Theme parks are full of thrills and surprises, but behind the scenes, a lot of attention goes into keeping guests safe and running smoothly. One of the unsung heroes of theme park safety is specialist tape. Heskins, a leading tape manufacturer, produces a range of tapes that can improve safety and the guest experience in creative ways. From anti-slip tapes that keep our feet firmly on rides and ramps, to glow-in-the-dark and reflective tapes that guide us through dark rides, these products are quietly doing their job in every corner of the park. In this blog, we look at creative and practical applications of Heskins tapes – including conformal anti-slip tape, standard Safety-Grip anti-slip tape, glow-in-the-dark tape, reflective tape and slope marking tape – on rides, walkways, queues, food stands and even maintenance areas.
Amusement rides and attractions: anti-slip coating at every step
Rides are the heart of any theme park, and keeping riders safe is paramount. Many ride platforms and steps are made of metal with textured patterns (like treadplate or diamond tread) that look non-slip but can actually become extremely slippery when wet. Heskins Conformable Anti-Slip Tape is ideal for this. Its aluminum foil allows it to mold into the grooves of textured metal surfaces, creating a nearly permanent bond on uneven surfaces like treadplates. For example, Conformable Anti-Slip Tape can be applied to provide secure support on the loading dock of a Ferris wheel or the rung of a roller coaster service ladder. Even if morning dew or rain makes the metal damp, the tape’s abrasive surface maintains high traction and helps prevent slipping.
Other high-traffic rides benefit from Heskins Safety-Grip tape, a classic anti-slip solution. Safety-Grip is a fast, durable solution that instantly creates a non-slip surface on most materials. Think of the wooden steps on a classic carousel or the ramp leading up to a pirate ship ride – by adding strips of Safety-Grip tape along each step or ramp, the park gives riders a secure footing as they climb aboard. The tape is waterproof and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, so it works equally well on a wet log flume landing platform or the dry sun deck of a roller coaster. Available in a variety of colors and even hazard stripe patterns, Safety-Grip can blend into the aesthetics of the ride or highlight the edge of steps for added visibility. In all cases, these anti-slip tapes keep the thrill of the rides, not the unexpected fall.
Dark Rides and Night Safety: Glow in the Dark and Reflective Tapes
Not all theme park adventures take place in the bright sun – some of the most thrilling experiences happen in the dark! Whether it’s a Haunted Mansion ride or just a park after dark, Heskins tape can light the way. Glow-in-the-dark tape (photoluminescent tape) is a brilliant addition to any dark ride or dimly lit area. Once “charged” in daylight or artificial light, this tape emits a bright green glow in the dark. Park operators can line the edges of steps and walkways inside the Ghost Train or Planetarium with glow-in-the-dark anti-slip tape so that when the lights go out, the outline of each step or ramp magically glows. Not only does this add a spooky themed effect, it also gives guests vital landmarks for getting around. In an emergency or power outage, photoluminescent markings on floors and doorways can help people get out safely without power. For example, stairs leading down from a simulator ride could have glow-in-the-dark stripes on each ledge, ensuring that guests can see where to step even in complete darkness.
Outdoors, on rides and large outdoor attractions, reflective tape plays a key role in maintaining safety after dark. Reflective tape is a simple, high-visibility, self-adhesive tape used to mark hazards; it is effective in almost any environment and can be applied in minutes. Around a theme park, reflective strips can be applied to safety gates, fences and ride vehicles. Imagine a train running through the park at night – placing reflective tape on the edges of the train steps or along the boarding platform means that when light from the train or surrounding sources hits these areas, they glow brightly, warning passengers to watch their step. On tall thrill rides, operators can mark any low-hanging beams or overhead bars with reflective tape so that they are visible in low light (to prevent an unwary maintenance worker or even a passenger in a high seat from hitting their head). Even parade platforms or service carts that move after dark can be marked with reflective tape to attract attention. During the day, these markings are barely visible, but at night they come alive under the light, ensuring that no one misses a step or danger.
Walkways and Paths: How to Keep the Crowd on Track
Between the rides at theme parks, there are countless walkways, bridges, and ramps that carry a lot of people. The goal here is to provide safety and direct the flow of people. On sloped walkways or pedestrian bridges (like the park’s river bridge), applying strips of Safety-Grip abrasive tape provides visitors with extra traction, especially on rainy days. Even smooth concrete can become slippery when wet — a few strategically placed anti-skid strips on the sidewalk can significantly reduce slips by adding traction underfoot. Because Heskins Safety-Grip comes in colors like clear or gray, the park can add these safety features without ruining the look of the decorative pavement; guests may not even notice the tape, but it’s there, giving them confidence with every step.
Paths are also places where crowd management and control are important. This is where Lean Marking Tape comes into play. Heskins lean floor marking tapes (like the PermaLean range) are extremely durable industrial tapes that are used to create lines and shapes on the floor. In theme parks, management may use bright yellow or white marking tape to mark the edges of a path or to create stripes during special events. For example, during a parade or fireworks display, lines on the ground can indicate how far visitors can walk or where strollers should be parked. Because these tapes are designed for factories and warehouses, they can withstand thousands of footsteps from pedestrians (and even the occasional service vehicle) without peeling or fading. They are effective at providing visual cues: a bold line on the ground can discreetly keep visitors away, directing them to the entrance of an attraction or marking safe passage through a busy intersection in the park. With the ability to produce ribbons in different colours and even unusual shapes, the park can become creative – imagine footprints or arrows on the ground made from durable ribbon, leading children to their next adventure!
Queue areas: orderly and efficient waiting
Theme parks are experts at making queues part of the fun, but they also have to keep those queues tidy and safe. Floor marking tape is the perfect tool for organizing queues. Heskins Lean Marking Tape can be used to create clear, coloured lines on the floor to mark each serpentine line in a queue maze or to indicate designated waiting areas. In fact, these tapes allow you to create all sorts of shapes and signs on the floor, from simple lines to arrows or numbered dots, all in bright colours that attract attention. A creative application can be the use of die-cut shapes: for a children’s attraction, the queue can have stick-on tracks leading to the boarding area, making the wait more interactive for children. Meanwhile, adults appreciate clear markers such as “Stand behind this line” in the loading area, which are achieved with a strip of brightly coloured tape on the floor. Because the tape is so durable, it won’t get scratched by constant foot traffic or scraped by strollers — it’s made to withstand the abuse of a busy environment and still look cool.
Queues can also benefit from anti-slip treatment. Many queues at water rides or outdoor theaters include several steps or slopes. Adding a few pieces of Safety-Grip anti-slip tape to those wooden or concrete queue steps is an easy way to prevent slips as excited guests move forward. And if the queue is partially indoors or in the dark (think of a haunted house queue snaking into a dimly lit hallway), a combination of glow-in-the-dark strips along the edges of the floor or on the ledges of the steps allows people to see the changes in elevation even in low light. In this way, Heskins tape makes the queue safer and more organized, which in turn helps the queue move efficiently—a benefit for both guests and operators.
Food stalls and dining areas: non-slip snack areas
From popcorn carts to burger joints, food stalls and dining areas are high-traffic areas that present their own challenges. A spilled drink or a little ice cream on the floor can turn a great snack into a slip hazard. Parks can combat this by installing anti-slip tape in key areas: on the floor behind the service counters (to protect staff from slipping on spills) and on the customer side, where people might drop food or step away from the counter with their hands full. Heskins Safety-Grip tape, with its soft abrasive surface, can be an ideal option here – it provides traction even when there’s a little liquid on the surface, and it’s easy to replace if it wears out or gets dirty over time. You might notice a black or yellow strip on the edge of a food stall step or the threshold of an outdoor dining area. These small features are intentionally placed to prevent accidents by increasing friction underfoot.
Food service establishments also need clear markings to manage queues during peak hours. Lean Marking Tape can be used around counters to create orderly lanes: for example, a self-service drink kiosk could have one lane on the left and one on the right, marked with colored arrows or stripes on the ground. In front of popular food counters, footprints or lines can show guests where to stand when ordering, keeping the crowd organized. Since these tapes are available in many colors, a park can even match the tape color to the eatery’s theme or logo (imagine a pizza kiosk using red and white checkered tape to evoke a classic pizzeria vibe!). These simple applications of tape keep queue chaos at bay and reduce the likelihood of slips and trips in busy eating areas—and it’s all discreet enough that most guests won’t even notice they’re there.
Maintenance and Backstage: Optimized safety behind the scenes
Not all uses for tape are visible to the public – behind the scenes and service areas at theme parks also rely heavily on it. Staff-only areas, from workshops to ride control rooms, need to be safe and well-organised to allow staff to do their jobs effectively. Heskins Lean Marking Tape is often used in industrial settings to mark out safe passages, storage areas and hazardous areas, and the theme park maintenance bay is no exception. On the floor of a ride maintenance garage, coloured lines of tape can indicate the location of each piece of equipment or mark the lanes where forklifts or service carts drive. This creates an organised, 5S-style workspace, with tools and parts stored in designated squares and staff knowing to stay off the taped paths when moving heavy equipment. The durability of Heskins Lean Marking Tape means that even the movement of vehicles or the dragging of heavy ride components will not damage it. With a quick glance, technicians can see visual order—for example, yellow boxes on the floor marking «clear» areas around a section of a roller coaster track, or red and white lines around an electrical panel indicating a danger zone.
Maintenance crews also use Conformable Anti-Slip Tape and Safety-Grip tape on the facilities themselves. Many backstage ladders and platforms are made of metal grating or diamond plate for strength, but as mentioned earlier, these can be dangerously slippery. Applying Conformable Anti-Slip strips to the rungs of a service ladder or the edges of a metal walkway high inside the slide’s support structure provides workers with a stable footing in all conditions. This is especially important when technicians are conducting early morning inspections when there may be condensation on the surfaces. Likewise, entry doors and utility rooms often have a step up or down; placing a piece of anti-slip tape there is a cheap insurance policy to prevent injury to personnel.
Finally, reflective tape also has many uses behind the scenes. Park employees working at night or in dark ride areas will mark low pipes, ceiling beams, or protruding equipment with reflective caution tape to avoid tripping on them. Emergency switches or fire extinguishers can be outlined with glow-in-the-dark or reflective tape to make them easier to find if needed. Even the edges of large maintenance vehicles or storage boxes can be fitted with reflective stripes to make them visible in dark warehouses. These small applications ensure that even behind the scenes safety is illuminated. With the right tapes, park employees can focus on their tasks without worrying about mistakes or unseen hazards.
Where safety meets imagination
From the top of a Ferris wheel to the depths of a dark ride, and from busy food courts to hidden maintenance corridors, Heskins Tapes prove that a safer park can also be a more enjoyable park. By creatively using products like flexible anti-slip tape, safety grip, glow-in-the-dark and reflective tape, and Lean Marking Tape, theme park operators can improve safety, guide visitors, and even add a little visual flair to their venues. The best part is that these solutions are largely invisible to guests—they just see a park that feels safe, organized, and magical all at once.
If you are a theme park owner or operator looking to take your park’s safety and guest experience to the next level, consider the innovative tape solutions that Heskins has to offer. The ideas above are just the beginning – there are countless ways to apply these products to suit your park’s unique needs and themes. Don’t wait for an accident to happen to see the value of these small improvements. Contact Heskins today to discuss how anti-slip and marking tapes can be the secret ingredient that will make your theme park safe and inviting for every guest who walks through your gates.
