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Redevelopment of Katanga Canyon

It's quite possibly from someone on Tiktok i saw a few days back. They posted a video about the essential maintenance tag on the Towers app and assumed it was shut permanently. By that logic the Skyride & Monorail are also permanently shut, they also admitted it was nonsense in the comments, so they are just spreading misinformation purposely.... for whatever reason.
 
Haz said:
It's quite possibly from someone on Tiktok i saw a few days back. They posted a video about the essential maintenance tag on the Towers app and assumed it was shut permanently. By that logic the Skyride & Monorail are also permanently shut, they also admitted it was nonsense in the comments, so they are just spreading misinformation purposely.... for whatever reason.
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I'd have thought it'd be more logical that removing from the app meant permanent closure rather than a more explicit closed for essential maintenance notice...

Surprised there's not posts when rides close for extended periods of time saying it's permanently closed because it got removed from the app...
 
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I expect CRR to be phased out over the next few years with reduced operating hours, but RMT won't be going anywhere.

It's probably due a major refurb at some point fairly soon, so in typical Merlin fashion they'll tie it into a retheme of KC and CRR replacement to justify the investment.
 
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MaxPower said:
I expect CRR to be phased out over the next few years with reduced operating hours, but RMT won't be going anywhere.

It's probably due a major refurb at some point fairly soon, so in typical Merlin fashion they'll tie it into a retheme of KC and CRR replacement to justify the investment.
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I have a feeling Katanga Canyon and the car parks including the coach park that border onto area could be prime development spots for redevelopment

Of course they would need to relocate the coach park but reducing the amount of car parking needed on site and supplementing it with a park and ride service definitely should be on the park's cards if they're sensible.

It'd make the neighbours happy with the reduction in cars, offer better connection options and it'd also keep Greta and the environmentally cautious people happy too.

Plus it would expand the park sensibly too.

P.S. I know this is an ideal world scenario and I'd probably get an analytical response from this plus it's Merlin 🧙🏻‍♂️
 
Honestly, if KC is due for a chop, might it be an idea to simply have the area annexed fully into Gloomy Wood to make a larger haunted woods? If they are to get rid of Dark Forest in the near future then it could be an idea to have one large area instead in which honestly you could say would be better as one whole area. KC isn't exactly well themed let's be honest so with some thought it could work in which maybe it could all be the Alton Manor estate perhaps?

Maybe RMT if they get those new trains and updated control system could get a new theme of a possessed mine train (a la BTM at DLP) of the estate's private railway connected with the Alton family though I'm unsure how the Rapids might fit in if they survive by the time a KC retheme happens?

Funnily enough, given how Merlin can only do dark themes for their original IP work, this idea isn't far fetched honestly.
 
Remove the rapids and use the trough to fit a coaster which speeds around with effects.
 
Water rides are becoming an endangered species in the UK so wouldn't shock me if the rapids goes soon.

Energy bills arent just crippling households.....clearly theme parks are feeling it too and large water attractions cant be cheap to run at all.

Putting a coaster in the trough probably does make more sense for the long term, as sad as it would be to see the rapids removed.
 
Benjsh said:
Water rides are becoming an endangered species in the UK so wouldn't shock me if the rapids goes soon.

Energy bills arent just crippling households.....clearly theme parks are feeling it too and large water attractions cant be cheap to run at all.

Putting a coaster in the trough probably does make more sense for the long term, as sad as it would be to see the rapids removed.
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I understand why people keep saying that the trough would be a great layout for a coaster, but the Rapids is a slow ride and the trough was designed for it, so if a coaster was plonked in the existing layout, the ride would be over in seconds.

I hope the Rapids and RMT remain at the park for the foreseeable - it’s a good family area. Build Horizon and revitalise Kantaga would be my preference.
 
Benjsh said:
Water rides are becoming an endangered species in the UK so wouldn't shock me if the rapids goes soon.

Energy bills arent just crippling households.....clearly theme parks are feeling it too and large water attractions cant be cheap to run at all.

Putting a coaster in the trough probably does make more sense for the long term, as sad as it would be to see the rapids removed.
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Thing is Congo River Rapids is far more popular than Rumba and does actually get long waits in Summer. And Congo location is more prominent then Rumba. Rumba was kind of secluded in its own area
 
Hid said:
Thing is Congo River Rapids is far more popular than Rumba and does actually get long waits in Summer. And Congo location is more prominent then Rumba. Rumba was kind of secluded in its own area
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I'd also add that without a replacement of some form with water, it would mean that the park's water rides would be completely removed from the park (excluding Battle Galleons)
 
I genuinely cannot see them scrapping KC or the rapids and feel a refurb of the whole area is due with maybe a headline coaster or a flat or two being added.


That all said if the park do decide that is the route to go I genuinely feel they could fit two small themed areas in space available
 
Jb85 said:
I genuinely cannot see them scrapping KC or the rapids and feel a refurb of the whole area is due with maybe a headline coaster or a flat or two being added.
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What makes you think this out of interest? I cant see them adding a major coaster in that location unless they remove one of the existing attractions.

Sadly I think the Rapids is on incredibly thin ice now which is a real shame. What was already a very expensive ride to run has just become even more so due to the new staffing rules.

In fact I wouldnt be shocked if Project Horizon has been cancelled so they can look at KC area instead.
 
Benjsh said:
What makes you think this out of interest? I cant see them adding a major coaster in that location unless they remove one of the existing attractions.

Sadly I think the Rapids is on incredibly thin ice now which is a real shame. What was already a very expensive ride to run has just become even more so due to the new staffing rules.

In fact I wouldnt be shocked if Project Horizon has been cancelled so they can look at KC area instead.
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The area is crucial to traffic flow around the park and has been designed in a way that means it can’t easily be shut down

Im not so sure on the rapids closing for good. It’s clear Merlin have an agenda. But I think unlike the other parks the rapids is to crucial to AT still.

There is plenty of land still around KC that can be developed - so I wouldn’t rule it out.

Re Horizon - that’s dead in my opinion- well at least the ride that was planned is dead. I think we will still see the shed
 
Jb85 said:
The area is crucial to traffic flow around the park and has been designed in a way that means it can’t easily be shut down

Im not so sure on the rapids closing for good. It’s clear Merlin have an agenda. But I think unlike the other parks the rapids is to crucial to AT still.

There is plenty of land still around KC that can be developed - so I wouldn’t rule it out.
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I'm not sure that's true though. The Haunted Hollow is an alternative pathway they can easily use.

My prediction:

Rapids closes forever at the end of this season or latest at the end of 2027.

KC gets a retheme with RMT saved but updated and painted and they replace the Rapids with a water coaster for the 2028 or 2029 season.
 
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