Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges (Cancelled)

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

I'm imagining an hunting lodge bar, with silver lake style more mature entertainment.

They have live entertainment most nights at ATH would be nice to have live entertainment for more mature guests, could even be the same performers just a little later playing a more mature setlist.

This is fantastic news, if done brilliantly. Can't wait to have a look at the plans and get some more depth.

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Lodge bar?



Sequoia Lodge style with HUGE fireplace anyone?

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Great news but a few things...

As the plans show arent the cabins meant for the top overflow car park?

Why are there still no decent roads/signage/parking between the entrance and "resort" area

Why is there no infrastructure or proper lit paths for people walking either to the car to the monorail. From their car to the entrance. From the hotels to the monorail or the park. And I imagine from the cabins to anywhere else.

The park need to address these problems as well as the glaring one that all these people stopping overnight will want something to do (bowling alley, cinema, sports facilities, bars, restaurants)

Will there be any future tie in to expansion and creating a transport hub when/if the railway arrives.

All of these problems would be easy to address instead of letting people walk across car parks/use temporary barriers all the time and terrible roads and paths.

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Ash said:

Great news but a few things...

As the plans show arent the cabins meant for the top overflow car park?

Why are there still no decent roads/signage/parking between the entrance and "resort" area

Why is there no infrastructure or proper lit paths for people walking either to the car to the monorail. From their car to the entrance. From the hotels to the monorail or the park. And I imagine from the cabins to anywhere else.

The park need to address these problems as well as the glaring one that all these people stopping overnight will want something to do (bowling alley, cinema, sports facilities, bars, restaurants)

Will there be any future tie in to expansion and creating a transport hub when/if the railway arrives.

All of these problems would be easy to address instead of letting people walk across car parks/use temporary barriers all the time and terrible roads and paths.

Click to expand...

I'd hope that those are things that the park would like to address, although I wouldn't expect them to all be there once the new accommodation opens.

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

I think this will go ahead without a problem....I know it is Merlin, but look at the plans for the Chessington hotel expansion and there seems to be a reasonably large stage area incorporated into the extension. I don't see any reason why a development of this size at Alton Towers wouldn't get some entertainment area too. They also did a nice job of transforming the simple hotel restaurant at Chessington into the better themed Zafari Grill which holds some hope for a really nice themed eatery to go alongside the new accommodation development at Alton Towers.

I do think a development of this size would need more than just a small stage and a restaurant though. Like Alton Towers Hotel has the spa and Splash has the waterpark I think a log cabin village would need an 'activity' of its own. Perhaps expand on the 'muddy good fun' thing with bike hire, archery, walking etc. Maybe even go the whole hog with high wires and rock climbing. Of course it would all need a unique Alton twist! (and over inflated prices to boot )

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Ah, high-wire stuff. I've never done that before, but I really want to. It could work at Towers, and would add something different to the resort.

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Note that a planning application has been submitted to the portal, although no documents have been published yet.

http://towersplans.org/applications/507c02e98752330002000005

(Note "associated reception/restaurant and servicing buildings" in the title!)

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Wow! I couldn't go on TST last night and this pops up!

Am I the only one who'd like to see a group of isolated lodges set in some woodland area which can be used at Scarefest?

Anyway, glad this is finally happening!

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Am I the only one who'd like to see a group of isolated lodges set in some woodland area which can be used at Scarefest?

Click to expand...

That, dear Sir, is genius!

I would expect these do be much more pricey than the hotel rooms though, possibly with a minimum stay period.
You are effectively getting your own building that will cost more to build, clean, and maintain than a hotel room.

I'd echo the sentiments about having more resort entertainment with something laid on until 11pm or midnight. I only stay over during scarefest so never really had to find much to keep me entertained in the evening, but imagine this is quite frustrating during stays at other times of the year.
The old english pub idea seems a good option, and an adjoining indoor playbarn for the nippers.

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Great to see that there is going to be a new restaurant with this! Now I just hope it's not the bar and grill thing they did a trial of earlier in the year in the conference centre, which was basically Woodcutters. Hopefully it can be something along the lines of Silver Lake Saloon at EP!

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

I'm wondering if the plans don't include converting the abandoned farmhouse in the woods near ATH into a country pub style restaurant. (It's one of the areas marked on the LTDP as a potential area for an entertainment development.) It's quite a substantial sized building and with a little extension it could be turned into quite a nice restaurant.

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

I like the sound of this farmhouse, any pictures?

This announcement is a very important milestone for the park - hopefully it will trigger some interesting investment in the park too!

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Area themed. Well-heated, self-catered and roomy. It sounds too much pods for that space. If they price is slightly more the Star won't be pleased but I don't see this being cheap, but I do believe guests will increase for SW7 like they did for TH13TEEN. This isn't one of the projects included for 2014 is it? As this is kind of for the family. I'd love myself to nest in a little Farmyard themed pod. This is overdue and I applaud Merlin for driving their accommodation forward recently. Buh-bye Chessie.

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

I think they will price them so they don't compete with the local B and B's. although it would be a good move to have cheep accommodation on site. But they won't want to upset the local businesses.

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Yay! This will be good for the resort. Will it be cheaper than the hotels? And how themed will they be? I think they should have a nemesis, oblivion, th13teen, rita and air lodge but i am fantasising.!

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Squeeeeeeeee, New accommodation!

This appeals so much more to me than roller coasters and such! Resort and accommodation ftw!
Hearing the word 'Lodges' makes me think of like little mini houses or cottages or some sorts something along the lines of Bosrijk at Efteling



You could easily fit a bedroom or two, en-suite and a kitchenette in one of those, maybe even two lots! =]
If they were self catering lodges, for me it would justify spending £50 pppn to stay there, hopefully it would be a bit cheaper to stay there, maybe £40pppn. The fact that there would be a kitchenette gives you the opportunity to bring and cook your own food rather than spending the ridiculous amounts to eat in the hotels or other food outlets.
In a dream world, something like Enchanted Forest at Europa Park would be beautiful



It would be completely cute and happy and Picturesque and whatnot!! And most of all it would completely take you to away from your normal everyday mundane life! Kids would love it They could even revamp woodland walk if they didn't want to create a new park entrance. Just make like a secondary entrance to the park for hotel guests only.

Wouldn't parking be an issue though? Especially on the busiest of days?!

Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

Presumably the development will include a new car park designated for the lodges, along with any other amenities needed for the development. It's exciting news though!

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Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

But this project is going to completely take over the ATH over flow car park isn't it? and even then maybe J and/or K for extra car parking space for the new lodges and a new ATH over flow?

Come Scarefest/fireworks or even busy days in summer 2014, surely the car parks are going to struggle with the amount of car visitors they will be getting? Having taken out two or even three of the car parks?
Look at fireworks last year, they pretty much maxed out all available car parking space didn't they? and with SW7, there will be an even higher capacity and hopefully demand for the park?

Re: Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

I'm sure those are things that they have considered with planning this development.

There was a mention in the long term development plan of new car parks being built on resort. There's a lot of empty land sitting at Alton Towers, so they certainly have the space to add car parks and turn some more fields into overflow car parks. I would hope too that we get a new car park beside the lodges development to cater for the new flow of overnight guests.

Major New Accommodation in 2014 - Themed Lodges

What is interesting though is the thought of transport. When these lodges are built, their parking will be some of the furthest away on park... And in time, that paved car park in the corner (can't remember the letter) as well as the fields will become used far more. I wonder what Towers will do in terms of getting people to the entrance as, after all, the monorail only stretches so far!