Raptor Attack

Raptor Attack (formerly known as the Rat Ride) is an enclosed, subterranean roller coaster at Lightwater Valley in Ripon, Yorkshire. It originally opened in 1987, and finally finished dispatching its opening day queues in July 1991, when most of the remaining queue gave up and decided to ride the newly opened Ultimate instead. The ride is thought to be a Schwarzkopf Wildcat model.

Conception

When it was decided that the Rat would be rethemed for the 2010 season, creative control was passed to the Conservative Party in return for funding the project. Dave and co swiftly set about creating a wonderfully bemusing concept: dinosaurs... in a mine... in Yorkshire. Several names were suggested including 'Mine-osaur' and 'Jurassic Dark' before settling on the slightly less ridiculous 'Raptor Attack'.

Theories into its meaning have been rife. Perhaps 'Raptor Attack' is a metaphor for the impending savaging of public spending? Perhaps Skipton and Ripon was a key marginal seat?

The most popular interpretation however, is that Raptor Attack is a feeble piece of Tory propoganda, designed to shift the blame for the collapse of Yorkshire's once thriving mining industry... onto dinosaurs.

Presumably they ate the trade unionists too?

Reception

The theme park community swallowed this shameless re-writing of history whole, and the ride has been a massive critical success. But how silly is that? Dinosaurs? In a mine? In Yorkshire? How the hell did they get in there? Is it like when you get your head stuck in some railings? Easy to get it in, but difficult to get out?

Throw us a bone here Lightwater Valley.