Ride Profile
Whilst having the first fresh woodie in the country
over two decades would be bragging rights enough for most parks, Alton Towers likes to create a unique identity of for each of its attractions. The Wicker Man story is therefore integral to the £16 million ($22.5m/€18.5m) project. The result is what Walker describes as “one of the most immersive rides that we have ever delivered”. “We hope visitors will be blown away by Wicker
Man’s breathtaking scale whilst the primal essence of the wooden coaster and astonishing effects will leave them delighted, exhilarated and eager to ride again,” adds Bradley Wynne, creative lead for Alton Towers, as well as other resort theme parks within Merlin Entertainments. It was in 1996 that Megafobia opened at
Oakwood in South Wales, the last new wooden coaster to be built in the UK. Manufacturers such as Great Coasters International (GCI) and others have since evolved the art of woodie construction to a level that makes them a very different beast today. “I think the enthusiasts know that, but in terms of the British general public, maybe not,” observes Alton Towers head of PR and media relations, Lizzie Roberts. For many British amusement park goers, the
reference point will be the classic – but very old (1923-1935) – rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Wicker Man is a ride that sets out to take the woodie kicking, screaming and burning into the 21st Century. “After extensive research, the team at Alton Towers realised that a modern day, high thrill wooden
rollercoaster would be the perfect fit for the already impressive coaster collection at the park,” notes GCI design engineer, Adam House. “We leapt at the challenge to help design a custom, terrain hugging wooden coaster on the old site of the old log flume.” Along with the Corkscrew, removed in 2008,
Alton's flume ride was one of the attractions that defined Alton Towers during the 1980s, when it transformed from a stately home and gardens into one of the first major British theme/amusement theme parks of its generation. Alas, the 886m-long (2,907ft) water ride had become an ageing asset and so the site was ripe for redevelopment. Preparations for the eagerly-awaited ride that
would take its place began in November 2016. After removal of the flume, it was time to start digging down into the lakebed of the former ride. Around 50,000 tonnes of earth were moved off site. Construction then progressed the following summer and winter before the ride was handed over in early 2018 ready for extensive testing and hundreds of hours of training that followed. A wooden coaster had been rumoured at Alton
Towers for years, but once planning documents were lodged with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, speculation spread like wildfire (excuse the pun). As the Skyride cable car travels directly overhead, the park didn't try to hide what it was doing, and even put windows in the panels surrounding the construction site. But it did tease park fans when it came to the theme, keeping the Wicker Man figure under wraps (literally) until the last minute and providing clues on site using runic symbols.
Only media, VIPs and a lucky few park guests got
to enjoy the ride the attraction ahead of its launch the weekend before Easter, which was delayed by one week because of the weather. The first official ride was taken by Lucas Betts and his father from Leicester. “It was amazing! I love rollercoasters and I
couldn’t believe how fast it was. I really enjoyed it and I definitely want to go on again and again,” reported the 10-year-old fun seeker. “Wicker Man is a thrilling ride but still exciting enough that the entire family can enjoy,” confirms House. “With a height requirement of 1.2 metres, a large portion of Alton Towers guests will be able to enjoy this exhilarating wooden masterpiece.” “Typically, Great Coasters' attractions are known
their thrilling on-ride experience, but on Wicker Man the theming will also light a fire in your eye,” concludes House. “The sensory overload from Wicker Man is truly like nothing else and will be setting a new standard to beat for European wooden coasters.”.
Figures of Fun
With the addition of Wicker Man, guests at Alton Towers Resort can now enjoy a total of 10 coaster experiences. During a two-minute ride, passengers reach a top speed of 70km/h (44mp/h). Highlights include a 22m-long (72ft) triple drop down, smooth curves galore and a total of three passes through the blazing Wicker Man sculpture. GCI supplied a total of three 26-seater Millennium Flyer trains Millennium Flyers trains, providing a theoretical hourly capacity of 1,000. The timber-framed structure along which they travel is secured by 1.8 million screws and 65,000 bolts.
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