Indeed, going back to Thunder River would mean very little, since the likelihood of them doing anything else other than a name change and a paint job would be slim. It arguably wouldn't make sense either, given the 'Rumba Rapids' name is a better fit to the Jungle area than 'Thunder River'.

Someone saw someone with a pot of paint, doubt it's anything much. The brown fences are probably continuing to be repainted as some of those were touched up a little towards the end of closed season.

 

What upsets me is the care for the boats (and other ride vehicles in closed season), they just get left in the outside vulnerable to all sorts of weather. If this park actually bothered covering ride vehicles they wouldn't be in their awful aesthetic condition.

Refurbished back to its original colour scheme it seems. Wonder if it's old quirky soundtrack will return? Images screenshot from Jack Silkstones Monks walk update here. 

 

 

 

 

Much preferred this colour scheme, the new colours were dull and boring. Same as the new music

As for me, I’d keep the new colours and music, as I imagine a theme to a British river raft expedition, during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

Rumba is a weird one isn't it..

 

I really loved the old soundtrack and bright colours, I think because it sort of fit the ride.

Rumba hasn't been a very good ride for many years, so the colour scheme, Christmas lights in the tunnel and the upbeat/retro music just fit in, because it was nothing serious and just a bit of fun.

 

I think the new-style, more serious, colour scheme and IMAScore music were really nice, but the ride itsself didn't really fit in with them..

I think if the ride was a lot better / more serious it would have worked, but as it stood, it didn't seem to fit.. A lot of people missed the old music because that was arguably one of the best things about the ride!

 

Hopefully this is a little more than just bringing back the old colourway and maybe the music.. But if not, at least it'll have its retro and nostalgic feel back if nothing else.

So, errrr scrap what I said, it's literally the operating cabin, roof to queue and 1 lifeguard viewpoint that's 'reverted' back. 

 

It's still in a sorry state, the tunnel bare and no audio at all.. 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw this today, the railings looked like they tried to be painted but realised it was the wrong paint for metal.

 

Roof painted nice, but the actually structure and panels were left untouched.

 

The op booth had a few panels strangely unpainted.

 

Hopefully this is done before the park officially opens….

Will vikings parts by upcycled for rumba. I’m all for sustainability and recycling it is 2023 after all!

1 hour ago, Glitch said:

Will vikings parts by upcycled for rumba. I’m all for sustainability and recycling it is 2023 after all!

 

Unlikely that any of the ride hardware will be for Rumba since they're different manufacturers.

 

I guess theoretically some parts could be used if they're cross-compatible, although I'm not what could potentially be.

Rumba is a 1987 Intamin rapids (modified 2002) and Vikings was a 2007 ABC one. 
 

Doubtful that much (if anything) could be recycled on this attraction or anything similar. Ironic though an attraction half its age has been decommissioned though. 

Splash the cash?

20 minutes ago, Parm Pap said:

Splash the cash?

 

Rapids tend to splash the water, but gold star for effort.

Tend to being the key part of that sentance in the case of Rumba Rapids. 

 

On the topic of splashing the cash, do we think that some of the project sparkle budget could be put towards the rapids. I know the majority of the park needs work done and Thorpe don't have infinite money, but they are getting old now and could do with some refurbishment/modernising in my opinion.

13 hours ago, tactic said:

Tend to being the key part of that sentance in the case of Rumba Rapids. 

 

On the topic of splashing the cash, do we think that some of the project sparkle budget could be put towards the rapids. I know the majority of the park needs work done and Thorpe don't have infinite money, but they are getting old now and could do with some refurbishment/modernising in my opinion.

 

Or removing. I'd love to see the end of Rumba, replaced with a more modern water ride like Chiapas. 

Every park should have a Chiapas equivalent. 

On 1/31/2007 at 10:15 PM, Ash said:

Well this start of the season is going to be interesting for the Rumba Rapids. I wonder what we will expect now its getting re-themed (or not). No more Ribeana sponsorship.Any comments, please post them.

16 years later let’s bring back ribena. It’s only fair.

I'll stick it in this thread. It looks like Rumba, despite closing early, is returning next year:

 

 

 

Whether this is cost cutting or to start on a renovation, who knows.

The fact it closes in the same day as Amity Beach sways me more towards cost cutting than anything else. But who knows.
 

Not against that though, can’t imagine it’ll be too popular after that date anyway, and I’d rather the park cost cut here rather than look at reducing opening hours like we’ve seen at other parks. 

It's been closed on well over half of my visits this year.

5 hours ago, JoshC. said:

I'll stick it in this thread. It looks like Rumba, despite closing early, is returning next year:

 

 

Shame. It's time is well and truly up and it needs to go. 

Yeah I agree really.  As much as I don’t like to see rides closing, it must cost a lot of money to run Rumba, and honestly it’s a dreadful ride now anyway - a shadow of its former self, and even at its best would still lag behind when compared to a lot of modern Thorpe.

 

Even if they did an extensive retheme, the ride system would still be the same - lacklustre, expensive to run and old fashioned.

 

I think it’s run its course now. In a park where space is limited, there are many ways to use this space much better than Rumba.

From next Monday till 21st July Rumba is scheduled to open at 1pm. 
 

I imagine this is due to the school trips and 18+ rule?

Hours for Rumba certainly getting less and less each year though.

Yeah that'll be because of school trips. It's a silly rule but it makes things easier for the park

 

Certainly less operational hours for it but I don't think that's too worth reading into just yet

I’d say Rumba’s days of operating are likely numbered. It’s an expensive atttaction to run ( in resources & staffing now), gets lower ridership most of the time and strict regulations and badly behaving guests adding up also. 
 

Rumba wasn’t a bad one as a former host, however after what happened at Drayton, it wasn’t the same and staffing and operating is much higher and stricter now. At nearly 40 years, maybe it has run its course now (no pun intended).