Located off the coast of the state of Florida, the island of Isla Aventura was the site of John Hammond’s third (and most successful) attempt at launching ‘Jurassic Park’, a theme park showcasing genetically engineered dinosaurs. Following the collapse of the Isla Nublar facility in 1992, Hammond searched all the way from California to Europe for his ‘perfect park location’ before finally finding what has been described by Carla Abrena as an ‘ideal location’ in the form of Isla Aventura.
History
Though exact dates are not known, the island was discretely leased by InGen at some point in 1992 and development and construction continued for approximately 7 years until the park, unlike its predecessors was opened in 1999. It can be assumed that when Peter Ludlow seized control of InGen circa 1997 he was unaware of Hammond’s secret endeavor as his plan to relocate animals from Isla Sorna to the abandoned Jurassic Park Amphitheatre in San Diego would have been moot given the circumstances. Following the San Diego Incident, Hammond was reappointed as CEO and progress in Orlando continued.
Sometime after the park opened, it suffered from an incident similar to that which befell its predecessor, Isla Nublar. On the day in question, JPAC Carnivore Handlers were in the process of transferring several Velociraptors from their paddock into the Velociraptor Containment Area for feeding, a complicated yet necessary process that had been implemented years earlier by the Carnivore Handlers on Isla Nublar. It was decided by someone in a high ranking position, that it would be best to bypass the Carnivore Enclosure on the River Tour that day.
The cause of the events that followed is unclear. Whilst JPAC were in the process of unloading two Velociraptors into the Containment Area, fences all around the park, simultaneously failed resulting in the release of the Velociraptors, Dilophosaurs and at least one Tyrannosaur. Compsognathus were also seen in a crashed Jurassic Park staff boat, fighting over the shirt of an employee.
At the River Adventure a Hadrosaur, specifically Parasaurolophus, rammed a Tour Boat off the Tour River and onto an Access River that led it to the Raptor Containment Area. JPAC Carnivore Handlers had already abandoned the area or been killed by the Velociraptors, so the boat was free to drift past CP25, a crashed patrol boat into Warehouse 01, an access point to the geothermal power plant. A Transport Cage with a live Velociraptor in had been left hanging precariously above the river on a Raptor Transport Unit. As the boat passed underneath, the raptor shook the cage from side to side in an attempt to break free.
This put an inordinate amount of pressure on the transport unit which dropped the cage several feet before stopping just short of the tour boat below. Confusion had broken out between the staff in Warehouse 01; unaware that a tour boat was off course, they had evacuated the area and did not receive orders from control that they were to grab the boat before it travelled further into the facility.
With the Freight Transfer Belt still running, the boat was lifted up through Warehouse 01 into the geothermal power plant, where the Tyrannosaur, Dilophosaurs, and Velociraptors were running amuck. Unable to reach anyone in the plant, an unnamed member of staff decided to enter the facility and personally evacuate the tourists. Upon arrival he discovered that severe damage had been done to the barriers at the top of the belt at the plant’s control center.
As such, the tour boat did not stop when it reached the end of the line but was pushed further along by the force of the river towards the tyrannosaur, which had appeared from behind a cascade of water caused by the ruptured piping. The employee proceeded to yell at the guests to abandon their boat and get out of the complex. Now on a second moving platform, presumably some form of exit for the freight goods, the boat continued within inches of the rex where it found rescue in the form of a vertical exit chute which carried the boat, and its tourists, safely from harm. It is unknown what happened to the island or the park following the incident.
Staff
The staff on the island are divided into several divisions. The ones currently known to us are JPAC (Jurassic Park Animal Control), JPEC (Jurassic Park Environmental Control) and the Genetics Division. Jurassic Journal segments suggest that Isla Aventura is a sort of living laboratory open to Scientists from all walks of life.
John Hammond – CEO of InGen
Dr. Henry Wu – Chief Geneticist, relocated to Isla Aventura following the disaster at Isla Nublar
Michael Bowman – Co-host of Jurassic Journal
Carla Abrena – Co-host of Jurassic Journal
Dinosaur Species
Isla Aventura is home to sixteen different species of dinosaurs, including some that were not present in the original fifteen planned for Isla Nublar.
- Tyrannosaurus rex
- Velociraptor
- Parasaurolophus
- Ultrasaurus
- Dilophosaurus
- Psittacosaurus
- Compsognathus
- Stegosaurus
- Triceratops
- Gallimimus
- Brachiosaurus
Layout and Facilities
A considerable portion of Isla Aventura’s design shows influence from what has been seen on Isla Nublar. Many facilities and attractions appear to have been retained and improved for the park including the Discovery Center and River Adventure. The island itself is very similar to Isla Nublar, shaped like an inverted tear drop, and tapered at the bottom.
Discovery Center
The Discovery Center is the central hub of Isla Aventura, all operations are run from here. It contains the Park Control Room, Genetics Lab, two hatcheries and various visitor amenities. It is modeled on the Isla Nublar Visitor’s Center.
River Adventure
A river tour of the park modeled after the Jungle River Cruise that was in construction at Isla Nublar.
Animal Paddocks/Ranges
Isla Aventura has fifteen primary habitats for its animals. The Carnivore Paddocks are isolated on the north of the island, whilst the herbivores reside on the south.
Pteranodon Flyers
A ride which flies around a small portion of the island. The ride vehicles are in the shape of a Pteranodon which is a flying reptile.
Camp Jurassic
A play area for children to play in. This area includes sophisticated jungle gyms, artificial amber mines, and water spitting Dilo heads among other things.
Geology
Isla Aventura is a tropical paradise, littered with geothermal hotspots and lush vegetation. As stated on the River Adventure, several species of plant from the animals’ native period have been brought back to life and populate the island as a form of sustenance. Within Camp Jurassic are a series of amber mines although it is possible that these are man-made.
