UK theme park announces launch of the world’s first ‘Psychoaster’ for March 2010
The Alton Towers Resort has announced that it will be launching the ultimate rollercoaster Thirteen on 20th March 2010.
Until now, Thirteen has been kept top secret under the name "Secret Weapon 6” and is the subject of much speculation from fans. The new £15m ride is billed to be the scariest in the UK and will join a long line of world first attractions at the Alton Towers Resort including "Nemesis", "Oblivion" and "Air".
Thirteen will be based on the discovery of an unearthed ancient burial site in an area of unexplored woodland known as the Dark Forest. Built on the site of the old Corkscrew rollercoaster, visitors will be invited to take a petrifying ride on Thirteen, venturing into the seemingly living and breathing Dark Forest. There they will face an unknown horror that has been unleashed from the ancient crypt.
The ride has been developed with the world’s leading coaster and thrill consultants who have collaborated to combine the ultimate elements of physical and psychological fear – to create what experts are dubbing a ‘psychoaster’.
The new technology will be the first of its kind in the world and will potentially make the ride so frightening that the Resort is considering introducing a controversial age-rating. Only visitors between the ages of 16-55 will be allowed on the ride due to concerns about emotional maturity and physical health. Visitors may also be limited to one ride per day and be required to sign a waiver which assures the Resort of their physical and mental health to avoid any resulting lawsuits.
THIRTEEN STATS AND FACTS
• £15 million pound investment
• Built on a burial site that is part of the original Alton Abbey, Thirteen will be themed around a crypt, with one of the main features of the ride taking place inside the unearthed crypt
• The ride was tested and built in Europe before being shipped to the UK
• Thirteen has been in design for 2 years and taken 9 months to build by a team of 35 working round the clock, to ensure it’s ready for launch in March
• The ride is replacing the old Corkscrew Rollercoaster which closed in November 2008 after 28 years and was the nation’s first double-helix rollercoaster
John Wardley, rollercoaster expert said: “This ground-breaking technology is something never seen before and will open up a whole new concept for theme park rides. By combining physical and psychological terror, Thirteen will be the first ride to play on emotional fear and something coaster fans will not be prepared for.”
Morwenna Angove, Sales and Marketing Director at the Alton Towers Resort said: “We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Thirteen at the Alton Towers Resort. This new ride will be a shocking, never-experienced-before rollercoaster and we’re excited that once again the Alton Towers Resort is able to offer visitors the chance to experience something unavailable in any other part of the world. However, just as we take physical health and safety very seriously, Thirteen demands that we also consider our visitors’ emotional health, and as such we’re not afraid of introducing necessary measures to ensure riders are fully prepared and healthy enough to brave Thirteen”
Thirteen is set to cement the Alton Towers Resort’s reputation as the No. 1 destination for thrill and fear addicts around the world.
MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS GROUP is the leading name in location based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. The world’s second largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin has 59 attractions and six hotels/ 2 holiday villages in 13 countries and across 3 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 35 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and 13, 500 employees. Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions – SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The Merlin Entertainments London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures and Zoo, Underwater Adventures, Heide Park and Earth Explorer.
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