Inferno

As if the throughput situation could be any worse, they continue to complicate things even more with a different row? Really? Brave it backwards on Swarm was cool, but badly let down by the lack of any sort of common sense in the queuing system - hopefully they’ve thought it through this time. Also interesting to see the arm cutouts on the building entrance - I thought Merlin would be a bit cautious about any suggestion that limbs might somehow bang against something on one of their rides…

How odd that it’s now returned to the app. Wonder if it’ll return without Derren? Perhaps a new, relevant and up to date IP to go with the rest. Ground Force Ghost Train perhaps? Dale Winton’s Supermarket Sweep, the Ride? Frances Bourgeois’ railway adventure? (Actually steady, I can see this actually being a thing…)

It’s all a bit whiplash with TP all the time isn’t it. I’m sure all the land-themed signs and info boards will remain

Don’t get me wrong, I am absolutely thrilled Exodus is coming, but I have to say I’m really sad to see Loggers finally being demolished 😢 Bringing back the log flume would have been nearly equally as welcome as this new ride in this location, in my eyes at least. It was fab.

Pretty sad really isn’t it…. To be honest they’re probably in a worse position than they were 10 years ago, because since DBGT was build there’s been huge focus on events - something an arena might have been useful for after all 🙄 As for Mr Silkstone - I think he does a great job to be honest. He seems like a very passionate person who has put in a lot of effort, and it’s payed off. Well deserved I think! He’s in a bit of a difficult position, because the content he became known for is now off limits, so really he’s doing what he can, and I think he’s making it work. He’s bringing us better coverage of a new ride than we’ve ever had access to before.

Very interesting. I know there are a few who liked it, but ultimately DBGT was a disaster, and enormous waste of money. While the illusions and realistic motion of the train are/were impressive, the rest of the experience was poorly thought out from before it even opened, under-staffed based on what it needed, and really inconsistent. In fact one of the most consistent things about the ride was its inconsistency. It's been unreliable, expensive to staff and run, neglected maintenance-wise (probably due to crippling costs of the headsets etc), and unsuitable during the pandemic. If it's finally gone, good riddance. Time for Merlin to try to put this very public pant-sh**ing episode behind them in my opinion. ☕️💅🏼

You just love to watch the world burn don't you haha! There's been huge progress made on clearance in Old Town https://www.themeparkguide.biz/news-page/Thorpe-Park-Old-Town-Demolition-Begins Really excited to see this progressing this year!

As much as yet another "year of thrilling events" absolutely sucks, I think honestly it's justified this year, considering they're literally spending millions on the UK's tallest coaster opening next season. I'm sure all focus will be on that. I do hope they can at least manage some sort of general tidy up though. The park isn't in great condition in general. Fingers crossed, Colossus will be looking better (or some of it at least), they'll fix some of the fences and at least try to remove some graffiti, and they'll put a bit of effort in to hyping up the new ride across the park. Derren closing will make next to no impact on the park what so ever, and as much as Slammer's corpse laying there for all to see is sloppy, there's no major rush to get rid of it I suppose (although while clearance work is happening, with all the gear and people on site, why not now?)

I know what you mean. I wonder if it’s down to getting contractors etc in. It’s not like there are hundreds of construction workers sat in a big hall somewhere waiting for the phone to ring - I imagine they’re all busy and have work booked for the immediate future at least? TP have only recently been given the green light - the lead time hasn’t been there for them

As effects go... a 'sorting out of the water' situation would help, to allow them to dye the water red again. I seem to remember the reason for it not happening anymore was something to do with the dye leaking out in to the water supply externally, and it would be expensive and complex to put it right. I suppose fixing this could be on the cards? I wonder if they'll also add some triggered sound effects like they have on the Swarm? Would be cool to hear Nemesis roar as the train inverts over the station, a bit like the Swarm did from the bell tower. Or perhaps on ride audio? 🤔 In all honesty though I think I'd most like to see the station darkened a little (maybe partially enclose the turn in to the lift and the brake run), and create a great dispatch sequence. Love a good dramatic dispatch 😆

It's amazing how quickly things are starting to improve across Merlin now that they aren't beholden to shareholders. It will be a shame if this doesn't include a paint of the remaining track considering they're going this far, but good to see yet another major improvement being made. New trains please!

I think I've said this before.. but the point still very much stands.. Runaway Mine Train is genuinely terrifying. WTF is with that wild downward right turn in to the tunnel? 🤯

All very exciting isn’t it. Great to see them properly investing in the future now. I always say going public with a company is bad news. Finally they’re investing their profits in to their future, and not just focusing on what the share price will be tomorrow.

Interesting! I think the logo is a little dated, but it’s instantly recognisable and I’m not sure it really needs changing. I wouldn’t be against a new logo though. I think they should definitely keep the infinity symbol though - maybe just sharpen it up somewhat?

Yeah I seem to remember this was replaced with the “we’ll refund your ticket if you buy a season pass” thing.

Oh WOW. Those tour prices are just crazy. Merlin’s scare events are getting ridiculous price wise. I’ve not been fussed enough to pay for them this year - Towers fireworks appealed to me more this year.

Good post! I’ll be honest, I’m not sure it’s a good thing. Bringing back the haunted house, bubbleworks or black hole would be very odd now adays and feel very dated. I think unless you’re Disney, attractions need to leave at some point when they feel old and tired. I think as long as what is built in its place, it’s a good thing to retire and replace attractions. Subtly throwbacks and stuff are cool though.

You don’t think Wicker Man is good? I agree about the Emily Alton thing. There must be only a few hundred (if that) people in the country who have heard of the name. There isn’t really even a reference to her in the queue line.

😂 This can be the issue with doing the mazes time and time again - it was the same in Big Top, where the emergency exit line on the floor guided the way through the mirror section (I think it was big top? I’m doubting myself now). Once you noticed it there? There was no missing it!

Completely agree with that @RobF - the newer ones just aren’t the same are they. Some have been good, but I don’t know.. they just aren’t the same! I can’t put it in to words somehow. I also think Thorpe has been very rough and ready and very inconsistent. Some run throughs are better than others, which used to be fine when the mazes were free, but not now they’re £700 a go or whatever they’re charging this season.

This is an interesting one this year. I always think that, generally, Thorpe smash it on paper nearly every year - but Towers ultimately deliver the better event in the end, with more consistent mazes, better crowd control and just generally a “nicer time”. It’s also far less likely to go to s*** at Towers when it gets busy - as I have said many times, Thorpe just can’t seem to handle a crowd for some reason. Every year I go to both events, and for almost a decade now I’ve had said Scarefest wins the battle, but it’s been close over the years. I’d say Fright Nights has been in decline since the era of the walking dead stuff - it just somehow hasn’t been was it once was. however this year seems to have turned a corner - Survival Games looks like a return to form (a very simple, intense, proper old-school scare maze with no “with a difference” bs). I hope they can be consistent and reliably keep standards up throughout the event, which they haven’t managed for years. This year I just can’t be bothered with Scarefest though - only 2 mazes on offer, very expensive, and nothing new that’s worth doing. Their event feels like an afterthought. I haven’t yet been to FN so I think that will win it for me this year. Having said that, my FN visit last year was the worst theme park visit I’ve ever had… Time will tell - but basically I think my tl;dr answer is Scarefest - but probably not this season.

That phone number is absolutely brilliant. 👏 The amount of effort that’s gone in to this closed facade, along with the new lighting for scarefest probably amounts to more care than has been afforded to the ride for years, let alone what’s happening behind those closed doors. It looks promising doesn’t it!

Oh interesting 🧐 that sounds promising for the future! Would we not have seen planning applications for this though if it were for next year?

🤯 Wow. Tbh it's no surprise Enterprise's closure has quietly been made official, but it does "officially" make the situation far worse than it was. With Nemesis closed next year, and (I assume) Retrosquad going too (???), the number of rides available for non-Cebeebiesers is getting a bit silly for such a high profile park.

I know this is sort of old news but it's pretty shocking that the Environment Agency seemingly just gave up responding etc. The applicant shouldn't have to take it upon themselves to push it through to government level should they. From what I've heard so far from being in the Fire Service it's a similar story. "On a different planet" has been informally used to describe them. I don't have first hand experience, but get the impression they don't play nicely with others and their people skills leave something to be desired. But that's none of my business ☕️ Still... Glad this project is finally going somewhere!