JoshC.

There have been many small issues that have cropped up with the Thorpe Hotel which is why we've seen so many delays. Plans were first submitted in 2006 for a planned 2009 opening, but they fell through for some reason (don't know why). New plans were submitted again in 2009/2010 I think, but despite them being approved, some of the smaller details of the hotel were not finalised or something, and some possible problems with the piping / sewage arose (from what I understood anyway). Then there were concerns about whether a hotel would be financially viable given the economic climate, Thorpe's target market, etc. So, to test the idea of on-site accommodation, and because there were problems with getting plans re-submitted for the hotel, we ended up with Crash Pad / Shark Hotel. Eventually we've ended up where we are now, with plans for the Thorpe Hotel submitted and approved, all little details sorted, and are on track to have construction start next summer. Touch wood that it little over 2 years, we'll see that infamous Thorpe Hotel!

Maybe I've missed something, but have Thorpe actually said anywhere that Logger will reopen in 2017? All I've seen is 'Loggers Leap will be closed in 2016 for maintenance' (or words to that effect). I haven't seen them say '...but will be back open in 2017'. Granted, it makes sense to assume that the ride will reopen in 2017, but I haven't seen the park claim anywhere that it will be open in 2017. Kind of feel like it's a bit unfair to compare a Mack log flume at a park owned by Mack to a Mack log flume not owned by Mack. I get what you're saying, but the comparison is just a bit off really.

I don't know much about how they work, but yeah, basically what you said - in terms of future developments, it's non-committal and outlines many possibilities that the park may consider in that time frame. It helps makes planning permission easier on those areas too I believe, since they will have pre-agreed certain restrictions. The MTDP will be a bit stricter about certain things though (I think things like they impose a maximum average gate figure, environmental targets, etc.). Unfortunately most of the original documents from the most recent MTDP seem to have disappeared off the council's website, so can't read through all the boring details to find out exactly. Anyway, my point was basically if they plan to not reopen the ride, they'll probably want to replace it within the next few years, so they'd want to earmark it for development to the council. If they planned to reopen it (even with some minor changes), they probably wouldn't earmark it for future development.

If the plan is to keep Loggers SBNO until removal, I would expect to see it earmarked as a possible development area on the new MTDP. As we've all seen, the MTDP doesn't tie Thorpe to do anything in particular; it just gives the council and locals an idea of what is possible in the next 4 to 5 years. If Loggers is closed for good, Thorpe will surely want to replace it with something before 2020/2021 (which is what the next MTDP will take us up to), won't they? Even if it's an unexpected decision, they'll be able to edit it into the MTDP between now and submission (if they do indeed plan to do the logical thing and remove / replace in the next 6 years, of course).

I've been under the impression they do so every closed season, but they only accept applications from people already working within the company?

There seems to be loads of different rumours flying around from loads of different sources. I wouldn't be surprised if Thorpe still haven't 100% decided their plans for the ride. Just remembered that next year Thorpe will likely submit an MTDP to the council. Might give us some indication as to their plans for Loggers / Canada in general.

Oops. Clearly caffeine deprived. Fixed.

The Derren Brown press release mentioned the attraction wouldn't be suitable for under 12s. Whether that's some Th13teen style marketing, or if an age limit is actually necessary, is of course a different matter. But marketing thus far doesn't suggest it will be a family attraction.

Totally agree. Loggers is a popular, all-rounder ride which everyone can enjoy. Closing it is really going to damage the family ride line up and could prove quite problematic in the summer. Obviously since I was younger and it was the first season I could ride 1.4m rides my views will be rather biased, but 2004 Thorpe in particular was pretty good on the whole I think.

I'm assuming it was just another silly Merlin publicity stunt to get more people talking about Fright Nights (even if they did go to a lot more effort for this stunt compared to previous ones). Certainly don't see how she would have fit in with the attraction. Thank goodness.

Forbidden Cave was done by Holovis, not Simworx.

And Jamie has shown the exact reason why I'm concerned by this whole thing. I just don't see Loggers getting a massive refurb. A small refurb / spruce up / whatever you want to call it, I can see that happening. But a massive refurb which justifies closing it for a whole season? Nah; I just can't see it. I'd love to be proven wrong, but I just don't see it happening. This all means that, come reopening (or in the event that it doesn't reopen), Thorpe are going to get a lot of angry response from people who expected something which was never on the cards. It's a difficult one. Yeah, they're still making a profit. But when a company expects to make a £90 million profit and only make a £40 million profit (I believe they were round about the figures at least?), they can't just shrug it off. Is closing rides down the answer? From a business perspective, possibly.

This is so bad ItsHurtingMeInside.

AstroDan pretty said my thoughts on this. We know Merlin will be making lots of cuts across all areas for next year, and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Loggers' closure is a budget cut more than maintenance one. There were rumours of X and Slammer also hitting the SBNO list for next season, though maybe they've been spared. Presumably on a day-on-day basis, Loggers costs more to run than Slammer and X, which is why out of the 3, this is the one that has been dropped. And if the park do reopen Loggers in 2017, I'd be surprised if we see much beyond just a general clean and maybe a (much needed) water cleaning system. Which will lead to much backlash considering it will have been closed for 16 odd months. So I'm worried about later repercussions that this announcement may have. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Loggers completely done up, or even replace by a Intamin log flume a la Chiapas. Or even Loggers stay and Slammer and/or Samurai go. But realistically, I just see this as either being the end of Loggers, or just a season-long break for the ride. --- On another note, I wonder where this leaves Canada Creek next season. Beyond the CCR tracks, you have Rocky Express, a less-than-popular noodle bar, a poorly rated Hot Dog Stand and the alright Naughty-but-Nice. Given that Canada isn't a popular area as it is, and there's not many rides round that area, I genuinely think Thorpe would be better off just closing the whole area (except for Fright Nights). It's not worth keeping that area open for one ride a couple of sub-standard food areas.

Ummmm who are you again?

Officially, the disused / abandoned theme has only been done once, with Saw (twice if you count Saw Alive). The website suggests that Derren has 'found' this warehouse, and is seemingly converting it into something which can house his experiment / whatever. Given the amount of hints to a train theme, it could still be an abandoned train warehouse or some sorts, which still leaves plenty of opportunities for theming in my eyes.

I'm surprised you made it to another Awards Ceremony. Kudos Project LC, kudos.

You're not the first one to suggest / want it, and you certainly won't be the last! It's a great idea and has lots of potential for a scare attraction. I think it would work better in a more of a 'scare zone' scenario, or at least in a route which isn't quite so linear. I imagine it wouldn't happen given Thorpe want to go back to original ideas apparently. But I'd never rule anything out just yet. I'd personally hate a totally crawling attraction. Not because it scares me or anything, I can't stay on my knees for very long, so it would be a pain.

Island Beats wasn't officially announced until April (too late in my opinion), so I wouldn't read into things too much just yet. They're probably still considering some options and ideas, and still in the process of updating the website fully. The Fright Nights tab is the same as it has been since September for example, which is why there is no mention of any summer events.

The most recent plans (from May last year) said that construction would start in Summer 2016, with the intention of a 2018 opening. Small round up of the plans here: http://thorpeparkmania.co.uk/news/16-05-2014/Resort-Submit-Hotel-Plans I haven't heard anything to suggest the hotel isn't going ahead, and I don't think they've encountered any more problems since then. So touch wood all should be fine from now.

https://www.thorpepark.com/rides/loggers-leap/ 404 error on the old ride page too.

To be fair, it could be a disused train warehouse or something. Funnily enough, the plans did say that the style of the building was designed to fit in with the rest of the park. Anyone see a vicious cycle developing / already developed?

^If anything, it looks slightly taller to me! Going to be some mighty fine air time there, that's for sure.

Benin wins this thread. Interested to know what you thought of Bobbejaan's immersive tunnel / how it compared to Movie Park's one..

Thorpe: 20 Efteling: 3 Chessington: 3 (Eurghhhh) Alton Towers, Legoland, Drayton Manor, Phantasialand, Plopsaland, Toverland, Walibi Belgium, Bellewaerde; Bobbejaanland: 1 Decent season for me. Next season will likely be quieter in terms of number of visits, but should see me on more new horizons at least.