Wildwoods: AGLOW

As a longtime client, Fernbank Museum of Natural History approached Thinkwell with an ask: to create a nighttime offering that would activate the old-growth forest that surrounds the museum in the cold, dark winter months.

Before beginning production, Thinkwell conducted market research and a created a business model, working with Habo, a strategic consulting studio, to ensure that the final product would be financially viable. As a result, Thinkwell partnered with Fernbank to create an all-new illuminated forest walk-through experience, called WildWoods: AGLOW. Inspired by the native flora and fauna that thrive in the 10 acres of featured woodlands, this multi-sensory experience reveals the wonder of nature and wildlife through an immersive blend of the real environment and glowing displays.

Using captivating illumination, immersive projections, interactive scenography, and an original musical composition, WildWoods: AGLOW immerses guests into a natural nighttime wonderland of biodiversity. Throughout the process, Thinkwell worked hand-in-hand with Fernbank’s science team to ensure every image, color, and sound is an accurate extension of the Fernbank Forest. Along the enchanted path, guests watch as roots magically spread into towering trees, witness oversized seeds emanate with interactive light, behold nocturnal animals that come alive in the night, and engage with larger-than-life glowing and singing mushrooms and more.

The limited-run nighttime experience opened to the public on November 17, 2022 and will run during the winter months through 2026.