Gjermundbu archaeological finds. The helmet features realistic looking metallic paint, hinged cheek plates and adjustable ocular guard. It fits most children/teens over 12 and adult heads. More perks to be offered in the near future!
If the park is something that you would like to help make a reality, please consider donating to this ambitious endeavor.
Tusen takk and ves heill!
Park Highlights
Viking longship & dock
Viking longhouse & feast hall
Live Celtic & Nordic music
Themed log flume water ride
4-D theater (180 degree screen, motion seats and special effects including snow, fog and thunder) projecting a 30 minute short film including a historical overview and raid reenactment
Axe throwing with prizes
Scripted adventures and battle reenactments
Authentic viking age food and beverages including mead and ale
Fundraising & Presales
Helmets- $25 (plus shipping)
Single pass- Adult- $29, Child (12 & under)- $19
1-year Adult pass- $120 (pays for itself in about four visits)
1-year family pass (4 passes)- $400
5-year Adult pass- $600 (pays for itself in about twenty visits)
5-year family pass (4 passes)- $2,000
The Impact
The Vikings of the Valley have been a prominent part of their community for nearly 20 years. Our first public exposure was with the Local Colors festival which features over 80 countries and nationalities. We've also done culinary events with the Local Colors offshoot "Taste of Culture."
We then got involved with local organized parades including the Downtown Roanoke St. Patrick's Day Parade (the Irish have a lot of viking ancestry), Grandin Holiday Parade and Dickens of a Christmas. We got involved with Roanoke County Parks & Recreation to participate in all manner of festivals and events including the Medieval festival, Celtic festival, Highland Games and more. We have also done educational events for all ages preschool through college. This includes nearly every elementary, middle, high school and afterschool program in Roanoke as well as Roanoke College and Hollins University. We've also participated in events with the Virginia Museum of Natural History and other public educational institutions within our surrounding area.
Children and adults alike always tell us we're the most interesting and exciting educational program they've experienced. I think this is due to our passion, love of life, and desire to live in the moment- all viking traits. To be concise, we're all about having a good time. After all, the viking way is about adventure, new experience and escape from the mundane.
Risks & Challenges
The main challenge to get this park up and running is money. We need to buy land, build facilities, advertise, and pay employees for their time. We're going to be using as much of our own savings and funds to seed this endeavor, but crowdfunding and fundraising are going to be crucial to getting us across the finish line.
Luckily, because of the many special relationships we have formed over the years, we have countless friends and allies that want to help and see this project succeed. As we gather more and more like-minded folk, we make this dream an unstoppable reality.
Other Ways You Can Help
We'll need lots of help with this endeavor and not just with money.
Everyone has at least one special talent, whether it be building, advertising, acting, sailing, cooking, navigating real estate, zoning laws, etc and any and all of these can be invaluable to us. If you are a kindred spirit that is drawn to what we are going to accomplish then please reach out with any gifts you have. We greatly appreciate you.
