Park People
www.parkworld-online.com
How did you choose the rides and attractions? When people get inside the pavilion we want them to have whatever they had before, plus a lot more. So all the old attractions like the Dodgems, the Helter Skelter, the Fun House; all of those are there, plus a brand new go-kart track. We have a 50-seat 4D cinema. We’ve got the very first double laser maze in the world, that has generated a lot of interest when we take people around. I think the biggest wow factor is our Robocoaster. When we saw one in Germany two years ago it was bolted to the floor of the facility. We have elevated ours onto a plinth in the main pavilion and it sits about 15ft in the air. It is the most expensive piece of kit we have in there but I think it is the probably going to be the most widely talked about.
On the outside of the pier there is some feature lighting, it can change colour, pulse or be static; it’s quite a unique thing. We wanted to emulate the effect of fireworks and have a little light show going on.
How much room is there for expansion? We have got two attractions that are not on yet. One is Surf’s Up, a surfboard-style ride that will go on top of the canopy, very visual. The other is a panoramic tower at the rear of the pier. That will be 90-metres, looking out across the bay, an attraction in its own right. You can get married on it too; even better!
I think you could probably build more outside on the canopy, you could probably change the shore end buildings. As regards the main pavilion, some of the rides are built into the fabric of the building so you’d have to think carefully before removing any of those, but we are great believers in reinventing ourselves, so we will never stand still.
24
Built in Britain!
Where possible, Kerry and Michelle Michael have tried to use local contractors to rebuild the Grand Pier. This includes British attraction suppliers such as Simworx, Gravitron and Pan Amusements.
One of the new Ghost Train cars at Gravitron’s works
Based about an hour away from Weston- super-Mare in the town of Stroud, Gravitron built the Michael’s original go-kart track in 2008, but has played a much larger part in the pier rebuild.
“We were very happy with the previous track,” confirms Michelle Michael. “We started our conversation with Gravitron about a new go-kart track but they have ended up building another six attractions, including some things they’ve never turned their hand to before. It’s been great process for them and fantastic for us.”
Spanning the upper two levels of the pavilion building, the track twists and turns over a 300-metre course and comes equipped with 22 of Gravitron’s own single-seater electric karts and a floor pick-up system. A double loading bay allows maximum throughout put at peak times. Gravitron’s background is in electric drive systems, hence the go-karts, and it also supplies products such as “aqua kart” boats and amphibious vehicles. The Grand Pier project, however, has been a much bigger test of its skills. As well as the go-kart track, the company has also built a Dodgem track, again with floor pick-up but this time with 20 Soli bumper cars, a Ghost Train (House of Horrors), three-tier Fun House (Crazy Circus), Crystal Maze, Psychedelic walk-through show, a pair of intertwining slides inside one of the pavilion’s four towers, as well as a pair of land trains to ferry visitors along the pier deck.
Most of these attractions were decorated by ’Matt,’ a local airbrush artist who counts many truck drivers and travelling showmen as customers. The Psychedelic show is particularly interesting. Inspired by an attraction on the German fairground circuit, it features a labyrinth of corridors filled with light effects that come alive when guests don the provided light- refracting glasses. “Our strength is in one-offs,” says Gravitron founder and technical director Morgan Nicholas, “however we have the capability to develop a wide range of attractions for parks and travelling fairs. The Grand Pier has opened up our product range and proved to be a bit of a shop window.” Located on the first floor of the pavilion, the pier’s new 4D theatre was supplied on a turnkey basis by Simworx. This 51-seat installation utilises full HD 3D projection, a Christie high definition sound system, special effects lighting and numerous 4D effects such as seat vibration, water spray, leg ticklers, wind blowers, low smoke and bubbles. Films will be changed on a regulars basis, but include such titles as the fast action Ravine Racer, pirate adventure Curse of Skull Rock and spooky but fun Dracula 4D, all by Red Star Studio. The flexible use theatre will also be used to screen 3D football matches, for presentations and private hire. “Having decided to install a 4D theatre, Simworx was the clear winner when it came to choosing a supplier,” says Kerry Michael. “We are delighted with the results.”
Visitors looking for high octane thrills will enjoy two attractions by Moser’s Rides, including a 13-metre Freefall drop tower and Frisbee-style mini Sidewinder. What it lacks on capacity the Robocoaster (by Kuka), makes up for in impact thanks to its strategic placement overlooking the main hall of the pavilion and its mass or arcade games.
A world’s first for the Grand Pier is a double Laser Maze installation by Funovation, where players crawl through tunnels against their opponent and against the clock whilst trying not to break the green beams of light. Also located inside the building is a large children’s play area, three Cruden simulators, a Pan Amusements pirate-themed shooting gallery and a birthday room. A total of 29 food, beverage and retail operations are spread across the pier, with several cafes and restaurants inside the pavilion taking full advantage of the views overlooking Weston-super-Mare and Weston Bay.
The new Fun House and Pyschedelic show
www.gravitron.co.uk www.simworx.co.uk
A longer version of this article appears at
www.parkworld-online.com The Grand Pier’s relaunch date will be announced soon at
www.grandpier.co.uk
SEPTEMBER 2010
Dracula 4D: showing soon on the Grand Pier
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