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To be fair, I have to wonder, is it that dire? Please don't get me wrong, there have been layoffs etc, which is truly awful for everyone affected (and everyone left behind tbh). Clearly things are not in a good way at Merlin, especially compared with the last decade or so. However.. The parks are still busy. Attendance seems to be down, but it's not like it's completely dried up, and it's definitely not like they haven't invested in anything for years, as is happening elsewhere. Merlin are actually still investing. They are building numerous rides and lands, right now, in UK parks. Alton are getting new things for Scarefest, neglected rides have been re-opened, and they have had a new flat this year. We've just had the country's tallest and fastest coaster open at Thorpe. That's massive investment. Of course there are serious issues... but there are also good things happening, and the parks do seem to be thriving. What I'm trying to say is - it doesn't feel like Oakwood for example, which was all but abandoned towards the end. The Merlin parks do seem to be busy, and although I know this is contentious, they are receiving investment, all be it not on the scale it once was. I am hoping they continue investing, and guests continue to come through the gates, and hopefully soon they can turn things around.

Not a bad shout that Josh! Agreed, a retheme of twdtr would be a cost effective way to bring something new to Thorpe wouldn't it. I'd have thought we would have seen some marketing by now though? Unfortunately I think next year might be another quiet one (although we're still riding the wave from Hyperia's opening so not complaining!)

Interesting! I agree with the above comments about dark rides. Ghost Train robbed us of the dark ride we were supposed to have. I hope they do have another go at one at some point because I think the park really would benefit from one. As for the immediate future though, I agree, this has got to be the end of the line for it now hasn't it? Merlin have £0, and Ghost Train must cost a fortune to run in staff costs compared to other rides. It simply can't be worth the money to keep it going every day. I am sad that we never got the groundbreaking dark ride that it was supposed to be, but realistically it was a swing and a miss right from day one, and never really hit the mark, even after the re-theme. An ambitious but expensive miss-step, followed by a good attempt at a re-theme given what was available, and the bizarre investment in the adjoining cafe and shop later on after it was a proven flop - it's just never really worked, and must have been a huge drain on resources and money right from the start, despite the best efforts of the amazing cast. If it is closing, I honestly don't think many would even notice next season... Such a shame.

A long shot, but here goes... If anyone has any photos related to Face it Alone, that they are willing / allowing to have shared on TPM's website, please pass them my way! And I mean any photo related to it. A photo of a ticket or a poster advertising it. A photo of the selection ceremony from 2015. Or of your wonderful aftermath. I'm in the process of updating TPM's Fright Nights archive, and we don't have many photos of our own. (If you want to check out said archive, which currently has details from the past 10 years of Fright Nights in gorey detail, it's here: https://www.thorpeparkmania.co.uk/index.php/fright-nights/)

Wouldn't even remotely be surprised if this was the outcome (even as potentially one of Ghost Train's very few genuine fans) - I think its days were numbered when they stopped running the fakeout finale and just chucked ride staff in front of it to guide guests in the other direction instead of bringing it back or at the very least redecorating the fakeout finale room to be something different so that the original exit route is retained even if the fakeout was cut. I said at the start of the season that I reckon Ghost Train had maybe 2 seasons left in it at most. I will genuinely be sad to see it go - but even more so if it goes without a plan for its future. It may be a bad attraction on paper, but I'd rather take something rather than nothing any day of the week. I just hope that whatever comes next isn't a demolishment of the building and another coaster built there. Thorpe are crying out for a good dark ride - I love the Ghost Train building and is definitely sizeable enough to fit something else in there - the only issue would be getting the motion platform out and the new ride system in. There's many more much more appropriate locations for a new coaster when the time comes. For the love of Christ keep it as a dark ride, but do it more traditionally this time. I'd love to have seen how DBGT could've gone if it weren't for the VR gimmick and Derren had been given full creative control...

I feel the retheme in some ways worked, but in others less so. They’ve done an ok job integrating what’s there into an original storyline, but it feels less iconic/distinctive regardless of the many setbacks from the very beginning. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the ride mothballed in the near future, especially with the problems highlighted above.

Another retheme to the X/pyramid coaster/ ride system is perhaps the most likely choice, with investment likely stagnant yet again and Walking Dead feeling like a, well dead IP now.

It all feels a slippery slope to me, the companies profits are slipping and struggling due to at least a decade of unhealthy growth and numerous cut corners. A reduced credit rating is also a major concern. Merlin aren’t the only major operator with big issues (see Six Flags), but I think do have it worse personally.

Six Flags Great Adventure was the first major park I visited recently, as part of a larger north-east/mid-western park trip with a friend. At the time of planning this trip (late 2024), there were strange and concerning reports that Kingda Ka and other attractions would be closed at the park for the next season. These reports were unfortunately true. In-light of being spited at least two former major attractions, expectations for this place were noticeably diminished. However thankfully a mostly enjoyable visit was had. It’s an interesting park in how it’s not too far from New York, yet in the middle of nowhere, amongst a safari attraction too. Upkeep was mostly decent and operations mixed, though some of the clientele made for a more hairy queuing experience. El toro is certainly the show stopper here, incredible woodie with some rough and intense moments. The B&M collection is mostly excellent, Dare Devil thankfully opened and was better than Wonder Woman and the Flash was overall fun. The park also had a random DC show, Skull Mountain wasn’t anything special. Still worth visiting if you’re in that area.

In an interesting recent development, it appears most (if not, all) Ghost Train merchandise is on sale / reduced. https://x.com/CalVickers33/status/1959594519923442085?t=3dYMeueKswge5Nfu0LzrBQ&s=19 Parks do tend to put merchandise on sale for rides which aren't returning the following season. Equally, they can just do if it's not popular and they want to clear space. I think it's fair to say that Ghost Train isn't the most popular attraction, and none of the merch is must-have stuff, so it's certainly the realm of possibility that they're simply getting rid of the range. However, given the financial issues and potential cost-cutting Merlin are facing, plus the fact that Thorpe are set to be outsourcing Ents next year, it also wouldn't be too much of a surprise if it didn't return next year...

Parm Pap translation service: Wait, this one actually makes sense. These must be troubling times.

ParmPap translation service: There might be an Easter Egg in DeadBeat this year which relates to the future of the pyramid. There also might not be. Who knows? --- As a fun aside though, which has literally just come to mind off the back of this, if Thorpe wanted to retheme The Walking Dead, it could be fun if they themed it to the DeadBeat universe. Effectively it would be taking it back to its X version, but you could have it as the rave before the demons took over. Keep it upbeat and happy. I'd like that.

big trouble ahead. big, big trouble. big big big big big big big BIG TROUBLE.

many moons ago, loggers roamed in the dark, but lately, you ask? there was no lark, after dark now it's bop and bang and bop and bang, and no rumble rumble rumble or slosh splish splash

bop, bop bang, bop bop, bop bang, it's a good Beat tick and the tock and the tick and the tock, the Dead come alive once again in the maze, try to gaze, a clue will be, for all to see bop, bop bang, bop bop, bop bang, it's a good Beat

Well how about this?!

The situation is entirely caused by management loosing sight of how theme parks make money. The gate fee covers the running costs, the spend in the park makes the money. Management decided to start contracting things out and cutting on maintenance so short term spend looked good. Unfortunately this meant Merlin earns less per head as another company is skimming off the top and guests spend less when unhappy. They lost sight of the absolute basics and now there is very little room for course correction.

It’s quite a sad situation really. Caused, in my opinion at least, by the previous leadership and their unsustainable obsession with only investing in something if it would guarantee a direct and immediate return. Now across the business there are many expensive things to pay for, at the worst possible time given how many UK parks are struggling. What a rubbish time for everyone working at Merlin. I really hope they can turn it around soon for everyone’s sake.

Article here: https://archive.is/20250820155054/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-20/theme-park-operator-merlin-s-bonds-slide-after-credit-downgrade Realistically and practically, I don't really understand what much of this means or what we might see as a knock on effect. But it certainly doesn't sound positive.

Last year the package was £34 for all four thrill mazes. I believe the mazes were priced at £10-12 per person.

Would be interesting to see what the Towers prices were last year to see what the increase was. Another thing I didn't realize, they have 1 less paid maze this year, and 1 more free scare zone, which could potentially be why they've made the mazes more expensive. Last year they had 4 paid mazes and 1 scare zone This year 3 paid mazes and 2 free scare zones Still doesn't justify charging £14 - £16 for a maze run through though...

Just had a quick check on queue times. 2014 is the earliest year its recorded. Rumba was open till 10pm Fright Nights, Loggers closed at dusk. Thought I had memories of loggers in the dark but maybe I'm imagining things there. 2015 was the first year Rumba started closing at dusk by the looks of things.

Those prices are outrageous. But then I suppose prices for everything are outrageous now, so 🤷‍♂️

Merlin entertainments credit rating has been downgraded by S&P due to its growing debts and cash outflow with declining revenues. "Persistent high cash burn could lead to insufficient liquidity after 12 months, without further cash injection" All in all thats a pretty poor outlook and it does make me wonder what it means for future investments at the parks.

Yes the costs are horrific. £14-16 for one go in a maze is gobsmacking. And certainly, neither Compound or Mine Tours are worth anywhere near that price. All that does for me is make Thorpe's maze seem good value in comparison (though, I stress, I believe £10 is also too much). But then again, I guess people pay those prices. The whole cost vs demand thing probably plays a part in their logic, so there we go. Personally, I still feel £5-8 is what these mazes are 'worth', in the sense that of that's the quality they provide in comparison to what's out there (both in terms of other theme parks, and scream parks). But maybe that's just unrealistic of me. I wonder if the increase in prices is directly linked to using RWS and needing to generate more money so all parties get money. Again, thinking in terms of Fright Nights, we might need to brace ourselves...