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With my year now over in terms of new rides (and probably parks in general), here's my Top 10% of coasters, with new-for-2022 ones in bold: 1 Taron Phantasialand 2 Taiga Linnanmäki 3 Untamed Walibi Holland 4 Skyrush Hersheypark 5 Helix Liseberg 6 Oz'Iris Parc Asterix 7 Balder Liseberg 8 Lost Gravity Walibi Holland 9 Der Schwur des Kärnan Hansa Park 10 Phoenix Knoebels 11 Jersey Devil Coaster Six Flags Great Adventure 12 Nemesis Alton Towers 13 Joris en de Draak Efteling 14 Colossos - Kampf der Giganten Heide Park 15 Goliath Walibi Holland 16 Kingda Ka Six Flags Great Adventure 17 Candymonium Hersheypark 18 El Toro (SFGAd) Six Flags Great Adventure 19 Troy Toverland 20 Black Mamba Phantasialand 21 Hyperion Energylandia 22 Lech Coaster Legendia 23 Lisebergbanan Liseberg 24 Van Helsing's Factory Movie Park Germany 25 Pulsar Walibi Belgium 26 Nitro (SFGAd) Six Flags Great Adventure 27 The Swarm Thorpe Park 28 Nemesis Inferno Thorpe Park 29 Colorado Adventure Phantasialand Notable new additions missing out here are Batman The Ride, SFGAd (#32), Ride to Happiness (#41) and FLY (#43). New rides for me which disappointed were Flucht von Novgorod, Storm Runner, Great Bear and Talon. New rides which surprised me, but aren't really in the upper echelons of the count, were Lightning Racer, Krake and Steel Force.

Imagine if was themed to a garden centre with Top Spin ornament?

Oooh, updates to Hayride would be good. I mean it's iconic anyway but still! Just looked back on a photo from the night with pricing in the background and Bounceback VIP was £90, vs £102 each booking in the sale - think I'll just do that on the night next year for the 2024 season! Thought I'd add some photos from my visit this year, whilst I'm here. What an iconic place Tulleys is. Proper fanboi.

I did think that - it's just the idea of forking out £200 whilst I'm there that stops me I think! There's no mention of any new haunts for 2023 in the email that was sent out, but then, considering they've just installed Doom Town, I can't say I'm surprised! Don't recall seeing this before on the website.... "Please note - Shocktober Fest is a 16+ event. Please do not book tickets for anyone under the age of 16 as they will not be permitted entry on site." Wonder how strict they will be enforcing that?! Looking into the FAQs, it says to bring ID if you look under 21, with a photocopy of a passport etc.!

Prices confirmed for next year.... I'll still be getting a RIP Bundle because I do still think that represents value for money for us, with the food, drink and merch tokens - the main issue here is, I despise 98% of the general public who have a habit of ruining a run-through 🙃

Some post season thoughts: So I went to Tulleys again on the penultimate night- here is my closing thoughts on the event . Cellar: I believe this maze is on its last legs- it just blends with the other attractions too much for me. Really the weakest maze for me. Cottage/Hayride- I think hayride could do with a refresh. It has been the same in terms of most characters and sets for a few years- it has seen refreshes in the past, I think it needs another one very soon. It is a great and unique attraction though. Cottage is completely fine as is with a cult following now it seems. Chop: I think this is very fun, but obviously not everyone’s cup of tea. I think maybe a few extra actors and an extended buildup would be welcomed. It’s a great maze in my opinion Wastelands/Doom Town: amazing. Doom Town in particular gave me two killer run throughs, we had 3 jump scares within the first 15 seconds on one of them! Coven: I do think some of the walks between main sections could do with work- but it is a great maze with some unique ideas- the swamp, the fire finale, ect. VIXI: I think this space should be reworked- maybe half a hooded maze with some more maze sections. Not my thing. Electrick: This one I have the most thoughts on- I think it’s a very good attraction. It has brilliant Animatronics, soundtrack, and scares. Though I have heard people miss the silly and trippy atmosphere that Twisted had, as it was such a stark contrast to every other maze in the park- especially with the bright popping colors. Electric is a lot more dark and filled with strobe lights- which is cool, but I’ve heard people don’t find it as distinctive. They find it a little akin to other mazes. My overall biased opinion that I hope we see a more light hearted or a true clown maze appear next year- though ElecTrick is great by itself, I would call it more of a loose “clown maze”. I think also they should double down on reminding us they’re not clowns lol. But overall it’s certainly creepy in there, and I love things like the strobe filled actor runs. Overall a great year- these are just some thoughts I had after that night. Another thing I would like to mention is how I love the addition of the punk rock girls and the DJ. The street team this year really seemed to be slaying the other night- I saw all the characters while queueing at some point. Brian in particular was amazing, Romeo and Juliet was also a banger of an addition. The jokes were sharp and funny- I love the mix of new with the classics like The Nurses. The park also did a very consumer friendly move in my opinion and now make repeating haunts free with a Xscream pass- on a quiet night like the 4th, it was a godsend being able to do Wastelands and Doom 3x each. I did 15 run throughs+circus of horrors without fastrack on the 4th, which compared to the 4 attractions at Thorpe for £32, the £35-40 I paid felt more than worth it.

Rocky was still there when I visited on Sunday, untouched and looking very sorry for itself indeed. I think Thorpe should be looking to spend the few hundred thousand pounds it'll cost to rebrand on more pressing issues to be honest... I concur with comments above re: Swarm station. Who would have thought that having a station made mostly of wood, exposed to the elements, would start to rot....? SO much graffiti in the queue lines on Sunday, but appreciate it's end of season. The handrail on the far side of the station was completely hanging off the wall too. Suffice to say, the steel beams in the station that were once cladded and themed, are still bare, despite noises about them being returned to their previous theming. Rush has a section of queue line fencing removed and replaced with temporary barriers - and spotted near the ops booth, some subsidence as the brickwork floor has caved in/sunk. Still at least the new Tidal Wave effec.... oh.