Over here in the UK the country’s second most popular theme park, Thorpe Park, is still offering many reasons to visit the small town of Chertsey in the Surrey countryside.
The Swarm, which opened to rave reviews in March 2012, is still running the train backwards on the track so get down there and experience the coaster in a unique way before it is returned to its original design. I rode the new coaster in fall 2012 and plan to ride the update later this year before it is too late.
Many who have taken the initiative to get there and try it have described the 180-degree plunge over a 127ft drop as “a totally wild ride that is a cool new way to go, I hope more people do this with their existing rides”.
Elsewhere in the park the very old ride known under new name of simply ‘X’, which has been operating since March 1996, has challenged riders to take on a recently updated ride format that offers existing patrons a new take on the same old track.
Previously ‘X: No Way Out’ has run backwards in a completely blacked out building, but the new experience has been said to “thrill your senses with a race through light and sound that will plunge you into a mix of intense colour and music”… I personally cannot wait for this update; I really enjoy watching parks invest money and ideas into something other than new developments.
Speaking of new developments. The park defining development which was planned for 2015 has been pushed back until at least 2016.
An application to their local authority showed plans for a new ride and possibly 2 new water rides. But we can only assume for now that financial issues and plans for other Thorpe attractions are somehow affecting their decision to get this out in the original planned time.
A temporary hotel on-site known as The Crash Pad hotel will be held in place until 2024, while the plans for a permanent Thorpe Park hotel will not come to light until at least 2020.
I just wish them all the best and good luck to a business looking to vastly improve a thrill-seekers experience in that part of the world.
There are plenty more reasons to get down there before then. Stealth is one of the most loved in the country. The previous inversion record holder, Colossus, continues to run. It also still stands as the coaster that has taken me so close to the vomit line… without actually crossing it.
I hope you all enjoy the park, and look forward to what is coming as much as I do.
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