Play-and-Stay Blog

There’s a lot of interest and speculation around the new roller coaster coming to Thorpe Park in 2009. Planning permission has been submitted for the Gertstlauer Euro Fighter which will be located in Canada Creek alongside such favourites as Logger’s Leap and Slammer!

You can take a look at the plans for this exciting new ride at the unofficial Thorpe Park Guide where there are extensive plans, designs and images to whet your appetite.

Riders will begin with a drop down before two turns and a zero-gravity roll. The ride will be similar to Speed at Oakwood theme park in Wales, with a vertical climb of about 30 metres before a chilling 97 degree drop into another loop. The ride sounds as if it’s going to be a good new addition to Thorpe Park’s already-impressive selection.

Take a look at the advertisement for Oakwood’s Speed to see what could be in store at Thorpe Park from 2009. Just remember that Thorpe Park’s version should be better going by the quality of their other rides!!

Legoland Windsor will be adding some great family rides with opening of the all new Land of the Vikings. This will feature three new attractions. First up there is a maze called Loki’s Labyrinth. Then there’s the kiddy orientated Longboat Invader. The big announcement is the opening of an all new river rapids ride: Vikings’ River Splash. This river rapids style ride will be a very welcome addition to the park, as it only previously had one with the Pirate Goldwash.

One of biggest moves of the season is Pleasure Beach’s acquisition of The Traumatizer from the now defunct Pleasure Land, which sits just across the Ribble Estuary.

Pleasure Beach are utterly convinced that it will be a totally new experience for all its passengers, having made some interesting changes to the set up. Making the ride Infusion at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The roller coaster is now set above water, which sounds pretty hairy, particularly when you take into account the roll-over, double inline twist and a sidewinder. The track is believed to be around two and a half thousand feet long and still quite expensive (at £8 million). This is a really good sign for Blackpool Pleasure Beach, another big investment adding to the already huge collection of roller coasters on offer.

Pleasure Beach is in the news again over the sale of its Spin Doctor ride. The Fabbri Giant Booster ride is rumoured to have been sold for around £1 million and looks to be staying fairly local, being relocated to South Pier, Blackpool. Good news for all the fans, you will still be able to put it to good use, all 120 terrifying foot of it.

Lightwater Valley in Ripon, North Yorkshire, has a new arrival this season, with Hornets Nest. OPening in May, this ride promises to be wild, and was secured from the closure of Pleasure Land, Southport, back in October. This could be great for Lightwater Valley, their Thrill Rides seem to be growing on trees and pleasing all the visitors as they grow! Nothing has been taken from Lightwater Valley in order to include this edition so all is good here.