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The first UK RMC: where will it happen?

Matt N

TS Member
Favourite Ride
Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)
Hi guys. Ever since they built New Texas Giant in 2011, Rocky Mountain Construction have taken the coaster world by storm with their innovative creations. Whether it's by building the first launched wooden roller coaster in Lightning Rod in 2016 or by inventing the hyper-hybrid coaster in Steel Vengeance in 2018, RMC have been pushing the envelope like no other company. If it's possible, RMC are doing it. But my question to you all with this thread is; if the UK ever gets an RMC, where do you think it will go to, or where would you like it to go to?


I know that the resounding answer in this thread will probably be Thorpe Park, and that is my probable answer for the UK park that I think will get an RMC first. As much as I don't personally want Thorpe to get an RMC (I'd personally rather see them build a hyper coaster, as they're the only UK park that could feasibly build one), it's definitely the UK park that has the most RMC-related talk surrounding it. With the amount of YouTube videos and the like that you see with THORPE PARK RMC in the title these days, it's now falling into the category that other fantasy projects like RMC Gwazi and RMC Mean Streak were in before they actually happened in that there's so much talk surrounding it that it almost has to happen eventually, if you get what I mean.


In terms of the UK parks that I would like to see build an RMC first, my first preference is Alton Towers. With the creativity of some of the people in Alton Towers and the amount of space they have, I could see an RMC working wonderfully. In the park's huge valley, for example, I could personally see a terrain RMC along the lines of Outlaw Run, Lightning Rod or Wildfire working wonderfully. With Merlin at the helm, they also have the money to create something pretty wonderful, and if there's a UK park that Merlin will allocate lots of money to, it's Alton Towers. As much as I said that Thorpe was the most likely, I also think that there's quite a high chance of Towers building the country's first RMC; Merlin are more likely to allocate them a large amount of money, and they have somewhat of a penchant for building unique, ground-breaking attractions, like an RMC would likely be.


My other preference would be to see one of the country's mid-level theme parks, such as Flamingo Land or Paultons Park, build one. Now I don't think any of the country's mid-size parks will bring out the next Steel Vengeance by any means, but I could definitely see Flamingo Land, for example, building something like a Raptor if their Colossus clone in 2020 is successful, and I think it would be a really bold and powerful move for them to make. If Paultons Park ever makes a move towards building more thrilling rides, then I could also see them going for a Raptor.


But where would you like to see the UK's first RMC come to?
 
I think a Raptor would be a fantastic fit at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. With the updated 12 seater trains as we have seen on Jersey Devil the ride would likely achieve a respectable throughput when compared to the other coasters at the park. With them reportedly being very cheap it would also not be out of BPB's budget.
 
I would say Paultons for a small to mid range RMC (similar to Twisted Timbers or Wicked Cyclone) Would fit the tornado springs area beautifully and cement the park as a worthwhile destination for thrill seekers and enthusiasts. Most RMC rides only have a 1.2m hight restrictions so could pull one over towers and Wickerman
 
I can't see Paultons getting anything like an RMC any time soon. I do not see them drifting that far away from their family target audience.

The smaller RMC rides at 1.2m can be quite Family. Saw lots of smaller kids on Wildfire at Kölmarden and that's a kids park. Would say go for something less intense though.
 
Even a smaller RMC would be an awful fit for Paultons. Storm Chaser is tiny but pretty much tries to murder you.

The success of Untamed is what the UK parks should be taking in board. It's not the biggest, longest or fastest.. it's the best example in the world of what can be achieved on a realistic budget without gimmicks.

We could be waiting a good 5 years of so, Thorpe are still scarred from Derren Browns Giant Turd and already have plenty of thrill coasters.
 
I think a terrain RMC in the style of Lightning Rod, Wildfire and Outlaw Run would be the perfect coaster for Towers.

It would probably be an I-Box hybrid instead of a topper track woodie though since Wicker Man exists now.
 
Not sure if the Merlin bigwigs are still tentative about RMCs after the Texas Giant incident, as they're about the only owners who'd go forward with one...

Mingo could I guess but as is evident from the new 10 looper they still like to be cheap...

If they were spotted near Blackpool there'd be riots... Unless they did a modern take on the Wild Mouse with the Raptor track...
 
An RMC is almost a statement that you are running a park with world class ambitions.
IMHO, Paultons and Legoland are the only UK parks with that ambition currently, and neither are well suited to an RMC because they aren't big coaster parks.

If BPB sorted its finances out, or AT, TP regained their global ambition.... they could all announce that swagger with an RMC. For now, a UK RMC seems unlikely to arrive any time soon.
 
In terms of the UK parks that I would like to see build an RMC first, my first preference is Alton Towers. With the creativity of some of the people in Alton Towers and the amount of space they have, I could see an RMC working wonderfully. In the park's huge valley, for example, I could personally see a terrain RMC along the lines of Outlaw Run, Lightning Rod or Wildfire working wonderfully.

From what I understand, we nearly had something very similar to this, at least before The Smiler incident. I think it was due to feature two inversions and a launch, or maybe it was the other way around? I'm sure there was speculation about this at the time, maybe even a leaked plan? I can never find it, though. Which means it must have either been scrubbed off the web, or, that I've been dreaming of Secret Weapon plans. Oh dear, back to therapy for me!

An RMC at the Pleasure Beach, especially one involving their wooden heritage, would be fantastic if marketed correctly. Which it wouldn't be, so that's that.
 
No chance Paultons will get anything from RMC. At best I can see a softer style raptor coaster fitting in there, but that's it. Pleasure Beach would be a good fit, but absolutely NOT modifying one of their existing wooden coasters. Mingo is the only non Merlin who could somewhat realistically get one, but it depends on whether their ambition changes over the next decade.

The park I actually want most is Towers tbh. I think for SW9 (if it's a coaster) it'd be the best option as they don't really have anything like sans Wickerman. Thorpe would be good too, but I want a more family focused GCI or B&M hyper instead tbh.
 
Not sure if the Merlin bigwigs are still tentative about RMCs after the Texas Giant incident, as they're about the only owners who'd go forward with one...

Mingo could I guess but as is evident from the new 10 looper they still like to be cheap...

If they were spotted near Blackpool there'd be riots... Unless they did a modern take on the Wild Mouse with the Raptor track...
What incident please?
 
Non of the wooden rollercoasters at Blackpool would be suitable for an RMC conversion as they don't have the foundations required.

Can't see any UK parks going for an RMC an the current time. Doesn't even seem like any park wants a new gen vekoma either which would be more cost effective.
 
Looking at the ten woodies in the UK
All the pre war coasters are listed except Nick Streak (I am surprised Blue Flyer is listed but Nick Streak isn't), I could see Nick Streak having a conversion given it has seen several refurbs before. Tyrolean Tubtwist obviously isn't suitable for an RMC conversion, Antelope is suitable but I doubt Gulliver's would chose it, Megaphobia is still a popular coaster so I don't see Oakwood changing it yet, Wicker Man is almost new so I wouldn't see any changes to it for at least ten years.
 
Agreed with @Alastair, can hardly see Alton installing another wooden coaster anytime in the foreseeable future. The public are much less thirsty for an RMC than anyone here. So not thirsty, that most of them literally have no idea what they are.
 
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