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I hope everyone gets what they wish for... ...In reality, another year waves hello to yet another shake up in Thorpe’s management, staffing, project management and direction, meaning, yet again, consistency goes out of the window. Fright Nights is sadly an unorganised and chaotic event with little to no thought, direction or drive, and change in personnel can mark very significant differences in delivery. Big Top not returning due to lack of tent? More like lack of intent, with the creative minds and team behind its success walking away heads held high after completely turning around what was a disasterous delivery in 2015...

Can someone edit the title of this topic please, as it is not technically a completely "new" attraction as it uses the old Hocus Pocus Hall building. #petty

No it’s not Blackpool.

It's just completely inappropriate really. A lot of the replies love it though so I guess if you loved Thorpe, just don't visit anymore and visit parks that value your time and money. Thorpe sure as hell don't anymore.

I mean, Thorpe's response would be funnier if the original comment wasn't true. Prices do go up, the length of the queues has increased, meaning on busier days ride counts go down. I'm all for banter from the parks, but when it's in the face of legitimate points, regardless of how they're presented, it loses all credibility.

That was me ? Pretty stupid reply from TP, in my opinion.

Oh WWTP, how I've missed you.

Dont think it’s that simple - think the park genuinely did want it to return, but were not able to to secure the budget for it to do so. A lot of people talk about how it’s been “left to rot” but in reality apart from a few overgrown trees it’s probably not in much worse state than it was on its last day of operation - just the modifications which it requires are deemed not worth it unfortunately.

I think someone needs to just add this into the Burnt Stub Mansion Topic- New For 1348!

Well, it was clearly a matter of time before the park had to drop the bomb that their former beloved log flume was never Coming back, especially with the numerous questions and complaints received during it’s ‘supposed’ mothballing. It is safe to say that the permanent closure of Loggers has been the park’s worst kept secret (as far as enthusiasts are concerned). It was clearly never going to come back, especially given the work and maintenance needed, not to mention the fact literally nothing was done after the end of the 2015 season. Whilst Thorpe’s announcement has (finally) put closure on Loggers Leap’s, the communication and manner they went about this has been appalling. If it wasn’t coming back, they should have been completely honest during the 2016 season and confessed it then. Or perhaps more importantly, Thorpe and Merlin should have actually invested and budgeted upgrading the attraction to ensure it could continue to operate properly for years to come. It would have definitely been money better spent than their Ghost Train! Unfortfunately, I get the impression that whatever replaces the attraction/area won’t be happening for several years, let alone the fact it will be a worthwhile replacement. Following falling guest numbers and the failure of DBGT, I get the impression Merlin are investing less in the park for now until there are signs of improvement! I wish to remember the ride in it’s positive state and not the embarrassment of it’s closure. I always thoroughly enjoyed riding Loggers, from my first rides in the mid/late nineties upto whenever my last go in 2015 was. It’s (original) surprise first drop, beautiful lake location and double drop towards Canada Creek made for some of the best memories of the ride for me and ones I’ll never forget on this former classic. R.I.P Loggers Leap 1989-2015

I don't know why everyone thinks an RMC is gonna happen over Loggers Leap. We forget the 5 golden rules with any new permanent Thorpe attraction these days: 1) Must have an IP and world-first. 2) Must be a dark theme. 3) Must be a short-term investment. 4) Must involve actors. 5) Must be naff. An RMC or hyper-coaster would break most, if not all these rules; stuff Thorpe clearly doesn't dare want to compromise on!

I’ll be there ?

A strong safety culture is always important and should always be a company's priority (I suspect Merlin also has this). On the railways it is estimated that a fatality will cost the railways £1.94m and that is the figure we use for cost benefit analysis tasks. For the entertainment industry this figure will be much much higher. Merlin can not afford a fatality, they were only just able to withstand an injury. It makes economic sense to have safety first and any member of staff that doesn't put it first shouldn't be working for Merlin. Some staff won't be saftey conscious but they will be the small minority. To suggest the company doesn't value saftey just doesn't make sense.

That’s usually what’s businesses do when they can’t be bothered about solving customer service / experience. They think a rebrand “resets” it all.

That "infinity" logo - it's very similar to part of the existing Thorpe logo - pointless rebrand incoming?

Count me in for this one, think I’ll dress up as a Loggers Leap boat to show my condolences. If that’s the case I’ll probably be more wasted than the money spent on DBGT. Oh and TGIS or Pizza Hut for food please. Failing that Harvester or Frankie and Bennys would be acceptable choices too!

And if this was a park serious about turning guest satisfaction and the experience around they’d of replied with something like how they are working to improve across the park etc They still don’t get when it’s appropriate to go all jokey edit, later replies they do say how they’ve been working hard to ensure 2019 is great

Thorpe posted something about infinite possibilities for 2019 which has resulted in this gem of comment.

Double post but I'm sure no-one will mind... Heading back to Nagashima: Looking more and more likely next year is Japan trip time!

Think you're looking way too into it Josh... *logs out of Alton Towers Twitter account*

It’s such a damn shame that they’re letting go of Loggers. I mean, we been knew it for years, but it doesn’t make the announcement any less upsetting. I’ll never forget having a tantrum on there on my sixth birthday, or my friend having a tantrum on there on my 12th birthday. What wonderful tantrums they were. Hopefully, Thorpe do away with the rocky express and whatever those little fairground rides are and develop a new area void of tacky IPs. I doubt it, but we can have hope.

Hopefully coming along

That help section is so full of bulls**t. Why not be just honest for a change and say it was too expensive to refurbish because years of neglect had taken its toll. Losing its magic indeed, give me strength.

That's a disgrace. The only reason it lost its magic is because they left it to rot and didn't maintain it properly! Even now they still show complete disrespect to their customers by saying things like this.

I think in its current state it would of been a lost cause trying to bring it back anyway, I think in its current state its just better to bulldoze it and start from scratch. The park letting it get to that state in the first place though is wrong and the ride certainly was a true classic that Merlin decided to write off as it probably needed a bit more upkeep than Rumba or Storm Trash. Loggers was easily one of the best log flumes in the UK and in no world was it "losing its magic", I think what Thorpe really mean is "we were losing money".. Unlike Rattlesnake I don't think Loggers in its current state was in anyway salvageable, its so derelict honestly I would agree with Thorpe just bulldozing it for something new. I think the sad thing we probably won't see a replacement for a long time because Thorpe don't seem so sure on what they want to do with the Loggers space. At least with Wickerman we knew from 2016 that Flume was being removed for a new roller coaster, it was also heavily rumored beforehand too so we knew that space was gonna become SW8. With Loggers we just got 3 years of vague statements..

Any season includes 2019 though so...

What a nightmare

The last post in this thread before today was August. I think we have better things to do on January 1st than change the thread titles for new attractions. But, yes, you're right. It should be named differently, and I have done so. Thank you!

To all those enthusiasts who were like OMFG THE LIFT HILL LIGHTZ R ON, ITZ COMING BACK 4 2019!!!! You must feel like idiots now ? Wonder how long this will be SBNO before it's *actually* removed, just like Slammer

Bit of closure at last for a few on here. The way they closed and deliberately misled people over the last three years is the real story here. I made my peace with Loggers closure years back and I think my favourite memory of this ride will always be riding it for 7 hours for charity back in 2004. It will forever be one of my favourite log flumes for its short and snappy ride length, decent drops and surprising level of wetness. Whilst there are technically more superior log flumes these days, Loggers was a classic. The way Thorpe treated this ride towards the end of its life with its historical significance was pretty shameful IMO.

Course! I've got a good feeling my 46th attempt at getting that perfect, flawless and reliable run-through is finally gonna occur this time, at long-last after 2.5 years of trying! 30th March 2019 will be the day Ghost Train finally operates 100% as intended I reckon. I'm veeeeeery certain nothing will go wrong this time!

OK, I'm in and will hopefully not forget to attend this one like the last one!

That's no way to talk about Shawn Sanbrooke ?

Looking forward to JackSilkstone's Closed Season Update video with a thumbnail that says "NEW HYPERCOASTER CONFIRMED?!?!?!?" or similar ?