1.
Surrey
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Surrey is a county in the south east of England. It shares borders with Kent to the east, East Sussex to the south-east, West Sussex to the south, Hampshire to the west and south-west, Surrey County Council sits extraterritorially at Kingston upon Thames, administered as part of Greater London since 1965. With a resident population of 1.1 million, Surrey is the most densely populated and third most populated county in the South East region, after Kent, the London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth, and parts of Lewisham and Bromley were in Surrey until 1889. The boroughs of Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Sutton and Richmond upon Thames south of the River Thames were part of Surrey until 1965, when they too were absorbed into Greater London. In the same year, the county was extended north of the Thames by the addition of Spelthorne, due to this expansion, modern Surrey also borders on the London boroughs of Hounslow and Hillingdon. It has the highest GDP per capita of any English county, Surrey is divided in two by the chalk ridge of the North Downs, running east-west. To the north of the Downs the land is mostly flat, the geology of this area is dominated by London Clay in the east, Bagshot Sands in the west and alluvial deposits along the rivers. Much of Surrey is in the Metropolitan Green Belt and it contains a good deal of mature woodland. Among its many notable beauty spots are Box Hill, Leith Hill, Frensham Ponds, Newlands Corner and Puttenham & Crooksbury Commons. Surrey is the most wooded county in England, with 22. 4% coverage compared to an average of 11. 8%. Box Hill has the oldest untouched area of woodland in the UK. Surrey also contains Englands principal concentration of lowland heath, on soils in the west of the county. Agriculture not being intensive, there are many commons and access lands, together with a network of footpaths and bridleways including the North Downs Way. Accordingly, Surrey provides much in the way of leisure activities. The highest elevation in Surrey is Leith Hill near Dorking and it is either 293,294 or 295 metres above sea level and is the second highest point in southeastern England after Walbury Hill 297 metres in West Berkshire. Surrey has a population of approximately 1.1 million people and its largest town is Guildford, with a population of 66,773, Woking comes a close second with 62,796. They are followed by Ewell with 39,994 people and Camberley with 30,155, towns of between 25,000 and 30,000 inhabitants are Ashford, Epsom, Farnham, Staines and Redhill. Guildford is the county town, although the county administration was moved to Newington in 1791
2.
Greater London
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London, or Greater London, is a region of England which forms the administrative boundaries of London. It is organised into 33 local government districts, the 32 London boroughs, the Greater London Authority, based in Southwark, is responsible for strategic local government across the region and consists of the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. The county of Greater London was created on 1 April 1965 through the London Government Act 1963, administratively, Greater London was first established as a sui generis council area under the Greater London Council between 1963 and 1986. The area was re-established as a region in 1994, and the Greater London Authority formed in 2000, the region covers 1,572 km2 and had a population of 8,174,000 at the 2011 census. In 2012, it had the highest GVA per capita in the United Kingdom at £37,232, the Greater London Built-up Area—used in some national statistics—is a measure of the continuous urban area of London, and therefore includes areas outside of the administrative region. The term Greater London has been and still is used to different areas in governance, statistics, history. In terms of ceremonial counties, London is divided into the small City of London, outside the limited boundaries of the City, a variety of arrangements has governed the wider area since 1855, culminating in the creation of the Greater London administrative area in 1965. The Greater London Arterial Road Programme was devised between 1913 and 1916, one of the larger early forms was the Greater London Planning Region, devised in 1927, which occupied 1,856 square miles and included 9 million people. The LCC pressed for an alteration in its boundaries soon after the end of the First World War, noting that within the Metropolitan, a Royal Commission on London Government was set up to consider the issue. The LCC proposed a vast new area for Greater London, with a boundary somewhere between the Metropolitan Police District and the home counties, protests were made at the possibility of including Windsor, Slough and Eton in the authority. The Commission made its report in 1923, rejecting the LCCs scheme, two minority reports favoured change beyond the amalgamation of smaller urban districts, including both smaller borough councils and a central authority for strategic functions. The London Traffic Act 1924 was a result of the Commission, Greater London originally had a two-tier system of local government, with the Greater London Council sharing power with the City of London Corporation and the 32 London Borough councils. The GLC was abolished in 1986 by the Local Government Act 1985 and its functions were devolved to the City Corporation and the London Boroughs, with some functions transferred to central government and joint boards. Greater London was used to form the London region of England in 1994, a referendum held in 1998 established a public will to recreate an upper tier of government to cover the region. The Greater London Authority, London Assembly and the directly elected Mayor of London were created in 2000 by the Greater London Authority Act 1999, in 2000, the outer boundary of the Metropolitan Police District was re-aligned to the Greater London boundary. The 2000 and 2004 mayoral elections were won by Ken Livingstone, the 2008 and 2012 elections were won by Boris Johnson. The 2016 election was won by Sadiq Khan, Greater London continues to include the most closely associated parts of the Greater London Urban Area and their historic buffers. Thus it includes, in five boroughs, significant parts of the Metropolitan Green Belt which protects designated greenfield land in a way to the citys parks
3.
Geographical coordinates
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A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system used in geography that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation, to specify a location on a two-dimensional map requires a map projection. The invention of a coordinate system is generally credited to Eratosthenes of Cyrene. Ptolemy credited him with the adoption of longitude and latitude. Ptolemys 2nd-century Geography used the prime meridian but measured latitude from the equator instead. Mathematical cartography resumed in Europe following Maximus Planudes recovery of Ptolemys text a little before 1300, in 1884, the United States hosted the International Meridian Conference, attended by representatives from twenty-five nations. Twenty-two of them agreed to adopt the longitude of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Dominican Republic voted against the motion, while France and Brazil abstained. France adopted Greenwich Mean Time in place of local determinations by the Paris Observatory in 1911, the latitude of a point on Earths surface is the angle between the equatorial plane and the straight line that passes through that point and through the center of the Earth. Lines joining points of the same latitude trace circles on the surface of Earth called parallels, as they are parallel to the equator, the north pole is 90° N, the south pole is 90° S. The 0° parallel of latitude is designated the equator, the plane of all geographic coordinate systems. The equator divides the globe into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the longitude of a point on Earths surface is the angle east or west of a reference meridian to another meridian that passes through that point. All meridians are halves of great ellipses, which converge at the north and south poles, the prime meridian determines the proper Eastern and Western Hemispheres, although maps often divide these hemispheres further west in order to keep the Old World on a single side. The antipodal meridian of Greenwich is both 180°W and 180°E, the combination of these two components specifies the position of any location on the surface of Earth, without consideration of altitude or depth. The grid formed by lines of latitude and longitude is known as a graticule, the origin/zero point of this system is located in the Gulf of Guinea about 625 km south of Tema, Ghana. To completely specify a location of a feature on, in, or above Earth. Earth is not a sphere, but a shape approximating a biaxial ellipsoid. It is nearly spherical, but has an equatorial bulge making the radius at the equator about 0. 3% larger than the radius measured through the poles, the shorter axis approximately coincides with the axis of rotation
4.
Geographic coordinate system
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A geographic coordinate system is a coordinate system used in geography that enables every location on Earth to be specified by a set of numbers, letters or symbols. The coordinates are chosen such that one of the numbers represents a vertical position. A common choice of coordinates is latitude, longitude and elevation, to specify a location on a two-dimensional map requires a map projection. The invention of a coordinate system is generally credited to Eratosthenes of Cyrene. Ptolemy credited him with the adoption of longitude and latitude. Ptolemys 2nd-century Geography used the prime meridian but measured latitude from the equator instead. Mathematical cartography resumed in Europe following Maximus Planudes recovery of Ptolemys text a little before 1300, in 1884, the United States hosted the International Meridian Conference, attended by representatives from twenty-five nations. Twenty-two of them agreed to adopt the longitude of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the Dominican Republic voted against the motion, while France and Brazil abstained. France adopted Greenwich Mean Time in place of local determinations by the Paris Observatory in 1911, the latitude of a point on Earths surface is the angle between the equatorial plane and the straight line that passes through that point and through the center of the Earth. Lines joining points of the same latitude trace circles on the surface of Earth called parallels, as they are parallel to the equator, the north pole is 90° N, the south pole is 90° S. The 0° parallel of latitude is designated the equator, the plane of all geographic coordinate systems. The equator divides the globe into Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the longitude of a point on Earths surface is the angle east or west of a reference meridian to another meridian that passes through that point. All meridians are halves of great ellipses, which converge at the north and south poles, the prime meridian determines the proper Eastern and Western Hemispheres, although maps often divide these hemispheres further west in order to keep the Old World on a single side. The antipodal meridian of Greenwich is both 180°W and 180°E, the combination of these two components specifies the position of any location on the surface of Earth, without consideration of altitude or depth. The grid formed by lines of latitude and longitude is known as a graticule, the origin/zero point of this system is located in the Gulf of Guinea about 625 km south of Tema, Ghana. To completely specify a location of a feature on, in, or above Earth. Earth is not a sphere, but a shape approximating a biaxial ellipsoid. It is nearly spherical, but has an equatorial bulge making the radius at the equator about 0. 3% larger than the radius measured through the poles, the shorter axis approximately coincides with the axis of rotation
5.
Merlin Entertainments
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Merlin Entertainments is a British-based company headquartered in Poole, Dorset, which operates 127 attractions,19 hotels and 7 holiday villages in 24 countries. Apax sold the company to another investor, Hermes Private Equity. When the Legoland theme parks came up for sale, Varney wanted to buy it but Hermes did not want to invest more capital, Blackstone negotiated to buy control of Legoland for about £250 million, then merged it with Merlin. As part of the deal, KIRKBI AS, the investment arm of LEGO owners, under The Blackstone Group in 2006, Merlin went on to buy Gardaland, an Italian theme park. Early in 2007 Merlin also purchased The Tussauds Group, owner of the Madame Tussauds celebrity wax attractions, after the Tussauds acquisition, Dubai International Capital held 20% of Merlin Entertainment. Although the attraction sites are owned by Leslau, the attractions themselves are to be operated by Merlin, chessington World of Adventures was not included in the deal due to being the most profitable. On 15 January 2010, Merlin Entertainments bought a defunct Winter Haven, Florida-based theme park, Cypress Gardens, and reopened it as Legoland Florida theme park. The sale would include Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Wildlife World, Oceanworld Manly, Sydney Tower, on 3 March 2011, the deal was finalised. Merlin had planned to go public in early 2010, but market turbulence postponed those plans, instead, Blackstone sold 20% of the company to the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, reducing Blackstones holding to 34%. CVC acquired another 8% from the Dubai investment fund which is no longer involved with the company, KIRKBI, a Danish family trust that owns LEGO, also increased its stake, emerging as the largest shareholder, with 36%. CVC paid a price that valued Merlin at £2.25 billion – more than six times what Merlin, Blackstones investment was by that point worth more than three and a half times what it had paid. On 8 November 2013 Merlin floated 30% of the company on the London Stock Exchange valuing the private equity-backed company at almost £3. 4bn, in October 2013 mental health campaigners accused Merlins Thorpe Park attraction of putting profit before the welfare of those with mental illness. Its Halloween attractions included mazes which draw on classic horror film content including one called The Asylum, the attraction was contrasted unfavourably in some media, Twitter and by mental health campaigners who believed The Asylum perpetrated stigmatising and damaging images of mental illness. Thorpe Park issued a statement indicating the subject would be reviewed, on 2 June 2015 two carriages on The Smiler ride at The Alton Towers Resort collided. One of the cars was empty, and the car contained 16 people. Merlin issued a statement that the incident was under investigation, on 19 March 2016, The Smiler reopened to the public after 9 months. The investigation found that the crash was, according to Merlin Entertainments, in February 2016, Merlin purchased a 15% shareholding in Big Bus Tours
6.
Amusement park
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An amusement park or theme park is a group of entertainment attractions, rides, and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people. Theme parks, a type of amusement park, are usually much more intricately themed to a certain subject or group of subjects than normal amusement parks. Amusement parks evolved from European fairs and pleasure gardens, which were created for peoples recreation, Worlds fairs and expositions were another influence on the development of the amusement park industry. In common language, the theme park and amusement park are often synonymous. However, a park can be regarded as a distinct style of amusement park. A theme park has landscaping, buildings, and attractions that are based on one or more specific themes or stories. The amusement park evolved from three earlier traditions, the oldest being the periodic fair of the Middle Ages - one of the earliest was the Bartholomew Fair in England, the worlds oldest amusement park appeared in the Continent. Bakken at Klampenborg, north of Copenhagen, Denmark, opened in 1583, a wave of innovation in the 1860s and 1870s created mechanical rides, such as the steam-powered carousel, and its derivatives. This inaugurated the era of the modern funfair ride, as the classes were increasingly able to spend their surplus wages on entertainment. The second influence was the pleasure garden, one of the earliest gardens was the Vauxhall Gardens, founded in 1661 in London. By the late 18th century, the site had a fee for its many attractions. It regularly drew crowds, with its paths being noted for romantic assignations, tightrope walkers, hot air balloon ascents, concerts. Although the gardens were designed for the elites, they soon became places of great social diversity. Public firework displays were put on at Marylebone Gardens, and Cremorne Gardens offered music, dancing, prater in Vienna, Austria, was opened in 1766. The concept of a park for amusement was further developed with the beginning of the worlds fairs. The first World fair began in 1851 with the construction of the landmark Crystal Palace in London, the purpose of the exposition was to celebrate the industrial achievement of the nations of the world and it was designed to educate and entertain the visitors. American cities and business saw the worlds fair as a way of demonstrating economic. The Worlds Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago, Illinois was an precursor to the modern amusement park
7.
Chertsey
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Chertsey is centred 29 kilometres southwest of central London, has a branch line railway station and less than 1 mile north of its developed centre is the M3. Adjoining are the areas of woodland and a few remaining agricultural and equestrian fields to the south-west. This place appears in the endowment charter of its abbey in the 7th century as Cirotisege or Cerotesege – that is, Chertsey was one of the oldest market towns in England. Its Church of England parish church dates to the 12th century and it grew to all sides but the north around Chertsey Abbey, founded in 666 A. D by Eorcenwald, Bishop of London on a donation by Frithwald. Chertsey appears in the Domesday Book as Certesi and it was held partly by Chertsey Abbey and partly by Richard Sturmid from the abbey. Its Domesday assets were,5 hides,1 mill and 1 forge at the hall,20 ploughs,80 hectares of meadow and it rendered a larger than average sum for the book of manor and ecclesiastical parish entries, £22. The Abbey grew to one of the largest Benedictine abbeys in England, supported by large fiefs in the northwest corner of Sussex. The King took stone from the Abbey to construct his palace at Oatlands Palace, by the late 17th century, only some outer walls of the Abbey remained. During this period until at least 1911 a wider area was included in Chertsey, Ottershaw was a district, whose church-sponsored schools were built in 1870. Today the history of the abbey is reflected in place names. The eighteenth-century Chertsey Bridge provides an important cross-river link, and Chertsey Lock is a distance above it on the opposite side. On the south west corner of the bridge is a statue of local heroine Blanche Heriot striking the bell by Sheila MitchellFRBS. A grid of triangles was measured all the way to the French coast, to join up with the French survey, in the 18th century Chertsey Cricket Club was one of the strongest in the country and beat the rest of England by more than an innings in 1778. The Duke of Dorset, was appointed Ambassador to France in 1784 and he arranged to have the Chertsey cricket team travel to France in 1789 to introduce cricket to the French nobility. However, the team, on arriving at Dover, met the Ambassador returning from France at the outset of the French Revolution, the original Chertsey railway station was built by the London and Southampton Railway and opened on 14 February 1848. The present station, across the crossing from the site of the original one, was opened on 10 October 1866 by the London. The Southern Railway completed electrification of the line on 3 January 1937, similarly the Olympic sport of rowing has an annual Burway Regatta above Chertsey Lock, an area of former flood meadow, reservoirs and golf course. The Burway was in the medieval period let out by the Abbey as over 200 acres of grazing pasture, the Burway faces Laleham Park, the largest municipal park of a neighbouring borough
8.
Staines-upon-Thames
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Staines-upon-Thames is a suburban town on the River Thames in the borough of Spelthorne in Surrey, England. Before 1 April 1965 it was in the county of Middlesex. Known to the Romans as Pontes or Ad Pontes, then as Stanes and subsequently Staines, however the upon-Thames suffix is still often dropped in common usage. The town is within the bounds of the M25 motorway,17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in London. It is within the London Commuter Belt of South East England, Greater London Urban Area, passing along the edge of the town and crossing Staines Bridge is the Thames Path National Trail. Parts of the large Staines upon Thames post town are whole villages, Laleham, Stanwell, the historic parish at no points exceeds 13 feet above river level. It has no remaining woods, but a number of parks, leisure centres. London Heathrow Airport is centred 3 miles north and the station is a main stop on the London Waterloo to Reading Line. The name Staines derives from Middle English stanes, from Old English stānas, evidence of neolithic settlement has been found at Yeoveney on Staines Moor. There has been a crossing of the River Thames at Staines since Roman times, the emperor Claudius invaded Britain in AD43. Staines was settled the same year, within a decade, the first Staines Bridge was constructed as a crossing for the Devils Highway between Londinium and Calleva Atrebatum. The Romans knew the place as Pontes or Ad Pontes and it was mentioned in the early 3rd-century Antonine Itinerary, the Roman name implies the existence of more than one bridge, it is believed that these traversed Church Island. Stanes appears in the Middlesex section of the 1086 Domesday Book as a property held by Westminster Abbey. It was stated to occupy 19 hides of land and had 6 mills worth £3, 4s, 0d,2 weirs worth 6s, 8d,24 ploughs, meadows for 24 ploughs, and some cattle. A border stone on the bank of the River Thames dated 1280 still remains, although familiarly known as the London Stone, it is not to be confused with the more famous – and probably more ancient – London Stone in Cannon Street in the City of London. The barons assembled at Staines before they met King John at Runnymede in 1215, sir Thomas More was tried in 1535 in a Staines public house, to avoid the outbreak of plague in London at that time. Kings and other important people must have passed through the town on many occasions, the bells were rung several times in 1670, for instance. Between 1642 and 1648 during the Civil War, there were skirmishes on Staines Moor, the parish remained largely agricultural until the mid-19th century
9.
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
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During the Second World War, he was Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command. He was the last Viceroy of India and the first Governor-General of independent India, from 1954 until 1959 he was First Sea Lord, a position that had been held by his father, Prince Louis of Battenberg, some forty years earlier. Thereafter he served as Chief of the Defence Staff until 1965, during this period Mountbatten also served as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee for a year. He was the youngest child and the son of Prince Louis of Battenberg and his wife Princess Victoria of Hesse. His maternal grandparents were Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse, and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom and his paternal grandparents were Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine and Julia, Princess of Battenberg. His siblings were Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark, Queen Louise of Sweden, young Mountbattens nickname among family and friends was Dickie, although Richard was not among his given names. This was because his great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, had suggested the nickname of Nicky, but to avoid confusion with the many Nickys of the Russian Imperial Family, Nicky was changed to Dickie. Mountbatten was educated at home for the first 10 years of his life, he was sent to Lockers Park School in Hertfordshire and on to the Royal Naval College. His second son acquired the courtesy title Lord Louis Mountbatten and was known as Lord Louis until he was created a peer in 1946 and he paid a visit of ten days to the Western Front, in July 1918. He was appointed officer of the small warship HMS P.31 on 13 October 1918 and was promoted sub-lieutenant on 15 January 1919. HMS P.31 took part in the Peace River Pageant on 4 April 1919, Mountbatten attended Christs College, Cambridge for two terms, starting in October 1919, where he studied English literature in a programme that was specially designed for ex-servicemen. He was posted to the battlecruiser HMS Renown in March 1920 and accompanied Edward, Prince of Wales and he was promoted lieutenant on 15 April 1920. HMS Renown returned to Portsmouth on 11 October 1920, early in 1921 Royal Navy personnel were used for civil defence duties as serious industrial unrest seemed imminent. Mountbatten had to command a platoon of stokers, many of whom had never handled a rifle before and he transferred to the battlecruiser HMS Repulse in March 1921 and accompanied the Prince of Wales on a Royal tour of India and Japan. Edward and Mountbatten formed a friendship during the trip. Mountbatten survived the deep defence cuts known as the Geddes Axe and he was posted to the battleship HMS Revenge in the Mediterranean Fleet in January 1923. Promoted lieutenant-commander on 15 April 1928, he returned to the Signals School in July 1929 as Senior Wireless Instructor. He was appointed Fleet Wireless Officer to the Mediterranean Fleet in August 1931, in 1934, Mountbatten was appointed to his first command – the destroyer HMS Daring
10.
Tidal Wave (Thorpe Park)
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Tidal Wave is a giant water ride located at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England, UK. It was opened in 2000 and was Tussauds first major investment in the park, when the ride was constructed in 2000 it was the tallest water ride in Europe and retained the title until 2002, when Hydro at Oakwood Theme Park was opened. From 2006 to 2009, the ride was sponsored by Original Source, the ride was temporarily closed on the 26th September 2015, but re-opened for the 2016 annual pass preview weekend. The ride is set in a 1950s New England fishing village named Amity, the surrounding area has a high level of detail to carry this theme. The rides queueline is host to a number of ruined buildings, including a bathroom with a leaking shower, a toilet. The station is built at an angle to give the impression that the building has been damaged by the wave, the areas New England setting is only rough, as Storm Surge is set in Virginia. Upon leaving the ride, guests are led through a building, named Pier 13, situated directly in front of the splash pool, as the boat hits the water, the wave travels straight towards this building and often continues on to the pathway behind. Two windows of the Pier 13 building have no glass, presenting another opportunity for riders to get wet, the other effects are also currently nonoperational and have been out of order for several years. Amity also features a comical, fake radio station, named WWTP radio, the radio show is hosted by the fictional character Big Bob Jones and plays music from the era, for example Elvis Presley and The Beach Boys. The show also features news reports, parodic advertisements and fictional competitions. The area also features a few food outlets - a doughnut shop called Amity Naughty Bites, a small Ben & Jerrys kiosk is also located at Tidal Waves exit. In addition, the houses a fish and chip shop. There are also two shops in Amity Beach, Thorpe Parks largest shop and in 2007 a new shop called Amity Shop and Drop opposite the 4D cinema, there is also a Tickets and Information kiosk next to Tidal Waves entrance selling Fastrack and Bounce Back tickets. There is also a KFC in the area, which fits into the theme as it looks like a 1950s American diner, inside, there are broken mirrors on the walls and the ceiling appears to be damaged by the tidal wave. The restaurant has a life-sized shark piece of theming that appears to have been slammed into the side of the building, a Burger King is also located within the area, and is themed, in a very similar fashion to the KFC, as a 1950s diner. When Tidal Wave opened, it was the ride in Amity. In anticipation for Stealth, the Amity area was extended towards the Teacups, the Teacups were re-themed, with cracks painted onto the cups and the ride was renamed Storm In A Teacup. Stealth was the attraction in Thorpe Park when it opened
11.
Colossus (Thorpe Park)
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Colossus is a roller coaster at Thorpe Park in Surrey, England, and the parks first major attraction. It was built by Swiss manufacturers Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel as an adaptation of Monte Makaya in Brazil, tussauds designer John Wardley adapted the project to include an extra two inversions as well as reducing its height. Colossus was the worlds first roller coaster with ten inversions, a replica, called the 10 Inversion Roller Coaster, was later built at Chimelong Paradise in Guangzhou. It retained its title of having the most inversions on any roller coaster in the world until The Smiler at Alton Towers took the record in 2013. Manufacturers Intamin used a similar style to their Hyper Coaster models which are exposed by removing the sides of the train. This caused problems as riders could lift their legs outside of the train whilst it was in motion, for a brief period in 2002 and 2003 the ride was equipped with metal bars on the sides of the train to prevent this. During 2003 the trains were fitted with new style restraints to prevent riders from doing this, the roller coaster is located in the Lost City area, in the south-east of the park. The ride is formed of a loop, a cobra roll. The rides rough theme is the ruins of a recently unearthed Atlantean civilisation, the music for the ride and surrounding area was composed by Ian Habgood. During planning and construction Colossus was known as Project Odyssey, both names allude to Ancient Greece, albeit in different ways, in 2009, the rides lift hill chain was replaced and station area was cleaned of rust. In 2010, Colossuss signs and station were repainted, though a fairly brief portion of the ride experience, the speed of the train and the proximity to the ground when executing the corkscrews can create quite an exhilarating moment. Riders photographs are taken as the train levels after the second corkscrew. A final bend round to the left is completed as the train approaches the station. The train then slows into the brake run, stopping for a moment before the exit. Thorpe Park – official website Colossus at Thorpe Park Mania – official fansite
12.
Nemesis Inferno
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Nemesis Inferno is a steel inverted roller coaster at the Thorpe Park theme park in Surrey, England, UK. As a result, Nemesis and Nemesis Inferno are often compared, the 750-metre-long Nemesis Inferno is themed around an erupting tropical volcano. The ride stands 29 metres tall, features a top speed of 80 kilometres per hour, in 2002, after the opening of Colossus, Thorpe Park officially announced the addition of Nemesis Inferno in 2003. Construction took place throughout 2002 with the first test run being completed in December 2002, Nemesis Inferno officially opened to the public on 5 April 2003. According to Nikki Nolan of The Tussauds Group who operated the park at the time, in 2004, Thorpe Park approached Guinness World Records to set the record for the Most Naked People on a Rollercoaster. In May 2004,81 students took part in the record, in August 2004, Nemesis at Alton Towers broke the record with 32 riders. The roller coaster was used on an episode of The Inbetweeners, the 750-metre-long Nemesis Inferno stands 29 metres tall. With a top speed of 80.4672 kilometres per hour, the features four inversions including a vertical loop, a zero-g roll. Riders of Nemesis Inferno experience up to 4.5 times the force of gravity on the near-two-minute ride, the ride is reported to have cost £8 million. Nemesis Inferno operates with two steel and fiberglass trains, each containing seven cars, each car seats four riders in a single row for a total of 28 riders per train. Two seats on Nemesis Inferno have been modified to cater for larger riders, the ride is themed around an erupting volcano. The name of the ride suggests that it is related to the original Nemesis, after leaving the station, the train takes a right-hand swing into a dark tunnel, where it is shot with simulated fire. It makes a left turn before entering the 29-metre-tall lift hill. At the top, it takes a long left-swing drop into its first inversion and this is followed by an inline twist, albeit elevated, leading some to believe that the ride features a zero-G-roll. The ride then turns to the right and enters the first of the interlocking corkscrews, after a large right turn, followed by a sharp left turn, the car begins to brake. Following a small right turn, it continues to the station, in Mitch Hawkers worldwide Best Roller Coaster Poll, Nemesis Inferno entered at position 70 in 2003, before peaking at 51 in 2006. The rides ranking in subsequent polls is shown in the table below, Nemesis Inferno is commonly compared with its Alton Towers counterpart, Nemesis, with many citing the latter as the superior ride. Nemesis has ranked favourably in Amusement Todays annual Golden Ticket Awards, Nemesis Inferno, on the other hand, has never made an appearance
13.
Stealth (roller coaster)
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Stealth is a steel roller coaster located in the Amity area of Thorpe Park in Surrey, England, UK. Built and designed by Intamin of Switzerland for £12 million, the Accelerator Coaster model opened in 2006, riders reach a maximum height of 62.5 metres and accelerate from 0-80 mph in 1.9 seconds. It has the fastest acceleration of any coaster in the UK, and is the tallest among launch coasters in the country. At the base of the top hat element on either side, riders may experience up to 4.5 G. Stealths restraint system consists of a thick, rigid lap bar and two thin, flexible over-the-shoulder restraints. Because the over-the-shoulder portions of the restraint are not rigid, the grips are mounted to the lap bar. These restraints use a locking system which allows them to be pulled down to any position. In contrast, a restraint only locks at each notch. Stealths restraints are also held down by a belt in case the main locking system fails, in order to speed up loading, riders are asked to secure their own restraints if they are able to. This restraint system is identical to many Intamin Launch coasters, including Kingda Ka, once the train has been locked, checked, the launch sequence will begin, this involves retracting the brake fins into the track and the attaching of the train to the catch car. An American accented voice announces Place your heads back, face forwards, hold on tight, the announcer repeats his message as five red lights turn on one by one, before shouting Three, two, one, GO, GO, GO. The lights turn green and the train accelerates to 80 mph in 1. The train then returns to the station via a U-turn, as with many Intamin Launch Coasters, Stealth experiences occasional roll backs if it is unable to complete the course as a result of energy loss. Although infrequent, roll backs can be caused by friction or by adverse weather conditions. Roller coaster trains typically run slower in colder weather, computer sensors located under the track along the ride check the acceleration of the train during each run. The measurement readings are averaged to calculate whether the train is traveling too fast or too slow, Stealth at Thorpe Park Mania Stealth at Thorpe Park
14.
The Swarm (roller coaster)
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The Swarm is a steel Wing Coaster at Thorpe Park, a theme park in the United Kingdom. The Swarm was the worlds second Wing Coaster designed by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, construction commenced in May 2011, and the coaster opened on 15 March 2012. Starting in 2013, the last two rows of each train face backwards, while the first five rows face forward and this was removed in 2016, with all riders facing forward once again. The 775-metre-long ride stands 38.7096 metres tall and features four inversions, on the one-minute twenty-five second ride, riders experience speeds of up to 59 miles per hour and 4.5 times the force of gravity. A marketing campaign for the ride began 11 months before The Swarm was opened to the public, the ride has generally been well received, ranking highly amongst other roller coasters of its type. In 2010, planning for The Swarm began behind closed doors, the ride was codenamed Project LC12 in the early process of its planning and construction. On 31 January 2011, Thorpe Park submitted an application for their 2012 ride to the Runnymede Borough Council. The website gave information about the new rides theme, that of an apocalyptic battle. At the time of the rides announcement construction was already underway, the track for The Swarm was complete by 18 November 2011. Clearance testing started almost immediately, the first operational test run was completed on 17 January 2012, on 15 March 2012, The Swarm officially opened to the public. In January 2013, Thorpe Park announced that the last two rows on The Swarm would be rotated to face backwards for 2013, a first for a Wing Coaster, the parks tag line for this experience is THE SWARM- Brave It Backwards. The park additionally announced that they were adding a damaged, mangled billboard, in 2016 the seats were returned to all facing forwards. The Swarm is located on an island adjacent to the Stealth roller coaster. A bridge links the core of Thorpe Park to an island which hosts the roller coaster station, merchandise outlet, the Swarm features two 28-seat Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster trains. Each train is made up of seven rows of four seats each, one pair of seats in each row is located on either side of the rides track and slightly lower than the track, as with all Wing Coasters. The trains are themed to resemble alien-like creatures, with a number of red LED lights placed across the train, the area is designed to appear as if it has been partially destroyed by explosions associated with a major disaster. The ride recreates the experience of flying through a scene and features a crashed aeroplane, upturned ambulance, half-submerged fire engine. The roller coaster begins in the station, which is built to look like a destroyed church
15.
X (roller coaster)
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See X2 for the steel roller coaster formerly known as X operating at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, USA. X is a roller coaster located at Thorpe Park, England. It was the parks first non-powered roller-coaster and it is themed around a rave and has the strapline Ride on a wave of light and sound. The roller coaster combines a variety of lights, lasers and music with an indoor ride circuit, featured inside a large blue. The ride opened as X, \ No Way Out on March 23,1996 as Thorpe Parks first non-powered roller coaster, the rides cyberpunk theme was drastically toned down by the early 2000s when most the interior rooms became disused, and many in-ride effects removed. In March 2013 the ride underwent further significant changes, which removed the remnants of the horror theme. The trains were refurbished by Vekoma to now run forwards, to resolve the issue of motion sickness. The addition of lighting and lasers from 2013 onwards removes the black darkness that riders originally rode in. In the exit line, there was a 5 ft-long model of an Eveready AA battery labelled Thorpe Park Power Supply. The ride layout has also had many features removed since its opening, there was an on-ride photo camera which allowed riders to purchase their on-ride photo, this was removed in 2005. The lift hill of the ride had multi-coloured flashing LED light strips added in 2000, riders enter the queue line inside the pyramid and proceed down a long and narrow corridor with neon lights and lasers in the ceiling. Loud dance music throughout the corridor. After queuing in this room, riders enter the station, after riders are seated and secured, the train exits the station into a tight right hand turn that leads up onto the lift hill. It is mandatory for both seats in a row to be occupied and single riders are not allowed, after reaching the top of the hill, the train plummets down at speeds of up to 28 mph into various helixes and tight turns. The train arrives at a platform where riders disembark, before collecting their belongings. Throughout the ride, there are three mid-course brake runs, on the third brake run, the train moved backwards by a few metres before being propelled forwards. Also on this third brake run, since the ride was refurbished in 2007, two of the robot mannequins from the old line were positioned on the brake run. These were removed a few weeks into the 2013 season, nowadays, the brake runs simply allow the trains to run through the circuit without stopping
16.
Angry Birds
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Angry Birds is a video game franchise created by Finnish company Rovio Entertainment. The series focuses on multi-colored birds who try to save their eggs from green-colored pigs, inspired by Crush the Castle, the game has been praised for its successful combination of fun gameplay, comical style, and low price. The original Angry Birds has been called one of the most mainstream games out right now, one of the great hits of 2010. An animated feature based on the series was released by Columbia Pictures on 20 May 2016. The first game in the series was released in December 2009 for Apple iOS. The company then released ports of the game for other touchscreen smartphone operating systems, including Android, Symbian and Windows Phone, then video game consoles, mikael Hed, CEO of Rovio Mobile, has envisioned a feature film in the stop-motion animation style of Aardman Animation. Hed acknowledges that such a film would be away. Angry Birds Toons, a TV series based on the game, Toons is released through third-party video distribution platforms, including Comcasts Xfinity On-Demand in the US, Samsung Smart TVs, and Roku set-top boxes. It is also available in a number of countries on television broadcasts. Angry Birds Toons is available on devices by an additional Toons channel on all of the Angry Birds apps homescreens. DVD version for the TV series was released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, the series has a total of 3 seasons. On 11 April 2014, Rovio released Piggy Tales, a stop motion animated series and it tells the stories of the Minion Pigs life. On 1 November 2014, Rovio released Angry Birds Stella, a 2D/3D animated series, telling the stories of Stellas life, real Angry Birds, inspired by the game Angry Birds, premiered on Nat Geo Wild on 12 July 2015. A 3D computer-animated film adaptation, The Angry Birds Movie, was released on 20 May 2016, developed, produced and financed by Rovio Entertainment, it is animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Entertainment under their Columbia Pictures banner. It is directed by animation veterans Clay Kaytis and Fergal Reilly in their directorial debut, Jon Vitti wrote the films screenplay, and John Cohen and Catherine Winder served as the producers. Rovio also hired David Maisel, former producer of Marvel Studios films such as Iron Man. A sequel is in planning stages, there have been several toys made from Angry Birds characters. The games official website offers plush versions of the birds and pigs for sale, along with T-shirts featuring the games logo, in May 2011, Mattel released an Angry Birds board game, entitled Angry Birds, Knock on Wood
17.
RMC Group
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RMC Group plc was a multinational ready mixed concrete, quarrying and concrete products company headquartered in Egham, United Kingdom. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE100 Index, the Company was founded by Kjeld Ammentorp in 1930 in Bedfont as Ready Mixed Concrete Limited. In 1952, Ready Mixed Concrete of Australia reversed into its UK rival, the company was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1962. In 1979, the company created Thorpe Park in Staines, Surrey by redeveloping one of its disused quarries as a park when quarrying was complete. The company operated Thorpe Park until 1998, when they sold the park to The Tussauds Group, owner of Alton Towers, the company acquired Rugby Group, a leading British cement business, in 2000. In 2005, the company was acquired by Cemex of Mexico, RMC was a leading international producer and supplier of materials, products and services used primarily in the construction industry. Full details can be found in the 1986 book The Readymixers, The Story of RMC1931 to 1986 by Michael Cassell
18.
Chessington World of Adventures
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Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park, zoo and hotel complex that lies 12 miles southwest of Central London, England in the Chessington area of the Kingston upon Thames borough. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a park was developed by The Tussauds Group alongside the zoo, opening on 7 June 1987. The park was inherited by Merlin Entertainments after the buyout of Tussauds in 2007, under Merlin, Chessington has been increasingly developed into a resort tourist destination, including two on-site hotels, a high ropes course and camp site. Chessington Zoo has over 1,000 animals, including western lowland gorillas, sea lions, and Sumatran tigers. It is split up several areas, Trail of the Kings, Creepy Caves, Sealion Bay, Childrens Zoo, Amazu, Penguin Bay. Chessington World of Adventures theme park consists of themed areas styled on a range of world cultures and it currently has 10 discrete areas including the Adventure Point, Mystic East, Mexicana, Pirates Cove, Wild Woods, and Forbidden Kingdom. Land of the Dragons opened in 2004 for children although it includes the intense spinning coaster Dragons Fury, in the English Civil War it became a royalist stronghold, and Oliver Cromwells Parliamentary forces razed it to the ground. The Burnt Stub site was rebuilt as an inn, until the 18th century, the resort has its roots in the Chessington Zoo, which opened in 1931, it was started by Reginald Goddard, who had bought the estate to showcase his private collection of animals. In 1946 when Goddard died, the Pearson Publishing Company took over the zoo and managed it until 1978, in 1984, due to the zoos declining attendance, Tussaudss Director of Development, Ray Barratt commissioned John Wardley to come up with plans to revitalize the park. The decision was made to open a park to complement the zoo. On 7 June 1987 Chessington World of Adventures opened to the public, the park was built on a relatively small budget of around £12 million, in case the project failed. The new rides were to operate on a pay-one-price admission basis, other support rides were also opened, and the park opened just five themed areas, Calamity Canyon, Mystic East, Market Square, Toy Town and Circus World. The attractions were all themed with emphasis on atmosphere and effects. The 1990 season bought two of Chessingtons more popular rides with the opening of Transylvania, Vampire and Professor Burps Bubbleworks, both of these rides had significant impact on the park, and are still exceedingly popular today. Opening Transylvania cost around £10 million, by this time Smugglers Galleon and the Smugglers Cove area had been created, both opening in 1988. The 1995 season arrived with the intense Rameses Revenge, the parks first inverting ride, Rameses Revenge was new in the Forbidden Kingdom area, an area which had opened the previous year, bringing the Terror Tomb dark ride in replacement of the 5th Dimension. Also new for 1995 was SeaStorm in Pirates Cove, and the Carousel, in 1999, Chessington opened the hardcore thrill ride Samurai in the Mystic East. 1999 also saw the rename of Calamity Canyon into Mexicana, following the opening of Rattlesnake the year before,2000 saw Beanoland open on the former site of Circus World, bringing two new rides to the park, Billys Whizzer and Rodger the Dodgers Dodgems
19.
The Blackstone Group
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The Blackstone Group L. P. is an American multinational private equity, alternative asset management and financial services firm based in New York City. As the largest alternative investment firm in the world, Blackstone specializes in equity, credit. Blackstone was founded in 1985 as a mergers and acquisitions boutique by Peter G. Peterson and Stephen A. Schwarzman, over the course of two decades, Blackstone has evolved into one of the worlds largest private equity investment firms. In 2007, Blackstone completed a $4 billion initial public offering to become one of the first major private equity firms to list shares in its management company on a public exchange. Hamilton E. James is the current president, chief operating officer, as of 2011, Blackstone is the worlds fifth-largest private equity firm by committed capital, focusing primarily on leveraged buyouts of more mature companies. The firm also invests through minority investments, corporate partnerships, and industry consolidations, the firm focuses on friendly investments in large capitalization companies. Blackstones private equity business employs approximately 120 investment employees in New York City, London, Menlo Park, California, Mumbai, Hong Kong, in 2009 Blackstone purchased Busch Entertainment. In 2012, Blackstone acquired a controlling interest in Utah-based Vivint, Inc. a home automation, security, former notable investments include Universal Studios Parks, which was sold to Comcast. The real estate business has raised approximately $28 billion for a variety of vehicles, including six US-focused funds. Blackstone also raised a real estate special situations fund focusing on non-controlling debt, the special situations fund invests directly in real estate as well as private and publicly traded real estate-related securities. The purchase and subsequent profitable IPO of Southern Cross led to controversy in the UK, part of the purchase involved splitting the business into a property company, NHP, and a care home business, which Blackstone claimed would become the leading company in the elderly care market. In May 2011, Southern Cross, now independent, was almost bankrupt and it denied blame, although Blackstone was widely accused in the media for selling on the company with an unsustainable business model and crippled with an impossible sale and leaseback strategy. After the subprime mortgage crisis, Blackstone Group LP has bought more than $5.5 billion single-family homes for rent, to be sold when the prices rise. Blackstone has agreed to sell a selection of Northern California office buildings for the sum of $3.5 billion, in 1990, Blackstone created a fund of hedge funds business to manage the internal assets for Blackstone and its senior managers. Over the years, this evolved into Blackstones marketable alternative asset management segment. Among the investments included in this segment are funds of funds, mezzanine funds, senior debt vehicles, proprietary hedge funds. The combination of Blackstone and GSO created one of the largest credit platforms in the asset management business. GSO was founded in 2005 by Bennett Goodman, Tripp Smith, the GSO team had previously managed the leveraged finance businesses at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette and later Credit Suisse First Boston, after the acquisition of DLJ
20.
Dubai International Capital
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The fund has invested in global leaders such as Sony and EADS. DICs investments across its divisions include, Private Equity, The Tussauds Group - purchased in 2005 from Charterhouse Capital Partners for £800 million, subsequently, sold in March 2007 to Merlin Entertainments for £1. 025bn, though DIC now has 18% in the combined company. The remaining stock DIC held in the company was sold in 2010. Doncasters Group Ltd - In May 2006, DIC acquired Doncasters Group Ltd. for £700 million, travelodge - purchased the UK budget hotel group in 2006 for £675m. DIC received £1.025 bn cash and retained an 18% stake in the combined company and this stake was sold in 2010. Fastentech - In May 2007 DIC-owned Doncasters acquired FastenTech for US$500m in an acquisition from Court Square Capital. FastenTech is an international manufacturer of industrial and aerospace-grade fasteners and has a strong presence in the US. Mauser Group - purchased the German industrial packaging company in June 2007 for €850m - one of the leading industrial packaging firms. Has been sold in August 2014, emerging Markets, Jordan Dubai Capital, A US$300 million private equity fund dedicated to investments in Jordan, launched in 2005. Ishraq, A US$150 million investment company focused on delivering the budget hotel concept across the Middle East, MENA Infrastructure Fund, Launched the US$500 million MENA Infrastructure as co-Anchor with HSBC and Waha Capital in 2006. It targets investments in the infrastructure and energy sectors across the Middle East, rivoli Group, In 2007, DIC acquired a substantial stake in the UAE-based luxury goods retailer. KEF Holdings, DIC acquired a 45% stake in the leading UAE-based foundry in 2008, catering mainly to the oil, public Equities, Daimler AG, acquired a 2% stake for $1 billion in German carmaker Daimler, making it the companys third largest shareholder in 2005. EADS, acquired a 3. 12% stake for $838 million in Europes largest aircraft and defense manufacturer, Sony - acquired a 3% stake for $1.5 billion Has since been sold. On a number of occasions, DIC tried to buy into Liverpool F. C. However, Hicks later dismissed holding any talks with DIC and even DIC making a bid for his share. 14 February 2008, reported that DIC have the outline of an agreement to purchase the Reds from George Gillett and Tom Hicks,15 September 2008, Premier League rivals Newcastle United linked with DIC. However, DIC have stated they are not planning a bid for Liverpool. Dubai International Capital - Official Website
21.
Bolliger & Mabillard
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Bolliger & Mabillard, abbreviated B&M and formally known as Bolliger & Mabillard Consulting Engineers Inc. is a roller coaster design consultancy based in Monthey, Switzerland. The company was founded in 1988 by Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard, with Bolliger as president, since 1988, B&M has built 100 roller coasters around the world and have pioneered several new ride technologies, most notably the inverted roller coaster. Since 1990, all designed by B&M that have been built within North America have been manufactured by Clermont Steel Fabricators which is located in Batavia, Ohio. B&M started with four employees and has grown, as of 2012 it employs 37 people, mostly engineers. In 2016 the company completed its 100th coaster, Walter Bolliger and Claude Mabillard starting working for Giovanola, a manufacturing company who supplied rides to Intamin, in the 1970s. During their time at Giovanola, they helped design the companys first stand-up roller coaster and they also worked on other projects, such as Z-Force at Six Flags Great America. In 1987, Giovanola underwent a change of management, Bolliger & Mabillard decided to leave, at the time, B&M employed four people, two draftsmen, Bolliger, and Mabillard. When B&M was created, the pair had agreed not to any more amusement attractions. However, Six Flags contacted the new company and asked it to build a roller coaster, B&M accepted the offer and hired two more draftsmen. But B&M had a problem regarding how and where to manufacture the track pieces for the roller coaster, Clermont Steel Fabricators accepted and currently manufactures all Bolliger and Mabillard roller coaster track pieces for all of North America. Now with a company to manufacture the track, B&M built its first roller coaster, a roller coaster, Iron Wolf. Two years later, Bolliger & Mabillard built another project for Six Flags Great America, Batman, The Ride, the worlds first Inverted Coaster, Bolliger & Mabillard also invented the Floorless Coaster, and the Dive Coaster. The company also built its first launched coaster, the The Incredible Hulk. Although The Incredible Hulk uses a system, B&M classifies it as a Sitting Coaster. In 2010, B&M unveiled its new Wing Coaster and premiered the prototype model, named Raptor and it has two seats on each side on the car that hang riders over the sides of the track. There are currently only five in operation, in 2015, B&M constructed Thunderbird at Holiday World & Splashin Safari, its first in-house launched coaster. By 2010, B&M employed twelve engineers, twelve draftsman, the company has made other contributions to the roller coaster industry. The company built the trains for the Psyclone, a wooden roller coaster at Six Flags Magic Mountain
22.
Gerstlauer
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Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH is a German manufacturer of stationary and transportable amusement rides and roller coasters, located in Münsterhausen, Germany. In 1982 Hubert Gerstlauer, an employee of the Schwarzkopf GmbH. With this company he delivered electric and pneumatic equipment for Schwarzkopfs facilities, after final bankruptcy of Schwarzkopf in 1992, Gerstlauer acquired part of their production halls and continued the manufacture of amusement rides and roller coasters. The company was renamed Gerstlauer Amusement Rides GmbH in March 2007, gerstlauers first individual roller coaster Gsengte Sau, a Bobsled roller coaster, was built in Erlebnispark Tripsdrill, an amusement park in Baden-Württemberg. Since 2003 Gerstlauer became popular with their Euro-Fighter coaster, which is present in different styles all over Europe, a specialty of all Euro-Fighter coasters is a drop with a beyond vertical angle of more than 90 degrees. Another model is their spinning roller coaster in which riders are seated facing each other, Gerstlauer also built trains for several wooden roller coasters, several of which are no longer operating. Examples of these include The Boss at Six Flags St. Louis, the Smiler located at Alton Towers has been known to have had a number of significant structural and technical difficulties before and after the rides opening in 2013. The most serious incident to occur happened in June 2015 when a train loaded with 16 people collided with an empty train and this caused serious injuries to a number of its riders. Two front-row passengers sustained serious leg injuries, each had one leg partially amputated and this is the biggest incident in Alton Towers history. The Smiler reopened on March 19th 2016, official website Media related to Gerstlauer at Wikimedia Commons
23.
Intamin
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Intamin Worldwide is a designing and manufacturing company in Wollerau, Switzerland. It is best known for creating thrill rides and roller coasters worldwide, the U. S. division of the company is located in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and is headed by Sandor Kernacs. The Intamin brand name is an abbreviation for, INTernational AMusement INstallations, the company distributes approximately 5–7 roller coasters from their workshops in Switzerland and Glen Burnie each year. Intamin is a player in the amusement park attractions industry. The company has installed a total of 70 coasters in several countries around the globe, Intamin designed and built the first river rapids ride known as Thunder River based on the idea supplied by Bill Crandall, a past General Manager at the now defunct AstroWorld. Intamin also marketed the first Freefall experience and the first drop tower, Intamins product range is in two broad categories, Rides and Thrill Rides, and Transportation. Intamin was amongst the first to create a magnetic propulsion system, furius Baco at PortAventura, for instance, is Europes fastest operating coaster, launching riders from 0–135 km/h in 3.5 seconds. Intamin is also known for its massive Mega and Giga Coasters, Intamin Giga and Mega Coasters currently occupy three of the top five Golden Ticket Awards with perennial favorites Millennium Force, Superman the Ride and Expedition GeForce. Intamin uses computerized and industrialized engineering and manufacturing methods for its wooden coasters, Coasters such as Colossos at Heide Park, Balder at Liseberg and El Toro at Six Flags Great Adventure utilized this manufacturing technique. Unlike other traditional wood coasters, these rides use prefabricated track sections made of a wooden laminate that can be secured on-site when the superstructure is completed. Another recent roller coaster development by Intamin is the ZacSpin, a type of 4th Dimension roller coaster that was first seen in 2007. The Green Lantern at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California, is the first ZacSpin in the United States and opened July 1,2011. It has individual cars, each with 8 seats, arranged in two pods coming off the sides of the car, each with 2 seats facing forward and two facing backward. This car is lifted to the highest point by a conventional chain lift. The company is known for being the home to the famous Bolliger & Mabillard. The two engineers worked for Giovanola who in turn were frequently contracted by Intamin for their early stand-up roller coasters, B&M broke away from Giovanola to form their own company which now supplies roller coasters as well. Similarities between the two companies are often obvious, such as the style of track used by B&M, which was used in a number of early Giovanola installations which were contracted by Intamin, Intamin brokered a number of rides that were manufactured by Waagner-Biro. These included a series of rides for Marriott Corporation, each comprising a vertical column supporting multiple horizontal arms, the first was Giant Wheel which operated at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania from 1973 until 2004
24.
Nemesis (roller coaster)
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Nemesis is an inverted roller coaster located at the Alton Towers amusement park in England. The rides concept and layout was devised by designer John Wardley and it was manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and opened in March 1994. The 716-metre-long ride stands 12.8016 metres tall and features a top speed of 80.5 kilometres per hour, the four-inversion roller coaster was one of the first Bolliger & Mabillard rides to be installed outside of the United States and the first in Europe. The ride has been well received, consistently ranking highly in industry polls. In 1990, Alton Towers added the Thunder Looper roller coaster, the park began planning for a new roller coaster which would open prior the closure of the Thunder Looper. They desired a roller coaster that was big, different and exciting, Alton Towers approached Arrow Dynamics for the new roller coaster. The Utah-based company was working on a prototype of a roller coaster. John Wardley worked on the design of the ride which was originally to be themed around a military facility. Due to the design of the ride and the restriction imposed on the park. Development of the project was put on hold a short time into the process, due to the problems being encountered by Arrow at the time. The project was revived a year later under the codename Secret Weapon 2, the project was again abandoned when Wardley rode the prototype, describing it as slow, boring, cumbersome and energy inefficient. The park began to look for an alternative, Wardley became aware of a new roller coaster design being installed by Bolliger & Mabillard at Six Flags Great America. He subsequently entered into discussions with Six Flags who agreed to disclose information about the new ride. Jim Wintrode, the manager of Six Flags Great America at the time. Although Wardley believed this would be impossible, Wintrode worked with Bolliger & Mabillard to develop Batman, Wardley rode Batman, The Ride prior to its May 1992 opening and wanted to add a similar ride to Alton Towers. The inverted roller coaster, then dubbed Secret Weapon 3, was developed throughout 1992, Wardley and Nick Varney, marketing director of Alton Towers, came up with the name Nemesis and pitched a theming concept about an alien creature trapped beneath the park. Tussauds Studios elaborated on this, creating visuals for later promotion, the £10 million Nemesis officially opened to the public on 19 March 1994, following a soft opening three days prior. It opened as one of the first Bolliger & Mabillard rides to be installed outside of the United States, along with Diavlo at Himeji Central Park, Japan, in August 2004, Nemesis gained the Guinness World Record for the Most Naked People on a Rollercoaster
25.
Alton Towers
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Alton Towers Resort, commonly referred to as Alton Towers, is a theme park, water park, and hotel complex in Staffordshire, England. It is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group, the site opened in 1860 with flower shows and garden tours until a theme park was built on the site, opening in 1980. Alton Towers Hotel opened in 1996, it was the first onsite accommodation to be built at the resort and it was followed in 2003 by the Caribbean-themed Splash Landings Hotel with an adjoining water park. The Enchanted Village opened in 2015 which includes 120 Lodges built, the complex also includes conference facilities, crazy golf and a high ropes course. The new CBeebies Land Hotel is currently scheduled to open on 8 July 2017, the park hosts special events throughout the year, such as concert nights, a Scarefest event for Halloween, and an end-of-season fireworks display. Early ride time does not operate during Scarefest or Fireworks, Rides available for early ride time for 2017 are Nemesis, The Blade, Oblivion, Enterprise and the majority of CBeebies Land The Alton Towers estate was a former seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury. Following its sale in 1924 a group of businessmen formed Alton Towers Ltd. In the 1950s this included the operation of a fairground, and by the 1970s included a boating lake, after millionaire property developer John Broome married the daughter of majority shareholder Denis Bagshaw in 1973, he bought out the controlling stake in Alton Towers. Over the next few years he laid the foundation for the theme park by installing various permanent rides. In the 1980s Broome marketed the park by installing a new ride every year - including Corkscrew, Pirate Ship, Alpine Bobsleigh, The Flume. Ride designer John Wardley was behind the concepts and layouts of the attractions in the 1990s that brought success to the themepark. 2005 saw the acquisition of Alton Towers by the investment group Dubai International Capital when it purchased Tussauds for £800 million, the Tussauds Group was then bought by Merlin Entertainments in March 2007 for over £1billion from DIC, placing Alton Towers under their control. In July 2007, the resort and park was sold to Nick Leslau and his investment firm Prestbury who now lease the park back to Merlin Entertainments to operate on a 35-year lease. the theme park is also home to the historic Towers and Gardens. The SkyRide cable car system travels between Towers Street, Forbidden Valley, and Cloud Cuckoo Land and takes in views of the gardens, the parks maximum capacity at any one time is set at 28,000 guests. According to the TEA attendance report, the park was estimated to have attracted 1,925,000 people in 2015, the park has cited The Smilers crash in June as the main reason for the parks large decrease. The decrease demoted Alton Towers to Britains 2nd most visited theme park after Legoland Windsor, in 2014, it was Britains most visited theme park and the 9th most visited theme park in Europe. The launch of the Thirteen rollercoaster saw the park attract 3 million admissions in the 2010 season. Timeline of park areas Gallery Opened in 1986, Towers Street is the first area that visitors to the park encounter, themed loosely as a town street, it leads to views of the gardens and the Towers across the lake in the distance
26.
The Smiler
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The Smiler is a steel roller coaster located at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, United Kingdom. Manufactured by Gerstlauer, it features 14 inversions and holds the record for most inversions on a roller coaster. The Smiler has suffered a series of setbacks and ride incidents including a malfunction at a preview event which delayed the official opening date to 31 May 2013. On 2 June 2015, two of the trains collided leaving five riders seriously injured. An investigation by the HSE was initiated, and the ride was closed for the remainder of the season, the ride eventually reopened on 19 March 2016 with revamped safety standards. Plans to build The Smiler were submitted to the authority in December 2011. Permission was granted on 15 March 2012 following a Staffordshire Moorlands Council meeting, Gerstlauer, a German manufacturing company, was hired to build the roller coaster. Less than a month after obtaining permission, Alton Towers launched a website announcing a new ride – codenamed Secret Weapon 7 – for the 2013 season. Its codename followed a format used for other roller coasters during their teaser campaigns, such as SW4 for Oblivion. In June 2012, a trademark filed by Merlin Entertainments, parent company of Alton Towers, on 17 October 2012, a number of facts about the coaster were revealed to the public including its maximum speed, track length, ride time, passengers per train and ride cost. Despite the release, Alton Towers did not announce or confirm the name for the ride. The site for the new ride was determined to be an area in the park being occupied by the tent that contained the Black Hole. The park began dismantling the Black Hole on 12 April 2012, the first pieces of track arrived at the park in late October 2012. Sections of track were later moved to the site on 6 December 2012. In January 2013, Alton Towers officially confirmed that the ride would be called The Smiler, in February 2013, the park revealed some of the rides elements. The trains arrived in March 2013, as Alton Towers began posting images on both Twitter and their official Smiler website, vertical construction was completed approximately one month later, as the final piece of track was installed at the top of the first lift hill. Initially, The Smiler was expected to make its debut in March 2013 for the parks opening day, but due to construction delays. The date had to be pushed further after technical issues were encountered during testing
27.
Vekoma
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Vekoma Rides Manufacturing is a Dutch amusement ride manufacturer. In 2008, Vekoma Rides Manufacturing acquired the Wheels of Excellence range of Ferris wheels from Ronald Bussink, to be handled by a new Vekoma division, the Dutch Wheels product range includes the R40, R50, and R60 models, each available in three different types. Other Vekoma coaster models include Swinging Turns, Enigma, Hurricane, Illusion, Family Boomerang, Tilt Coaster, there are also many different custom models. In 2013, Vekoma signed a deal with Idaho-based Rocky Mountain Construction, the agreement allows Vekoma to sell Rocky Mountain Constructions roller coasters outside the North American market. As of 2012, Vekoma has built over 270 roller coasters around the world, official website Vekoma at the Roller Coaster DataBase
28.
Flying Fish (roller coaster)
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The Flying Fish is a powered steel roller coaster located at Thorpe Park in Surrey. The ride was known as Space Station Zero when it was new in 1983 and was re-themed in 1990 and it was removed in 2005 to make way for Stealth, a new roller coaster built for 2006, only to be reinstalled in 2007 in another area of the park. Space Station Zero opened in 1983 at Thorpe Park in England and was Thorpe Parks first roller coaster and this indoor, space-themed ride was inspired by Space Mountain at Walt Disney World. From the outside the building appeared to be a Georgian house, after boarding, the train travelled around a bend before being launched into space through a tunnel of flashing lights. The ride did two laps of the track, the first in the dark and the second lit by glitter balls to appear as stars, the attraction closed in 1989 before being moved outside and renamed The Flying Fish. In 2005 the ride was removed in to make room for the construction of Stealth, Flying Fish was reinstalled in 2007. It is located in the Amity area between Depth Charge and Tidal Wave, the ride opened on March 10,2007 with a new colour scheme, on-ride camera, and new lap bar restraints. Flying Fish at Total Thorpe Park Flying Fish at ThemeParks-UK
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Mack Rides
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Mack Rides GmbH & Co KG, also known simply as Mack Rides is a German company that designs and constructs amusement rides. Mack Rides in headquartered in Waldkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, the family that owns Mack Rides also owns Europa-Park. Mack Rides traces its roots back to 1780 when Paul Mack, the Mack Company began building organ wagons and caravans for traveling showmen in 1880 commencing the companys involvement in the amusement industry. The first wooden coaster was built in 1921, the first car ride in 1936. By 1952 Mack Rides started increasing its exports of rides into the U. S. market, Europa-Park is run by the Mack family. Franz Mack in 1958 took over the firm, Mack GmbH & Co. Together with his son Roland he visited the USA in 1972 and was inspired to open a park in Germany. At first the park was planned to be located in Breisach, the Breisach site was deemed unsuitable because of flooding hazard, and the project was moved some 30 km further north, where the Macks bought the park of the historical Balthasar castle in Rust. The park opened in 1975 with an area of 16 hectares and it counted 250,000 visitors in the first year,700,000 in the second, passing the million mark in 1978. Category, Amusement rides manufactured by Mack Rides Category, Roller coasters manufactured by Mack Rides Category, Water rides manufactured by Mack Rides Official website
30.
Zamperla
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Antonio Zamperla S. p. A. is an Italian design and manufacturing company founded in 1966. It is best known for creating family rides, thrill rides, the company also makes smaller coin-operated rides commonly found inside shopping malls. Zamperla builds roller coasters, like the powered Dragon Coaster, Mini Mouse, Zig Zag, in 2006, Zamperla announced Motocoaster, a motorcycle-themed roller coaster. Rights to some of S. D. C. s rides were handed to Zamperla after the company went bankrupt in 1993, in 2005 the founder of the company, Mr. Another famous Zamperla project is Kernwasser, north of Düsseldorf, an ex nuclear power station turned into an amusement park
31.
Bertazzon
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Bertazzon is an amusement ride manufacturing company based in Sernaglia della Battaglia, Italy. The company produces a variety of rides including bumper cars, carousels, swing rides, Matterhorns, Musik Expresses. In 1951, three brothers began renovating existing amusement rides, Luigi, Ferruccio and Marcello Bertazzon, Bertazzon 3B was founded in 1963 when the company began manufacturing their own rides. The company later spawned a division based in the United States, as of 2009, the company is run by the founders descendents Michele, Alex and Patrizia Bertazzon. As of 2012, Bertazzon employs approximately 60 people, and manages a 12, Luigi Bertazzon accepted the award on behalf of the company. Category, Amusement rides manufactured by Bertazzon Rides Bertazzon 3B s. r. l
32.
S&S - Sansei Technologies
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S&S - Sansei Technologies, formerly S&S Worldwide, is an American company known for its pneumatically powered amusement rides and roller coaster designing. S&S - Sansei Technologies was founded by Stan Checketts as S&S Sports, S&S Sports manufactured bungee jumping and trampoline equipment. S&S Sports was sold in 1996, in 1994, S&S began manufacturing air-powered amusement rides which is now the main stay of the company. S&S - Sansei Technologies is based in Logan, Utah, in 2002, S&S began looking for opportunities to expand their business, citing acquisitions as the best method to do so. In October 2002, S&S founded S&S Arrow, a liability company which purchased the assets of the bankrupt Arrow Dynamics. However, the only Arrow Dynamics coaster design S&S continues to offer is the 4th dimension coaster, in 2004, after four wooden roller coasters were built, S&S closed that division of the company. In 2006, S&S Power opened Celebration Centre, a Family Entertainment Center featuring a number of S&S rides and prototypes, the facility was later sold and is currently no longer operating. On August 25,2006 S&S Power, Inc. announced that Stan Checketts and Gene Mulvihill, CEO Checketts was to direct the company based on the same principles upon which it was founded. to provide the amusement industry with thrilling, high-quality rides the entire family can enjoy. Checketts also announced that the operations of S&S would remain under the direction of Rich Allen. In February 2009, Larsen MacColl Partners acquired a significant equity interest in S&S, the Koffman family and affiliated shareholders were to maintain their ownership interest. Checketts ended his relationship with the company in order to pursue other business interests. As of December 2013, those interests included Soaring Eagle Zipline Inc. of Logan Utah
33.
Samurai (ride)
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Samurai is a flat ride at Thorpe Park in the United Kingdom. It was originally installed at nearby Chessington World of Adventures, the song played on the ride is a modified version of Burly Brawl, from the soundtrack of The Matrix Reloaded. The ride was installed at Chessington World Of Adventures in 1999 as part of the Mystic East section of the park. The ride was the first of its kind in a UK amusement park, though a travelling version, Samurai stayed at Chessington until the end of the 2003 season when it was closed, dismantled and moved to Thorpe Park. Reasons for the move are largely speculative. Most enthusiasts generally regard the decision to be part of Tussauds plans to change the target audience of both parks, Chessington was intended to become a more family orientated park and installations since the 2002 season have been in line with this policy. Similarly Thorpe Park has moved towards attracting the 14-30 market and has installed thrill rides since this policy emerged, Samurai opened at Thorpe Park as the sole new ride for the 2004 season. It sits in the site that had been occupied by the Calgary Stampede ride, some confusion emerged with regards to the location of this ride in relation to Thorpe Parks themed lands. Calgary Stampede was a Canada Creek ride yet Samurai was painted and themed to match the Lost City rides, subsequent installations in Canada Creek seem to have dispelled this rumour. Samurais arrival at Thorpe Park met with mixed reactions, the move had been long discussed on fan sites but few saw it as more than a fantasy. When the move was announced, many fans were disappointed to see Chessington lose one of its best rides, there was further controversy when it emerged that Samurai was to retain its name at Thorpe Park, despite not fitting the style and theme of the area. There were rumours that the Samurai was to be integrated into the Canada Creek area and re-themed for the opening of the new SAW, The Ride roller coaster opening in 2009, however this did not occur. Instead, the fences around the ride were painted red to fit in better with the roller coaster. As well as this, the received a queue extension so that it could cope with the increased number of visitors in the area of the park
34.
Top Scan
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Top Scan is an amusement ride made by Mondial. The ride has six free-rotating gondolas each with five seats and the standard Mondial Triple-Lock Harnesses, Top Scan is available as a portable or park model. In the summer of 2005, a woman was killed after being thrown from the ride at Adventureland when her harness gave way. In 2010, two women were stranded on the Space Roller at Miami-Dade County Fair and had to be rescued by a cherry picker when the machine stopped in the middle of a ride. Canada - Shockwave, at Canadas Wonderland South Korea - at Everland, as Lets Twist United States - at Carowinds, United States - at Adventureland, removed after the incident above. United States - at Lagoon Amusement Park, as Samurai United Kingdom - Samurai, at Thorpe Park, The Beast, at Fantasy Island, and three travelling versions Top Scan, Xtreme and Top Buzz 2
35.
Fabbri Group
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The Fabbri Group is an Italian amusement rides manufacturer based in the village of Bergantino. They are known for producing a number staple attractions for amusement parks and funfairs, such as the Booster and the Kamikaze. Fabbri was founded by Romolo Fabbri in Bergantino, an Italian village which became to home a number of amusement ride producers after World War II, manufacturing began in 1950 with the Avio, a ride specifically designed for traveling shows in Italy. Over the following of years, Fabbri would evolve this attraction into the popular Telecombat ride, in the 1970s Romolos son, Licinio Fabbri, took over direction of the company, and expanded sales beyond Italy into the rest of the European continent. The company expanded again with the founding of FC Fabbri Park Sr in 1990s. After years of producing many different rides, the Fabbri Group entered the roller coaster market no later than 1998, with the introduction of a Wacky-Worm type ride. In more recent years, the company has found success in producing large thrill rides such as the Booster, a pendulum ride which has sold over 50 units since 2000. Rather than having one central facility for manufacturing, the Fabbri Group has several facilities that specialize in there own type of ride. The Fabbri Group offers a selection of rides, ranging small childrens rides to large roller coasters
36.
Zodiac (ride)
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Zodiac is a ride at Thorpe Park, Surrey, United Kingdom. The ride originally opened in 2000 as Enterprise, though it came to be renamed Zodiac the following year to better suit the expanding Lost City theme alongside the opening of Vortex and this has still not been rectified, suggesting that the park have no intention of doing so. Riders enter small gondolas that are suspended next to a disc that spins once the ride is in motion. The small gondolas seat two people and there are no restraints, the idea being that the force of the ride will hold you in place, Ride operators run round the large disc to check that all the cabins have their gates closed correctly. When it is considered safe, Zodiac is put into motion, the disc starts to spin, slowly at first, but becoming faster and faster. Eventually, the gondolas are being forced almost completely sideways. Once the spinning disc is upright, riders are inverting in the suspended cars, after several full rotations, the arm lowers, the disc slows and riders slowly come to a halt as gravity takes over and reorientates the base of the gondolas towards ground. On the rare occasion that Zodiac, tilts over 90 degrees and this is a very uncomfortable situation for guests as the gondolas swing uncontrollably until the wheel comes to a halt. The ride slowly lowers itself back to a level position, Thorpe Park Enterprise Profile of Ride
37.
Enterprise (ride)
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The Enterprise is an amusement ride, manufactured primarily by HUSS Park Attractions and Anton Schwarzkopf beginning in 1972. The HUSS ride was an adaptation and improvement of a design produced earlier that year by Schwarzkopf, despite not owning the original incarnation of the ride, HUSS was issued the patent. Although Schwarzkopf was the first to build the more standard Enterprise, the design was actually predated by another ride, the Passat. This is only considered to a precursor, however, as the used to lift the arm up. The ride is named after USS Enterprise from the TV series Star Trek, the backdrop is decorated with space-themed art and a silhouette of the starship Enterprise. Enterprises are manufactured by HUSS, Schwarzkopf, and Heinz Fähtz, both trailer and park versions have been created and are in use. In the ride, up to two sit in one of 20 gondolas arranged in a circle, one in front of the other. The ride moves clockwise, dispelling a slight amount of centrifugal force, on most Enterprise models, there are no safety restraints, the force applied to the riders is sufficient to keep them pinned in their seats. However, some models have been fitted with seat belts, most parks and carnivals require riders to be at least 48 inches tall, though it is not uncommon to see restrictions as much as 54 inches or more. The first trailer also acts as the base of the ride while in operation. Much like any other Enterprise type ride, the Passat has number of caged gondolas, in this case 12, that sit around a circular frame, the earliest known machine, Passat, was originally built by German show family Winter and started traveling it to funfairs 1964. Later machines were built by Klaus and possibly Heinz Fähtz. Although the whereabouts of these rides are mostly unknown, there is one, known as Super Passat, in the early 1980s HUSS produced a larger version of the Enterprise called the SkyLab. It features fifteen to twenty four-seater gondolas and had a diameter of approximately 60 feet or greater, HUSS used the basis of the Enterprise for another ride called the UFO. This ride was similar in operation, however the cars did not swing freely, similarly to most Enterprise rides, there are no restraints due to the centrifugal force experienced on the ride. This ride is no longer in production, HUSS also used the design of the Enterprise for a newer attraction called Fly Away. In this version, riders lay on their stomachs to simulate the feeling of flying and this version also has the capability to spin riders forwards or backwards. The Schwarzkopf versions of the Enterprise have either 16 or 21 gondolas, the gondolas are also smaller than the HUSS version
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HUSS Park Attractions
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HUSS Park Attractions is a company that specializes in developing and manufacturing amusement rides at a factory in Budapest, Hungary. HUSS Maschinenfabrik was a German company founded in 1919 in Bremen and originally made new, the company began to create amusement rides in 1969 and continued until 2005. In 1981 Huss Maschinenfabrik purchased Arrow Development from the Rio Grande Railroad, the company got into financial trouble partially due to heavily investing in Darien Lake theme park in New York and the 1984 Louisiana World Exposition in New Orleans. Arrow Huss filed for protection in 1985, and 13 of the companys American officers negotiated a buyout. In 1986 the takeover was approved by the courts and the American company re-emerged as Arrow Dynamics, the German company reorganized as Huss Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. On August 1,2006, the Bremen district court declared provisional insolvency, following this, a new company was created, Huss Park Attractions. The new company was created by a group of investors who used the Huss name, created a similar to the original used by HUSS. HUSS Maschinenfabrik was the responsible for these rides. The companies of today are not the successors of the original HUSS MASCHINENFABRIK company nor the builders of the original HUSS rides. A few of HUSS rides include the Breakdance, Top Spin, Shotn Drop, Breakdance was developed and built in 1985 by HUSS Rides and there are now four variants, of which over 100 have been installed worldwide—46 of them in Germany. HUSS also offers a range of Giant Rides which are aimed to fill the gap between thrill rides and roller coasters, from 1981 to 1985, during its merger with Arrow, Arrow Huss built roller coasters. Darien Lakes Viper, MarineLands Dragon Mountain and Busch Gardens Williamsburgs Big Bad Wolf are a few examples, several companies using the HUSS name have produced and distributed over 30 unique ride designs. These rides are in all over the world, and some have been in operation for 35+ years
39.
Vortex (Thorpe Park)
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Vortex is a KMG Afterburner at Thorpe Park, an amusement park in Chertsey, Surrey, England. It was installed in the Lost City area of the park in 2001 and it opened on 25 May, seven weeks after the opening of the 2001 season. Riders sit in seats arranged in a circle facing inwards, there are eight gondolas with four seats on each, after the over-the-shoulder restraints have been lowered and checked, the platform lowers. The seats then begin to rotate, and after one rotation the ride begins to swing. The ride swings back and forth, swinging up to a height of 20 metres. After several full height swings, the ride begins to slow before coming to a halt. Vortex at Thorpe Parks Official Site Vortex at Thorpe Park Mania Vortex at Total Thorpe Park Vortex at ThemeParks-UK
40.
Detonator: Bombs Away
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Detonator, Bombs Away is a tower ride at Thorpe Park in Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK. It was manufactured by Fabbri and is a Mega Drop Tower and it opened in 2001 along with two other flat rides, Vortex and Zodiac. It is around 115 ft and is not released via a computer, the ride operator at the bottom has a button which he/she can press to make the car go at any time once the car has reached the top. For the 2011 season on ride photos were added and these were later removed in the 2013 season. In July 2000 Thorpe Parks Wicked Witches Haunt and part of Mr Rabbits Tropical Travels were destroyed in a fire, although Mr Rabbits Tropical Travels was recovered and reopened later in the year Wicked Witches Haunt was destroyed beyond repair. This left a vast open space in the park to which they decided until a later development applied for planning permission for a Fabbri Mega-Drop. In 2001 Detonator opened as the parks tallest ride at 115 feet in replacement of Wicked Witches Haunt, the rides success meant the park applied for extended planning permission meaning that to this day the ride remains. In 2007 the ride opened with a new theme tune after the park decided it was no longer plausible to pay royalties for the sound track. In 2014, Detonator was given a make over and an add to the rides name Detonator. The theme tune uses the track as used in 2001. Detonator audio track at Fright Nights, Whilst going up the track, a music box is heard playing. Once the rider is at the top, The Director says As always, every stunt here at Thorpe Park Movie Studios is safe, a scream is then heard as the gondola plummets back down to the ground. It used to have a child singing Humpty Dumpty, Thorpe Park - Detonator Detonator at Total Thorpe Park Detonator at ThemeParks-UK
41.
Drop tower
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A drop tower or big drop is a type of amusement ride incorporating a central structure or tower. Drop towers vary in height, passenger capacity, lift type, many are custom-made, although there are some mass-produced designs. Riders experience free-fall initially, followed by rapid heavy deceleration, with most drop towers, a gondola carrying riders is lifted to the top of a large vertical structure, then released to free-fall down the tower. Brakes activate to slow the gondola as it approaches the bottom of the ride, some designs expand on this concept with features such as rotating gondolas, or several bounces before coming to rest. Certain drop towers propel the gondola down as they fall, accelerating the gondola faster than the riders, as of July 2014, the longest drop is at Zumanjaro, Drop of Doom at Six Flags Great Adventure, at 415 feet. * denotes that the tower is scheduled currently under construction. Scream. at Disney California Adventure Park Following the Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom incident, all the towers were closed, on February 24,2012, 14-year-old Gabriella Yukari Nichimura died in an accident at Hopi Hari, Vinhedo, São Paulo State, Brazil. She fell from the tower ride La Tour Eiffel suffering cranial trauma. Local police are investigating the accident, initial investigations suggest the possibility of mechanical failure in the restraint latch
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