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Thorpe Park: General Discussion
Looking at how busy yesterday was it's crazy they don't open the scare mazes up from 11am on Saturdays. This would increase capacity and allow more income.
Maybe as well a wild idea as I imagine access in the event of a fire would be a challenge, but with the rapids drained this time of the year it would make for an amazing scare maze walking the full length of the troth with covered parts and open parts. A temporary ramp down for access and then some ramps up at the existing fire exits of the ride could be possible. They could even use the existing queue lines.
I don't know if this would even be allowed but at least it would make use of a large empty part of the park at there busiest time of the year. I imagine it also gets very dark at night as its away from most of the lighting making it a great location for scare atmosphere. If I remember correctly there used to be a scare maze that used parts of the old log flume and train so this could be similar.
Maybe as well a wild idea as I imagine access in the event of a fire would be a challenge, but with the rapids drained this time of the year it would make for an amazing scare maze walking the full length of the troth with covered parts and open parts. A temporary ramp down for access and then some ramps up at the existing fire exits of the ride could be possible. They could even use the existing queue lines.
I don't know if this would even be allowed but at least it would make use of a large empty part of the park at there busiest time of the year. I imagine it also gets very dark at night as its away from most of the lighting making it a great location for scare atmosphere. If I remember correctly there used to be a scare maze that used parts of the old log flume and train so this could be similar.
Ah ok. I'll be honest I've never seen it drained but I imagined it would just be a concrete hollow. Thanks for clearing that up.
Maybe just keeping the rapids open for fright nights would be better then. I definitely remember them being open this time of the year in the past and as you don't get very wet they would be popular unlike tidal wave that really isn't, although does look amazing in the dark.
owenstreet7
TS Member
I get the idea that the rapids is absolutely done for which is why they've been limiting operations since 2024.
Staffing is a factor but I think it's also that it can't reliably run throughout the year.
I'd also say it's telling that it's time is up because they haven't applied the sparkle project to the ride, the cameras stopped working most of the season and the ride is starting to look really tired.
I have a feeling we're going to get a consultation very soon and one of the projects will be the Rumba Rapids replacement.
flyingguitar
TS Member
it also is likely to be expensive to insure, it is one of the most dangerous theme park rides (doesn't mean it is dangerous, it is like saying a 0.000001% chance vs 0.0000000001%) primarily because the vehicles aren't fully restrained (unlike on a rollercoaster)
owenstreet7
TS Member
I think that is something that isn't necessarily a factor as it's something that used to run throughout the year until 2023.
I'd say something technical may have happened since the start of 2024 to stop it from running reliably.
With Congo River Rapids, that had reduced it's operations but nowhere near as much as Thorpe with Rumba. It opens a few weeks later at the start and closed from Mid September. Last year, they closed mid October. This could be cost cutting but possibly maintenance as well.
Is River Rapids at Drayton Manor open at the moment? I think this could also be a factor that maintenance on the Merlin Rapids is becoming more and more demanding if Drayton's manages to run year round.
Islander
TS Member
These are rapids, not Mack Stryker coasters.
They’re really quite simple machines. A few big pumps, a turntable, lifthill, a fleet of rubber rings with fibreglass on top… and not a huge amount else.
I think any closures are almost certainly down to operating costs (primarily staffing) rather than anything else.
They’re really quite simple machines. A few big pumps, a turntable, lifthill, a fleet of rubber rings with fibreglass on top… and not a huge amount else.
I think any closures are almost certainly down to operating costs (primarily staffing) rather than anything else.
flyingguitar
TS Member
I was more referring to the ride being permanently closed (done for)
I think it is all down to costs, energy prices well up, closer focus on metering, lots of power used in the pumps...energy costs may beat staff costs.
owenstreet7
TS Member
For a water ride, it would likely be cheaper to run a flume style ride over a traditional rapids ride.
For a park that runs two rapids style rides, it would be likely that the writing is on the wall long term for Rumba to go eventually.
For an area that can accommodate potentially more than one attraction, it'd be a smart development spot. Even if it is a water coaster or a flume instead.
RustyRider
TS Member
Hey guys, ive had to cancel our last minute trip to thorpe, which means we have FOUR non refundable timed fast tracks for hyperia!
If you’re heading there today and would like these, please send me a DM and I’ll send you the screenshots!
If you’re heading there today and would like these, please send me a DM and I’ll send you the screenshots!
Manchester1894
TS Member
Going on Monday and Tuesday. Really CBA at the moment. 2hr waits for Swarm and Hyperia at the moment. All other coasters in the park are at 90 mins plus. The mazes not really taking the pressure off times are they. Sounds like the park must be at capacity
BooMT
TS Member
We will be there on Monday with no RAP availability and our group needing 2 of them, it's definitely going to be interesting, could be just overthinking it however there appears to have been a lot more issues with queues/downtime than I remember this time last year. But, it marks a milestone as my eldest has asked to do the proper mazes for the first time! I've never done a proper scare maze due to how over stimulating they are but this year I'm going to at least try one!
I've been waiting for this bloomin' thing to go for years, either go all in or get rid
With Slammers site (have we had any updates? Did anything ever happen with that trademarked name?), Swarm Island, RR and Ghost Train all, in my humble opinion, prime development space and UGB looming on the horizon, we've surely got some new investment to look forward to before 2031? 
Here's hoping.Manchester1894
TS Member
I was there twice last year (one during HT) dont recall 90% of the coasters being 100mins or more. Hyperia was the exception with it being new and having reliability issues.
Matt N
TS Member
The issue is that I think what we have currently was Thorpe’s attempt at a Curse-style revamp.
That ride system, unlike most dark ride systems, seems extremely bespoke and designed to offer one incredibly specific ride experience: sit on a ride vehicle themed to an Underground train, get off at a mid point for a theatrical scene, get back on and sit on a ride vehicle themed to an Underground train again.
Unlike, say, Duel or Bubbleworks, there isn’t an awful lot of scope there for them to do anything else with it; the ride system, as designed when the ride was built under the Derren Brown alias, can only really be used for the current format and theme of attraction. I think Ghost Train was their best attempt at using the ride system for something else.