Nemesis Development

Code Name:
SW3
Manufacturer:
Bolliger & Mabillard
Type:
Inverted Coaster
Location:
Forbidden Valley
Cost:
£10 million
Track Length:
716 metres
Track Height:
13 metres
Opened:
19th March 1994

Plans & Concepts

 

Construction

The construction of Nemesis involved a pit being blasted into the natural bedrock beneath what would become Forbidden Valley. Evidence of the bore holes into which the dyanmite was placed for the blasting process can still be seen on many of the standing stones throughout Forbidden Valley (and neighboruing areas), all of which came out of Nemesis' pit.

Work on the pit began long before the park had decided what sort of coaster the new ride would be. The blasting for the pit began in 1991 and initially it looked like the new attraction would be an Arrow Pipeline Coaster, but after two abandoned attempts (SW1 & SW2) they instead decided to try a new inverted type of coaster that John Wardely had recently heard of being developed in America and thus the legend that is Nemesis was born.

Nemesis Comic

Nemesis launched with a wide ranging marketing campaign, including an opening ceremony, where the High Priest of Nemesis challenged TV's Gladiators to ride.

One of the more unique pieces of promotional material that was created for the ride was a 34 page comic, which was available for sale. The comic told the story of a journalist, investigating the myth of Nemesis and the disappearance of a professor who was studying the subject. Her investigations bring her in contact with the Phalanx, an elite force of warriors who have been summoned to protect Earth from Nemesis. They join forces and enter into battle with a cult who worship Nemesis in the hopes that they can prevent the ceremony that would awaken the monster.

The eagle-eyed amongst you might also recognise the comic from the Nemesis Subterra marketing campaign, where an abridged version of the story was turned into an animated short and used as an introduction to the legend that lead to Subterra.