Imagine being on the island of Isla Nublar touring Jurassic World when an Indominus Rex escapes!
Not only is a big, scary dinosaur on the loose, but an all-new dinosaur named Jeanie is in big trouble. A team of scientists must unravel a corrupt plan in order to save her from a terrible fate.
Sound fun? Fannin County now has a connection to that land of dinosaurs, teaming with action and drama. Blue Ridge’s own Aaron Thistle is a performer in Feld Entertainment’s Jurassic World Live Tour.
Thistle said, “I’m a bad guy in the show. I’m one of the motorcycle riders who are the ACU Soldiers.” ACU stands for Asset Containment Unit and they appeared in the first Jurassic World movie. Thistle is also a bike stunt double for Chad, one of the main characters.
With his high school years at Fannin County High School performing with the drama and theater program and his expert-level motorcycle skills, he said this opportunity was the perfect fit.
A love of riding runs through his veins. Thistle grew up in his mom and dad’s bike shop, Blue Ridge Yamaha and Polaris, and developed a love of motorcycles through his dad, Paul.
“I’ve literally grown up in that place,” Thistle said. “I’ve seen pictures of me sleeping in the back of a side by side while my parents worked. My dad rode motorcycles and naturally, through him, I got into it and it didn’t hurt to grow up in a bike shop. So, I like to say it’s definitely in my blood.”
He competed in motorcycle trials throughout the United States and Europe where he and other riders had to attempt to keep their feet on the foot pegs, rather than putting a foot down, as they rode over logs and rocks, through creeks and up and down hills and other obstacles.
One of the friends he made along the way was a rider in Feld Entertainment’s Marvel Universe Live Tour. When he heard the Jurassic World Live Tour was looking for a motorcycle man, he called Thistle to see if he was interested. “I didn’t hesitate to take the chance to do it,” Thistle said. “I’m a huge Jurassic World and Jurassic Park fan. I’ve loved dinosaurs since I was a kid.”
He loves being on the show. “Getting to see the kids faces when you’re coming out there and getting to interact with them – I love it,” he said.
He and the other cast and crew are in a different city every Monday. They do have a day or maybe two that are open for exploring the cities, although he likes to recoup from Sunday’s show on Mondays.
Thistle added the cast and crew were like a close knit family. In fact, since no one was able to go home for Thanksgiving, they enjoyed a Friendsgiving together. Of his friends he said, “I’ve gotten to meet a lot of great people. … There is no doubt in my mind that I’ll be keeping in touch with these people once the tour is over. I’m very fortunate to be working with such great, talented people. I’m very fortunate and thankful.”
Two of his favorite cities he’s been to has been Hershey, Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Hershey is great, he said, because it’s a smaller town that moves at a slower pace while Pittsburgh offered wonderful eating and was cool because it’s where three rivers come together.
“I used to say, back when I was home, that I wouldn’t consider myself a country boy but now that I’ve been on tour I’m starting to realize I am,” he said. “I just really like the smaller, slower paced stuff.”
He expects to be able to take a break and come home to Blue Ridge in early May. Thistle has also realized how special Blue Ridge is. “Be thankful for where you live,” he said. “A lot of high school kids want to get out of town as soon as possible but think twice. I’ve seen a lot of other cities and places but to me Blue Ridge is home, and the people of Blue Ridge are second to none.”
Thistle has grown since he’s been performing in the show these past five months. “For me, being in the show has really opened my eyes. It’s given me a lot more confidence and it’s made me more comfortable in my own skin,” he said.
Brenda and Paul Thistle, Aaron’s parents, said they are so proud of him. “We are excited that this opportunity allows him to work for one of the largest companies in entertainment,” they said. “We are very proud of him and are excited to see where this might lead. It’s definitely been an experience of a lifetime.”
Want to see Thistle and the others in action? According to the website, www.jurassicworldlivetour.com, the three closest performances over the next few months are:
•Huntsville, Alabama, Von Braun Center, December 12 to 15;
•Nashville, Tennessee, Bridgestone Arena, December 19 to 22;
•Greenville, South Carolina, Bon Secours Wellness Arena, April 9 to 12, 2020.
The show is scheduled to be in the Atlanta area in February of 2021.