PW May 09 P8.qxd 4/27/09 12:39 pm Page 8
Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
We came, we SAW...
Sea Life arrives in London
New coaster unleashed at
April 7 saw the unveiling of Merlin Entertainments’ new-look London
Thorpe Park
Aquarium, introducing the Sea Life brand into the English capital for the first
time.
Thorpe Park’s eagerly awaited new rollercoaster “Not only are there hundreds of new marine creatures, the displays are
has opened, bringing a slice horror dramatic and dynamic and we’ve transformed previously under-utilised
movie action to this popular space.” explains general manager Toby Forer. “Our ultimate aim is to tell a
park on the outskirts of serious eco story in an entertaining way and we believe we’ve got the
London. SAW – The Ride is perfect blend of visual spectacle, interactivity and access to aquatic.”
based around the film Following a six-month multi-million pound transformation, visitors can
franchise of the same now enjoy a world-class aquatic experience in the heart of London,
name and features a 100ft- featuring thousands of marine creatures spread over three floors and 14
high, beyond vertical first themed zones.
drop into a unique “head Highlights include the world’s biggest collection of Cownose rays, a 25-
chopper” section featuring metre blue whale skeleton-themed tunnel and a spectacular nerve-testing
serrated rotary blades. The ride Shark Walk finale. A memorable design feature, the skeleton also has a
is manufactured by Gerstlauer serious role to play – reminding guests of the vulnerability of the world’s
using its EuroFighter design. oceans in danger of becoming marine graveyards without careful
Described as “Europe’s most extreme G- conservation.
force experience,” the £13.5 million Located within County Hall by the banks of the River Thames, the Sea
($19.8m/Euro.18615m) attraction is the most expensive Life London Aquarium is just a stone throw’s from Merlin Entertainments’
added at Thorpe Park to date and was launched on famous London Eye observation wheel.
the most ominous calendar date in existence
…Friday the 13th (of March).
The park’s second most expensive ride was Stealth
(£12 million), added in 2006, followed by Colossus
(£10 million) in 2002. As Thorpe Park generally adds a
significant amount of theming to its attractions, only part
of these quoted costs will be for the coaster itself.
Mike Vallis, divisional director at
Thorpe Park, comments: “the significant
financial investment in SAW – The Ride
means we’ve been able to create an
exceptional ride experience both in terms
of track and top class theming.”
In addition to plummeting riders
Hard Rock goes Freestyle
towards the head chopper, the coaster
also delivers forces in excess of 4G six Freestyle Music Park is the new name for the former Hard Rock Park, which
times throughout the 100 second ride reopens this month in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The theme park is now
time. “The blood is going to be pushed being positioned by new owner FPI MB Entertainment as a destination that
to the extremities of the body and at embraces many styles of music including country, reggae, pop, disco, R&B
times the giddying G-force will be akin and even Christian.
to that experienced by fighter jet pilots,” FPI MBE says it plans to open additional attractions and entertainment
notes “thrillologist” Brendan Walker, who venues around the world in the coming years under the Freestyle Park
recently carried out a number of tests on banner and the Myrtle Beach venue will act as the prototype and launch pad
the ride for the children’s television for these ventures.
programme Blue Peter. “With Freestyle Music Park, we own the name, leaving us unencumbered
Hi-octane thrills were also high on the by one specific brand,” higlights Steve Baker, president of FPI MBE.
That “head-chopper”
agenda over Easter when Thorpe Park The re-naming comes after a federal bankruptcy judge said the park’s
moment
hosted its second “Head Rush” extreme founders retain rights to some of the creative elements. HRP Creative
sports event. Services, established by the park’s former owner, had asked for a $500,000
annual licensing fee and 1.5% of gross revenues over $50 million for the
‘Summer Roller-day’
initial creative investment in the park. FPI
MBE then opted for a new name.
The new owners plan to make
“We believe this season will be the year of the ‘summer roller-day’ with many
several changes to the park. Many of
people planning to spend their leisure pound more cost effectively on UK-
the rides and restaurants are being
based holidays,” says Thorpe Park divisional director Mike Vallis. “That
rethemed, for example, and castings
includes high quality days out at theme parks such as Thorpe. “We
are taking place for new talent to
experienced a good increase in footfall during the 2008 season and following
star in Freestyle Music Park’s
our week-long season opener during half-term are forecasting similar uplifts
live entertainment offerings.
for the Easter and summer holiday periods.”
8 MAY 2009
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