Johnny Davis

Johnny Davis takes great joy in the connection between his love of experiencing stories and his calling to create them. His goal is to design experiences that elicit an emotional response, be it profound connection, sheer joy, or a call to action.

At Storyland Studios, Johnny lives out this mission as he guides projects through all phases of design, from concept to completion. Some of these projects include Poverty Encounter (THEA award), Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N., Las Vegas Mob Experience at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino, and the Wings Over Israel flight-simulating theatrical experience in San Diego.

Prior to his time with Storyland, Johnny worked at Designworks as the concept lead for Pretend City Children’s Museum in Orange County, San Diego Children’s Art Museum, and West Virginia State Museum of Culture and History. He attended Mira Costa College and San Francisco’s Academy of Art University, earning a B.A. in Illustration with a focus on character animation, and mentoring under Conrad Vernon (director of Shrek 2 and voice of “Gingy” for Dreamworks Animation).

Johnny loves making memories with his three kids and his wife, and those experiences are what ultimately fill his imagination and fuel his design. He strives to be the best husband and father he can be, considers himself a theme park junkie, and is a magnificent kitbasher on the side.

Mel McGowan

Mel McGowan, AICP, DBIA, LEED AP creatively leads Storyland Studios’s unique, multidisciplinary Spatial Storytelling℠ practice, which integrates master planning, conceptual development, architecture, interior and production design, graphics and wayfinding, and dimensional fabrication and installation. He combines his background in film and design with a decade-long stint at the Walt Disney Company to create a team synergy inspired by Disney’s original Imagineers, designers, and fabricators.

Mel is passionate about creating compelling experiences and immersive environments around the world. Post-Disney, he co-founded Visioneering and PlainJoe Studios, where he led multi-award-winning architectural teams and was named one of the top 25 influencers by OC Metro Magazine. Mel is the author of Design Intervention and an adjunct professor at CBU’s College of Architecture, Visual Arts & Design. Mel is the host of The Themed Attraction Podcast, a show featuring interviews with themed entertainment innovators past and present.

Mel’s experience and portfolio includes the renewal of the Disneyland Resort, Morongo Casino, new urbanist towns, and museum and theme park work in the US, China, and Korea, as well as non-profit cause-oriented projects in the Americas, Africa, Australia, Europe and Asia.

Mel currently sits on the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA)’s Western Board Of Directors, and is a host of the TEA Masters, speaking with legendary industry masters of their craft. In 2021, he was ranked in The Blooloop 50 Theme Park Influencer List.

Attractions Expert Q&A: Mel McGowan | Tap here to read.

Mel’s Projects

Poverty Encounter

GIVING VISITORS AN IMMERSIVE, FIRST-HAND GLIMPSE AT THE REALITY OF POVERTY

California nonprofit Children’s Hunger Fund (CHF) wanted to build an immersive and dimensional attraction experience that would introduce visitors to the sad realities of childhood poverty – Poverty Encounter.

Rejecting the predictably common charity video, they wanted to surprise volunteers with an eye-opening journey of insight, empathy, and action.

By telling the true stories of the suffering children through a realistic, walk-through attraction, CHF’s Poverty Encounter recreates the experience of visiting impoverished communities around the world.

Mel worked with the Storyland team to bring these stories and spaces to life, in a close to our hearts project that culminated in the winning of a THEA Award.

Libertyland USA

A MAJOR REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT AND RESIDENTIAL DESTINATION IN THE HEART OF THE BLACK HILLS

The Pete Lien & Sons mining company has been a fixture in western South Dakota since 1944. Over the decades, the Liens have made significant contributions to their community. Founder Pete Lien’s nine children wanted to honor their father’s legacy by creating a live-work-play destination that would welcome both residents and visitors to their beloved Black Hills.

The Lien family turned to Mel and the Storyland Studios to master plan and design LIBERTYLAND USA, an all-American theme park, residential and entertainment destination that honors a wide variety of American Journeys (our Big Idea!) that anchors a broader mixed-use destination for travelers and residents to enjoy.

Tap here to learn more!

ADRENA, Red Sea Global

CRAFTING A STORY-DRIVEN ADVENTURE DESTINATION ON THE RED SEA

Storyland Studios partnered with Red Sea Global as landscape architect and experience designer for ADRENA, an integrated adventure destination on the Red Sea coast. Mel and the Storyland team worked across master planning, landscape design, water features, pools, hardscape, and specialist attraction components from concept design through IFC to shape a story-driven environment built around the themes of Mind, Body, and Spirit, calling guests to Curiosity, Action, and Connection.

From wave pool attractions and adventure courses to beach experiences and underwater exploration, Storyland designed a diverse collection of experiences that connect guests to the sea, the landscape, and each other. The team developed the project in Revit, modeling landscape, seawater processing systems, and underground utilities in BIM to coordinate design, engineering, and construction across the project. By combining narrative thinking, technical landscape design, and BIM coordination, Storyland helped translate an ambitious concept into a cohesive built destination that blends adventure, environment, and immersive storytelling.

Tap here to learn more!

GAMING & ESPORTS DISTRICT – QIDDIYA

A GLOBAL DESTINATION FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS AND CULTURE, BASED ON THE POWER OF PLAY.

Mel is leading the creative efforts with Storyland Studios on a number of projects on the within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including on projects within the world’s first mixed-use gaming and esports district.

Ben Thompson

Ben Thompson has spent the last 25 years in marketing, strategy and new business development roles in major global organisations. A graduate of the accelerated management training program at Mars Inc, Ben spent 11 years at the company including the last 3 years as Director of Category Leadership. In 2011 Ben moved to the Walt Disney company where in under 5 years he rose to become Marketing Director for Retail EMEA, leading the region’s marketing strategy on Star Wars VII, Marvel, Frozen, and several Pixar titles. In 2015 Ben moved to Merlin Entertainments as Global Marketing Director, New Openings where he had responsibility for the launches of 4 LEGOLAND® parks and 40 Indoor attractions. This included the development of new brands; Little Big City, the Bear Grylls Adventure and Peppa Pig World. In 2018 Ben founded his own strategy consultancy and enjoyed great success working with clients including KidZania, Tony’s Chocolonely, the Cataratas Group and Europa Park. Ben joined Storyland Studios in August 2020, running Storyland’s International office just outside London. In this role Ben handles Storyland’s relationships with global IP partners and was the lead executive responsible for the partnership with Ubisoft Entertainment.

Ben’s Projects

Ubisoft Entertainment

FORGING A LANDMARK PARTNERSHIP TO BRING VIDEO GAME WORLDS TO LIFE

At Storyland Studios, Ben spearheaded the partnership with Ubisoft Entertainment, leading the charge on creating immersive theme park experiences inspired by some of the world’s most beloved gaming franchises.

 

Tony’s Chocolonely

CREATING A CHOCOLATE-THEMED IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH A POWERFUL MISSION

Ben worked with Tony’s Chocolonely, the ethical chocolate company, to develop an immersive brand experience that educates and engages visitors in Tony’s mission to create a 100% slave-free chocolate industry through story-driven, interactive experiences.

 

Ben’s Projects at Previous Firms

LEGOLAND® Parks

DRIVING GLOBAL EXPANSION WITH FOUR NEW LEGOLAND® PARK OPENINGS

As Global Marketing Director, New Openings at Merlin Entertainments, Ben led the strategic planning and execution behind the launches of four LEGOLAND® parks, expanding the beloved brand into new regions and elevating guest engagement worldwide.

 

Madame Tussauds

ELEVATING AN ICONIC BRAND THROUGH NEW MARKET EXPANSION

During his tenure at Merlin, Ben contributed to Madame Tussauds’ strategic expansion, helping evolve the brand’s appeal through innovative marketing and new attraction openings.