The Count Club Drink Cart
Experience Design
Project Description
The Count Club is a drink truck that would be installed semi-permanently at a miniature golf course in Orlando Florida. The truck mimics a country club at a traditional golf course, acting as the “19th hole” for customers to unwind after a game of golf and enjoy some beverages on site. The truck is themed as a country club run by Scottish Vampires who serve drinks laced with vampire blood, turning every customer into eternal members of their club. The truck features 2 rotating menus with 10 drinks each. The daytime menu is geared towards families, featuring coffee and iced tea for adults and soda, boba tea and juice for the kids. The nighttime menu appeals to an adult audience, featuring liquor cocktails, mead, beer and wine, plus mocktail variations of every drink.
This project was a lot of fun finding parallels between the real history of golf, miniature golf and vampirism. Both golf and miniature golf originated in Scotland, with miniature golf being created for women who weren’t allowed to play on the main course. All of this real history helped form the historical fiction of my story. This project allowed me to stretch my show writing skills, creating an elaborate history for the cart, and my 3D modeling skills, adding thematically accurate materials to the space. Slàinte mhath!
Software Used:
Sketchup // Adobe Illustrator // Procreate // Adobe Photoshop
Date:
September - December 2025
Establishing Shot
You’ve just played a round of miniature golf in Orlando, Florida as the sun is going down and you are feeling thirsty. Across the way, you see a bizarre cart parked in front of a stone wall. Fog billows from below, inviting you to take a closer look.
Closeup
On closer inspection, it appears to be a makeshift country club, serving drinks out of a Victorian carriage that’s covered in dirt. To your left a wrought iron fence, capped with bat sculptures, forms a queue and you decide to get in line.
Entering the Queue
Upon entering the queue, you see a weathered sign reading “The Count Club: All are invited.” It is attached to and old street sign pointing to destinations in Scotland, England and Transylvania. Scattered below the sign are half-unearthed barrels, each listing a Scottish golf course and a date from the 1800s.
Reviewing the Menu
An employee hands you one of 2 menus, depending on the time you arrive. The day menu features mocktails, tea and coffee drinks, while the night menu features country-club-inspired cocktails, beer, wine, mead and mocktails. The drinks sound a little strange, with names either in Scots Gaelic or referencing blood.
Taking in the Scenery
You look up and see 2 barrels stacked in the driver’s seat of the carriage. A red tube inserted into one barrel moves a mysterious red liquid somewhere inside the truck.
Picking Your Drink
Just before the front of the line, you pass a menu board on the side of the truck printed in and old gothic window. You decide you're going to order the “Deamhan Fola Old Fashioned” (pronounced jah-voon fola).
Placing Your Order
An employee directs you to register and you place your order. The cashier asks if you want a souvenir cup; it's Orlando, so of course you do. The cashier looks at you for a second before writing something on a card and handing it to you. They say: "Welcome to the club, Orsova. Pick up your drink at the end of the bar."
Becoming a Member
You see they have handed you a membership card to The Count Club. Your new vampire name, Orsova, is written on the top and the card is signed by someone named “Fiona Haggart.” You flip the card over and see a short bio about Fiona on the back. On the bottom of card is a rewards punch area, where after your twelfth visit, your membership class is upgraded.
Honoring the Countess
While you’re waiting for your drink, you see a portrait inside the carriage of a redhead woman with long fangs and a green plaid dress. The caption reads: “Fiona Haggart, Countess and Founder.”
Receiving Your Drink
The bartender calls out: "Orsova, your drink is ready." As you walk up, they hold an ornate red bottle over the drink and recite this poem: "Drink to the green, the rough and a new community. May each sip warm your blood forever and eternity. Slàinte mhath!" (pronounced slan-cha-vah). They pour a red liquid on your drink and hand it to you.
Abiding by the Rules
As you take your drink towards the seating area, you pass a sign stating the club rules. Among other things, it states that the balcony is reserved for bats. You look up to the balcony and notice bats hanging there that you hadn't before.
Finding a Seat
The seating area consists of wrought-iron tables and benches made out of buried barrels. You see a coffin propped on the back wall. As you approach you hear snoring from inside and see the sleeping face of the woman from the painting. Suddenly the face vanishes.
Meeting the Countess
Moments later the coffin door opens and Fiona Haggart herself emerges in her undead glory. She approaches you and says: “Sorry to interrupt, lad, but did you play a round on the course?” You stammer before responding "yes." She continues by saying: “So you’ve seen what they use as obstacles here? It’s balderdash! A hollowed-out skull would provide a greater challenge and be much better decoration. Alas, they don't appreciate tradition. Welcome to the club, lad. Bring some friends next time. We’re always looking for new members." Then she disappears into the crowd.
Embracing Eternity
You smile as you sip your drink. Maybe you'll like this club. That's a good thing because at The Count Club you're a member for eternity.
