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Icon set to launch on 25 May at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

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Icon double launch roller coaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The £16.25m ($22.9m) Icon roller coaster will debut at Blackpool Pleasure Beach on Friday 25 May, the park has announced.

Work on Icon started in December 2016 with the development of the double launch coaster closely watched by the industry. Backpool Pleasure Beach commissioned Mack Rides to design and build the attraction.

Icon roller coaster poster
Promotional material for Icon.

As well as the two thrilling launch sequences, the roller coaster interacts with other rides at the park 15 times. Featuring 1.14km of track, it has a top height of 27m. The maximum speed is 80kmh with acceleration topping out at 4.3G.

Other rides Icon interacts with include the Steeplechase, Big Dipper and Pleasure Beach Express.

Amanda Thompson OBE, managing director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with calls and emails from people all over the world wanting to know when Icon will open to the public.

“I’m so excited to be able to answer and confirm 25 May. We can’t wait to invite those who dare to ride to Blackpool to experience this truly incredible ride. Icon promises to set hearts racing.”

Over the last 16 months, over 100,000 hours of manpower have been invested in the build, with thousands of tonnes of steel shipped from Germany. The carriages, which see riders in an open seat on top of the ride with arms and legs free, arrived at the amusement park in March, and can already be seen firing around the track in preparation for the launch.

“The launch of Icon is an extremely exciting day for our industry, both in the UK and beyond. We couldn’t be more pleased to see and experience it here in the UK and to showcase another world first at Blackpool Pleasure Beach,” said Nick Thompson, deputy MD of Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Images: c. Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

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Sam McCaffrey

Journalist. Likes immersive entertainment experiences, museums, zoos and the odd go on a Waltzer.

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