It's finally official: Back To The Future: The Ride is closing, soon. The simulator ride, once one of the big, signature attractions for Universal Studios, has been rumored to be closing, to make room for a new, fresher attraction, for almost a year -- Universal officials nearly closed it in October before unexpectedly dropping a deadline and giving it new life. Now, however, the Universal Studios website includes a notice indicating the ride will close after March 30. There is no word regarding what will go into the building next. To date, Universal has never responded to rumors that a replacement ride would be themed on anything from The Simpsons to The Fast and the Furious to Harry Potter.

The ride uses simulator motion technology and a large-screen movie projection system to give visitors the illusion they are traveling in the DeLorean car/time machine featured in the movie franchise. The three movies, released in 1985, '89 and '90, star Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.

The ride was nearly original to Universal; the park opened in 1990, and Back to the Future: The Ride, in 1991. Since then it has drawn a huge, loyal following. But it also has been the subject of critics who've said Universal had neglected the stalwart in recent years.

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