CARLSBAD – Legoland California Resort officials on Thursday unveiled plans to add a new 1-acre themed land based on Lego’s popular Ninjago toy and cartoon franchise. Its highlight will be a four-dimensional, interactive dark ride to open in the spring.

Ninjago Land will be in the southeast portion of the park behind Imagination Zone and will feature Lego building stations, games for kids, stores and an Asian restaurant.

The land’s signature attraction will be Ninjago – The Ride, which officials say, “features technology guests have never experienced at any other theme park in the world.”

Up to four guests will hop on a ride vehicle and journey into the world of Ninjago. Guests will wear 3D glasses and experience elements such as wind, heat and smoke. Using hand gestures riders will be able to either blast a fireball, lightning, shockwaves or ice as they train in dojos before heading into battle against Ninjago’s main enemy, the Great Devourer serpent.

“I am proud and thrilled to say that this is our 11th straight year of continuous attendance growth and we attribute much of this to our winning formula of providing our guests a family environment filled with fun, interactive experiences that create lasting memories,” Peter Ronchetti, general manager at Legoland, said in a statement.

“Ninjago – The Ride will be the ultimate experience providing interactive fun for all,” he said.

The ride’s maker, Triotech, is the same company Knott’s Berry Farm used for its newly released interactive dark ride, Voyage to the Iron Reef.

Legoland’s announcement comes a few months after the unveiling of other new attractions to the Carlsbad theme park. In March, the park added a 6-foot-wide Lego version of the Death Star to its Star Wars Miniland. This summer, it also unveiled Heartlake City based on Lego Friend’s popular toy franchise.

Legoland broke ground on Ninjago Land in July.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3764 or jpimentel@ocregister.com