Unsuspecting thrill seekers, beware! Lest you get caught by this giant arachnid that made its home in the corner of Festival Park, spinning more than just webs.
The Spider had originally operated at nearby Trentham Gardens, which John Broome had intended to transform into an amusement park, following his initial successes at Alton Towers. When it became apparent that subsidence would prevent the planned development, the park was sold and several rides were transferred to Alton Towers, also including the 4 Man Bob and Ferris Wheel, which had moved the year before.
The Spider opened at Alton Towers in 1986, taking over the former site of the Magic Carpet in Festival Park. The ride was almost identical to the Octopus in Aqua Land, which meant that for many years the park was essentially operating the same ride in two separate areas.
The ride operated for six years in the park, but after Tussauds took over in the 90s, The Spider was amongst the first rides the new owners removed, closing after the 1991 season. Its sister ride survived one year longer, but the Octopus closed too at the end of 1992.
The Spider's site in Festival Park was taken over by the Enterprise and its circular footprint later became home to Soak-a-Saurus. You can still see the indent in the trees today where the ride once sat, though it is now the location of the lockers in Dark Forest.