Watch: 'The Walking Dead' Come to Universal Studios

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - Universal Studios Hollywood's walk-through attraction based on "The Walking Dead," putting visitors into a zombie-filled environment inspired by the hit series, will open to the public July 4, park officials announced Wednesday.

The attraction will be housed in a custom-built complex just inside the theme park's main entry. Universal Studios has presented a "Walking Dead"- themed maze for the past three years during its seasonal "Halloween Horror Nights" attraction, but the new attraction will be open year-round.

Theme park officials worked with the show's executive producer/director Greg Nicotero and special effects company KNB Efx to recreate the show's decaying zombies to make the attraction "a living version of the show." It will feature zombies both alive and animatronic, along with props replicated from the show to sink visitors into the "Walking Dead" world.

"It's very exciting to be able to make the attraction as 100 percent authentic as possible," Nicotero said. "We're getting the chance to utilize molds that were created specifically for the show and translate them into parts of the attraction. We're creating animatronic walkers that guests will be able to see. It's never been done before. It's one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art, and I can't wait."

--City News Service: Photo: Courtesy of Universal Studios