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Thorpe Park: General Discussion

Secret Weapon said:
Incidentally: John Wardley said in "Making Thorpe Park" that he originally wanted Stealth to be longer (but Merlin didn't want to pay for the extra track), but I'm not sure where the extra track would have physically gone in the park? (If anybody knows the answer then I would be curious to hear!)
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Probably, it would have been more like Xcelerator at Knott's Berry Farm. The figure-eight sits largely in the "Stealth" footprint, but would just need a bit more width.
 
flyingguitar said:
Or, instead of building the rides over land, you build them over water (it has been done quite a few times before, velocicoaster has a significant section over water, and quite a few other rides have.
not sure on the themeing (although would they need much?) but it could make quite a bit of space for a ride.
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Maybe it would be easier to move the flat rides and/or fast food restaurants and/or staff areas onto a pier over the water (as well as the tea cups and dodgems, etc), and then use the valuable land space for a coaster instead?

I'm no expert on such matters, but this is essentially how rides on seaside piers work, and so it surely must be possible! (if the space was ever required)

Unlike a rollercoaster, a food outlet doesn't really need deep foundations (see: portable burger vans outside football stadiums).

P.S. According to Google AI, portions of certain rollercoasters (e.g. Saw) are actually built on stilts or elevated so that floodwater can pass beneath them, and the Ghost Train also has special drainage features as well.
 
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Secret Weapon said:
Maybe it would be easier to move the flat rides and/or fast food restaurants and/or staff areas onto a pier over the water (as well as the tea cups and dodgems, etc), and then use the valuable land space for a coaster instead?

I'm no expert on such matters, but this is essentially how rides on seaside piers work, and so it surely must be possible! (if the space was ever required)

Unlike a rollercoaster, a food outlet doesn't really need deep foundations (see: portable burger vans outside football stadiums).
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I did consider sugessting a pier, however your idea of food outlets not requiring foundations isn't true, they are portable outlets anything built over water would essentially be building a bridge with a roof, this will require supports, bracing and foundations.

if the added cost of supports is more or less than the changes required to the foundations to coasters is unknown but I kinda doubt it.
 
flyingguitar said:
I did consider sugessting a pier, however your idea of food outlets not requiring foundations isn't true, they are portable outlets anything built over water would essentially be building a bridge with a roof, this will require supports, bracing and foundations.

if the added cost of supports is more or less than the changes required to the foundations to coasters is unknown but I kinda doubt it.
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You might be able to get away with a food outlet on a floating ship? Although it might wobble a bit!

Apparently, portions of certain attractions are actually already built on stilts (e.g. Saw).
 
Does anyone know when the blue light fright night tickets go on sale? Seems they were already on sale this time last year, but can't really find any details for this year.
 
flyingguitar said:
Or, instead of building the rides over land, you build them over water
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Thorpe is a former quarry isn't it? which I imagine the footers would be hellishly expensive, then again maybe I'm wrong.

In terms of Rumba, it's obviously cost cutting and clearly a very last minute decision, although I do think it makes long term sense, I perhaps think Thorpe would have liked to have had another season out of it. In terms of replacement I think it needs to be something pretty decent, some have suggested a GCI, and as much as I think that would be great for Thorpe's line-up and just what they need, I think it might be difficult for them to market, unless they can find another clever theme like Wicker Man. I do however think that a GCI is the perfect thrill level they need, something with no inversions, not too tall, and not too scary, but still thrilling. Perhaps something like a multi launch motorbike coaster or something could also work. I don't however believe this is really yet in the works, and will likely be quite a few years of at this stage.
 
Alfredo said:
That would imply congo is already being planned on for removal
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Odd move considering the restoration of the waterfalls, other effects and the new soundtrack.

The closure of Rumba Rapids doesn't reek of straight up cost cutting, for the sake of cutting costs alone. Instead, it's more likely that the park discovered that the ride needed significant work, whilst attempting to get it through its annual maintenance (we saw this with the Skyride at Alton Towers). They've clearly since elected to close the ride entirely, rather than invest and have it limp on.

This does now give the park a large potential redevelopment space, which they have likely considered previously in the past. It could be that the park takes the opportunity to do something with the hand that's been dealt with them... or they could just leave it to rot.
 
owenstreet7 said:
It wouldn't surprise me if this has been worked on since 2024 considering the reduced operating season...
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MMM might have put some basic ideas together I suppose, as I imagine they have with lots of sites of current attractions, but I doubt anything would be significantly far along at this stage, but maybe I'm wrong.
Jb85 said:
I’m fairly certain they’ll start working on plans now so we are talking 3/4 years before opening earliest
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You would hope so! I imagine whatever they will replace it with, will require a lower operating budget thats for sure and I wonder if that's going to be a huge consideration going forward.
 
The rapids hold fond memories... I remember my first trip in 2000. And me and the girls I was with all having alot of fun. (Pre Colossus)

Then I remember going to the first ever fright nights... Seems crazy now that they used to run it all season and at night! The offerings were not a wild as they are now but the park I think was just as fun and more rounded.
 
Can confirm that both Loggers and Rumba were awesome at night. Rumba used to have Fright Nights theming along the route.

Always found it pretty atrocious in more recent years that instead of installing permanent lighting to operate the rides at night, they just closed them.
 
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