Embracing the journey to award-winning destinations around the world.
We find inspiration everywhere—in architecture, nature, and beyond. We harness that to build ground-breaking attractions around the world.
We transform a client’s vision into powerful moments of connection, inviting guests to step into stories that inspire, thrill, and stay with them for a lifetime.
That’s exactly what we’ve done at PGAV Destinations for the last 60 years.
1960s
Designing destinations for friends to gather
A handshake between Fred Guyton (The G in PGAV) and Gussie Busch leads to our first guest-centric destinations for Anheuser-Busch.
1960s – Busch Gardens Tampa
Reaching the Sunshine State
We designed the arrival experience for Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida.
1975 – Busch Gardens Williamsburg
You never forget your first…theme park
We selected the woodland site for Busch Gardens Williamsburg and master planned each “country” to nestle into the landscape. The park has been crowned “Most Beautiful Park” 32 times, but we are most proud of all the moments of fun guests have experienced.
1978 – Loch Ness Monster
Our first custom-designed coaster: Loch Ness Monster
Busch Entertainment, PGAV, and Arrow Development designed this first-of-its-kind coaster with interlocking loops that sent guests twisting and gliding over a lake…just like the mythical “Nessie” in Scotland.
1980s – Universal Studios
Master planning for our favorite movies
We planned Universal Studios’ first theme park in Orlando, Florida—immersing guests in their favorite movies and expanding our expertise in storytelling and entertainment.
1980s – Saint Louis Zoo
Embracing our love of animals
We broadened our expertise to design for animals at the Saint Louis Zoo—making better animal habitats that led to better guest experiences.
1995 – PortAventura
First international theme park
We planned and designed the PortAventura theme park by the Mediterranean Sea in a resort town near Barcelona. Everyone at PGAV was invited to travel to Spain to see Port Aventura in person.
2000 – Discovery Cove
Breaking new ground in paradise
We strategized with SeaWorld to create a new kind of park—one where everyday families could swim with dolphins, snorkel with fish, and glide through a tropical aviary in an all-inclusive resort experience right in Orlando.
2003 – Penguin and Puffin Coast
Taking immersive experiences to new temps
We put guests and penguins together in the first indoor open-air penguin habitat at Penguin and Puffin Coast at the Saint Louis Zoo. Guests experience the same chilly temperatures and light levels as the penguins and puffins.
2005 – Georgia Aquarium
The 1st time we designed the world’s largest aquarium
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia was a labor of love for our entire team. We designed immersive environments for both the animal habitats and the guest spaces—creating seamless environments with a new level of storytelling and theming for aquariums.
2008 – Table Rock Welcome Center, Niagara Falls
Water + Wonder
You can’t outshine the majesty of Niagara Falls—but you can amplify its power. PGAV designed an experience that allows you to feel the earth tremble beneath you, brace against an arctic wind, and discover a deeper connection to one of nature’s greatest wonders.
2010 – Biltmore Estate
Designing the next chapter
We developed a master plan that connected the gracious hospitality of the Vanderbilt family from the past to the present. Antler Hill Village continues to entertain guests after their visit to the grand Biltmore House with additional lodging, dining, and retail.
2013 – Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
We worked with astronauts!
We set out to inspire the next generation of space explorers and we fell in love with the stories of the people behind the 30-year history of the space shuttle program. Space Shuttle Atlantis is the largest artifact we have ever designed around and the one that stirs the strongest emotions from guests.
2014 – Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
A new frontier: Chimelong Ocean Kingdom
We didn’t just design the world’s largest aquarium–again! We introduced a groundbreaking new marine park to China, marking our debut in Asia’s theme park landscape.
2017 – Ferrari Land, PortAventura
Revving Up a Legacy
Speed, precision, and a legacy of excellence epitomize the Ferrari brand. PGAV brought these qualities to life, transforming the thrill of the Ferrari experience into a destination that captures the heart-pounding excitement of the legendary brand.
2019 – Europa-Park
Rulantica Makes a Splash!
We designed an escape into an ancient Scandinavian land at Rulantica, a breathtaking indoor waterpark featuring elements found nowhere else in Europe. Lush landscapes, winding pathways, and rich thematic storytelling seamlessly blend with the design of the parent park, creating a second-gate experience for Europa-Park.
2022 – Walt Disney World
Welcome, People of EPCOT!
PGAV dodges asteroids, races through nebulae, and helps launch an out-of-this-world coaster experience with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind! Teaming up with Walt Disney Imagineering, we bring guests along for the ride, from the intricately designed queue to every high-speed twist, turn, and jump point across the galaxy.
2022 – Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Air! Space! Smithsonian!
Our nerdy STEM dreams came true at the National Air and Space Museum. Adding media to layer stories throughout The Commons connected the experiences between individual galleries and improved how guests flow through the space. See what we did there?
2022 – PGAV Destinations: Orlando
PGAV Orlando Studio opens!
We wish we could tell you which client was invited for our first meeting in our Orlando studio…but it is confidential!
2023 – SeaWorld Yas Island
SeaWorld goes to Abu Dhabi. And so did we!
Once again, all of PGAV packed our bags and flew 7,000 miles to Abu Dhabi and SeaWorld Yas Island. We did all the things! But our favorite part? Seeing how much guests loved it.
