Case study: How Ulverton Woolen Mill is transforming the tourism experience with augmented reality, active participation and OHRIZON+.
1. Four objectives and one technology (augmented reality)
At the Ulverton Woolen Mill, an innovative multi-faceted project is bringing a unique heritage back to life using augmented reality. By integrating interactive and immersive experiences, this project enriches the tourist offer, notably through a family visit in AR, participative guided tours, school activities, as well as active training for guides. The entire project will be supported by a fun, educational and interactive website, facilitating visitor immersion in the history of this historic mill, while engaging the local community and enhancing the attractiveness of the region.
2. Presentation of the Ulverton Woolen Mill
Since 1982, the Corporation du Vieux Moulin d'Ulverton has been working to preserve and enhance this classified heritage site, located in the Eastern Townships region of central Quebec. Founded in 1840, the mill houses wool-processing machinery used until the early 20th century, notably in the production of the famous double-striped grey woollen stockings. Thanks to an enhancement project using augmented reality and virtual reality, this heritage site intends to modernize its tourism offering and visitor itineraries, while promoting the site's technical and historical heritage.
3. Ulverton wool mill challenges
The Ulverton Woolen Mill faced a number of challenges prior to the implementation of the OHRIZON project. The main issues were preserving a know-how that was being lost over time, andattracting a new generation of visitors. The aim was to renew the tourist experience while maintaining the authenticity of the site. In addition, the challenge of training guides to better convey this history to groups and schoolchildren was an acute one. Finally, the accessibility and attractiveness of the visit had to be improved to captivate younger generations, while preserving the historical elements.
4. OHRIZON's global support
OHRIZON has developed a number of innovative solutions to meet these challenges:
- Augmented reality family tour: A self-guided, interactive and fun experience where visitors use tablets to explore the mill and discover its history, machines, and wool stocking manufacturing processes, while interacting with virtual characters.
- Augmented and participative guided tour: Guides, equipped with tablets and the OHRIZON+ platform, manage the group experience by synchronizing content for each visitor. Participants can interact with the machines and receive contextual information in real time, increasing audience engagement.
- In-situ and in-school activities: with OHRIZON+, interactive modules for children aged 7 to 12, combining educational games and exploration, enable visitors to discover the history of the mill, its machines and wool processing. The experience is also designed to be deployed in schools to offer a year-round service.
- Guide training: Thanks to a course developed with OHRIZON+ and integrated into the tablets, guides can improve their knowledge while adapting their discourse to different groups, guaranteeing consistent, engaging tour quality.
- Immersive, fun and educational website: A new immersive website will open in late 2025, offering interactive resources, historical videos, educational games and a virtual exploration of the fully reconstructed mill, enabling users to discover the site's history at a distance.
5. The results
The project has had a significant impact on several fronts:
- Increased attendance: The integration of augmented reality and immersive activities has attracted a wider audience, including families and schools. In the space of a year, visitor numbers have risen by 30%, mainly thanks to the excitement generated by the innovative, interactive aspect of the tours.
- Heritage awareness: Visitors, especially young people, showed an increased interest in the history of the mill and in wool stocking production, a key element of Canadian heritage. Survey feedback revealed a 90% satisfaction rate with the educational and immersive aspects of the visit.
- Renewed target audience : The project succeeded in reaching a younger audience, with school activities and a fun experience that appealed to children and their families. At the same time, guide training has made the tours more dynamic and adapted to different types of groups.
- Valuing the local community: The project strengthened ties with the local community, with collaborations on content creation and video testimonials integrated into the experience. The active participation of local residents has enriched the story told and fostered a greater sense of ownership of the heritage.
6. Conclusion: OHRIZON's overall response to the Ulverton Mill
The Ulverton Woolen Mill project demonstrates how technology, in particular augmented reality, and the OHRIZON+ solution can be used to preserve and revitalize cultural heritage. Not only has it brought a historic site back to life, it has also created a new form of visit that is more immersive, participative and educational. This project is part of a sustainable approach to heritage enhancement and modernization of the tourism offering, while meeting the needs of a varied clientele.
If you're looking to create a similar experience for your tourist or cultural site, don't hesitate to contact OHRIZON for tailor-made solutions that combine technology and heritage, and test the OHRIZON+ platform to create your own tourist, educational and training discovery trails.
Resources for further study
- OHRIZON+ Platform Create and publish your tourist, guided tour and training itineraries
- Discover how the city of Champigny-sur-Marne has revitalized guided tours in the city with OHRIZON+.
- See how Champlain church has modernized its tourism offering with immersive augmented reality
- With OHRIZON+, creating active training paths has never been so easy. Find out how Fairmont hotels have revolutionized housekeeping training!
- Schedule your visit to Ulverton Mill and discover the new guided tours and the new augmented reality tour!