Vinlarr89

I think what’s really important for Thorpe and Merlin to realise is that whilst adding a new attraction will increase or should increase visitor numbers and volume, it has an affect for a finite period of time before visitor numbers reduce back to baseline unless the investment is backed up or followed up with another investment. Adding a flat or water ride for 25 will be really critical in keeping the momentum of exodus going, as will the marketing and increase in events etc that support such investments. I think to really push on and get back to the parks good times, another big investment within 3 years will be necessary **cough** RMC **cough** 😂😂 to bring in and attract an international audience and grow the park further. Just my view of course

Please don’t let anyone from Thorpe or merlin see that 😂😂

100% agree with all of what you’ve said. They definitely finally get it. In the insta world in which we live in, the giant lettering including all the detail is such a great move on the parks behalf. Not only from a marketing perspective, I think it lifts the visuals of the park and really uplifts it. I really hope they continue this momentum, and having seen the work on jumanji, am really excited by what they might do for the opening of exodus next year. Come on Merlin, keep it going. On the Aramark subject. Yeah, big mistake, hopefully they can terminate the contract sooner rather than later. As soon as I heard they were involved with Aramark I was concerned, they have a horrendous rep and it’s not only poor quality but overpriced

It fits!!! Haha yes, good to see her back in one piece. Hopefully they can get testing underway soon and the ride back open! Doesnt half stand out like a sore thumb given the rest of the track looks so tired! Hopefully Thorpe bite the bullet next year and do the rest properly once exodus opens

https://themeparkguide.co.uk/news-page/Thorpe-Junction-Ghost-Train-One-Last-Look I’ve got to be honest, and obviously reserving judgement until it’s complete. But there’s some good attention to detail going into this ride by the looks of this so far. Do Merlin finally get it? 😂

Completely agree. Just get rid. Actually think that’s been one of the most under utilised assets of the park, and if they had a good creative team, could really make for an interesting and lasting first impression. however unless they are going to utilise it properly, and by that not just have a logo on it, then why spend big money on replacing it, when a sign would do the same effect. That being said, having seen curse and now jumanji, I’m holding judgement until ghost train, but it feels as if merlin have turned somewhat of a corner and may have finally grasped that attention to detail does count for something. Let’s see 😂

Merlin need to realise not everything needs a USP. I’m fact having the right capacity at its parks and keeping queue times reasonable would do more for the parks than new headline rides as it makes people want to return again. Anyway I digress. Thorpe does look better in 2023 than previous years, and I do feel that some effort has gone into the presentation this year even if nowhere near enough, but I’m comparison to some years where it’s literally been zero it’s a welcome move. I guess for 24 they need to continue the good work alongside exodus opening, I just wish they would build a decent hotel and get rid of the god awful containers

Yep, add detonator onto that list too. Wasn’t it only meant for a one year stop gap at first… 22/3 years later… still think it’s a great ride btw, but now that planning restrictions have eased would be great to see it upgraded to a larger tower with better capacity

At this rate nemesis will be retracked before Colossus! Thorpe need a replacement strategy for Rumba soon too, and not with a coaster. Need a quality water ride

Wonder if this will influence next steps. Must say, this could be expensive for Taziker, as Thorpe must have a clause in the contract for disruption to park operations

The current stage is piles which preceded the pins. This is the process of essentially drilling down into the site bedrock (10m) below any reclaimed land, and filling with concrete reinforced steel. This will take approx a month I believe off the plan they intended to originally work to. once that is complete the next stage is the “capping” of the piles which is essentially where the piles that have been created are capped off with the pins that interface with the supports to the exact height and location in all axis. This will take a further 6-8 weeks to fully complete including some additional work around the lift hill. Once that is complete then track and supports can begin. So I doubt we will see much going vertical until august at best. And I don’t believe it’s due to arrive on site until July anyway.

I can never understand why Thorpe don’t have the pyramid repainted to be more in keeping. But your right transforming it into an Egyptian tomb would be the best use of what is otherwise an eyesore on the skyline. If done right it could look really impressive…

Hats off to the construction team. Pulling this right back on track. Piling for foundations has commenced… https://themeparkguide.co.uk/news-page/Project-Exodus-Foundations-Begin

Exactly my first thought. One of the images in the planning did seem to have some kind of hieroglyphics in them, however could be complete coincidence. Some kind of gold mine theme another possibility?

So glad they’ve gone with gold as a colour scheme. Will look fresh and really stand out. Bit confused what theming options it opens up, and from the plans it seems it won’t be heavily themed, but I’m okay with that tbh

Fair play to jack, that’s a great piece of work. I actually think it’s great that Thorpe are working with jack by the way. Having an enthusiast working closely with the park will hopefully be helping in terms of giving them some valuable feedback, and makes me wonder if it’s any coincidence that ghost train has had this revamp at all. Let’s hope he fills their heads with plenty of good ideas going forwards

Personally think that there is room for both types of advertising in this day and age. What percentage of Thorpes audience actually watches TV in the day and age of streaming? Probably less than you might think. That being said I agree that a professional marketing agency and Thorpe’s own social media channels should be doing far more. Also YouTube and social media focussed advertising seems non existent. Thorpe shouldn’t be relying on people like Jack, but using them as supporting acts as such.

Agree, the layout is definitely unique. Just a shame that it is short. Never the less, great to see another big ride at the park. Let’s just hope that Thorpe bring a RMC airtime monster in at some point because I do think Thorpe are lacking an airtime machine.

https://youtu.be/5gs58KGQZuY looks like land infill has began… and as previously suspected is being bought in lorries which will obviously add cost to the project. Positive that the infill has commenced and should progress rapidly given the number of deliveries seen in the video.

Yeah 100% could have a big detrimental impact on the project if they can’t get it resolved soon. If they need to purchase all that infill, it will bring a big cost too which again will probably impact the project elsewhere in terms of budget **cough** theming **cough**, so let’s hope that’s not the case. As a side note, I’ve noticed the most recent planning application has now been approved, meaning that they can proceed up until vertical construction without any issue.

Think there must be some change to the original infill plan, as the original proposed plan stated that stockpiled material generated from the site strip was to be crushed tested and used for infill. From recent videos it’s definitely evident that material has been stockpiled and crushed and from the most recent videos these stockpiled have now been consumed. I originally interpreted that as a sign that infilling had commenced, however if thats not the case then potentially the material has not passed the test and has been used for the roadways instead of lake infill. Will be interesting to see how this one develops, as most of the material was due to come from the site itself according to the original plans.

Where have you heard the information regarding the infilling licence from? Pretty sure from most recent videos I have seen that infilling has already commenced. Important to remember that most of the infill is only temporary as the only bits remaining will be surrounding the supports in the lake.

Having worked in groundwork’s and construction for a number of years albeit with absolutely zero experience in constructing rides, I can safely say looking at the construction plan that there is “fat” in the plan. That being said the critical path of the project will be the start of the piling operations scheduled to start month 6 of the project. If that can be started on plan then the rest will be recoverable. So when that starts will likely be an indication of likely finish time of the project. Judging by silkstones latest video I would say they are trying to prepare the site for access for the pile driving equipment as soon as possible. But this is but a hunch

Not sure it would fit a big steel hyper… always thought a Mardi Gras or day of the dead theme would be great for when Thorpe build a RMC behind swarm island. 😉

Yeah I didn’t originally read it that way… but I guess your right. But either way I guess the fact that they’ve put this clause in must mean that they are intending to release as little info as possible to the gen public until they have to