The Blade (Alton Towers)

Alton Towers Resort ( ) (often referred to as Alton Towers) is a theme park and resort complex in Staffordshire, England, near the village of Alton. The park is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group and incorporates a theme park, water park, spa, mini golf and hotel complex.

Originally a private estate of the Earls of Shrewsbury, Alton Towers' grounds were opened to the public in 1860 to raise funds. In the late 20th century, it was transformed into a theme park and opened a number of new rides from 1980 onwards. In 2019, it was the second most visited theme park in the UK with 2,130,000 visitors which puts it after Legoland Windsor. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Alton Towers was only open from July 4th until November with a limited capacity meaning only 670,000 visitors came to the park in 2020.

The park has many attractions such as Congo River Rapids, Runaway Mine Train, Nemesis, Oblivion, Galactica, The Smiler, Wicker Man, Rita and TH13TEEN. It operates a total of ten roller coasters and offers a range of accommodation and lodging options alongside the theme park. Facilities include Alton Towers Waterpark, conference facilities, a crazy golf course, and a high ropes course.

The theme park is usually open from late March to early November, whilst many of its hotels and amenities are open year-round. Special events are hosted throughout the year, including Alton Towers Scarefest (the park's Halloween event), Octoberfest, Mardi Gras, Christmas and a main season-ending fireworks display held on the last three days of the season.

History

Alton Towers first opened to the public on a regular basis following the opening of Alton Towers railway station. Money raised from railway excursions was paid to the earl and helped to maintain the upkeep of the grounds.

In 1924, a group of local estate agents formed Alton Towers Ltd to take ownership of the estate and began to restore the gardens as a tourist attraction. In the 1950s, this included the operation of a fairground, and by the 1970s included a boating lake and chairlift.

Property developer John Broome acquired the park after marrying the daughter of majority shareholder Dennis Bagshaw in 1973 and subsequently buying all its concessions. From there, he began the theme park by developing new areas and installing permanent rides, including the Corkscrew, The Flume, Around The World In 80 Days, The Black Hole and the Grand Canyon Rapids.

In 1990, Broome sold Alton Towers to The Tussauds Group, then a division of Pearson plc, after his development of the former Battersea Power Station into a sister theme park encountered financial difficulty. The change of park ownership brought another era of development, involving the opening of more intensively themed areas and new attractions, such as Runaway Mine Train (1992), The Haunted House (1992), Toyland Tours (1994), and Nemesis (1994). Tussauds' park development team from 1990 to 2002 included well-known attraction producer John Wardley among others.

The Tussauds Group was sold to venture capital firm Charterhouse in 1998. The opening of Oblivion that same year and Air (now Galactica) in 2002 saw the park sustain new major roller coasters, both marketed as 'World First' rides. In 2005, Dubai International Capital (DIC) acquired Tussauds for £800 million.

In May 2007, The Blackstone Group purchased The Tussauds Group for US$1.9 billion and merged it with its then-subsidiary Merlin Entertainments. Dubai International Capital also gained 20% of Merlin Entertainment.

On 17 July 2007, Alton Towers was sold to private investor Nick Leslau's investment firm Prestbury under a sale and leaseback agreement. Merlin continues to operate the site under a renewable 35-year lease. As of 2016, the property is under control of Secure Income REIT plc, of which Nick Leslau is a non-executive director.

As of early 2008 the resort changed its name to 'Alton Towers Resort' to better reflect its status as a multi-day destination. Most other Merlin-owned theme parks with onsite hotels would follow the same course over the following few years.

In March 2020, the resort's opening for the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The park reopened on 4 July, when the government restrictions relaxed.

Rides and attractions

Roller coasters

Ride statistics

Flat rides

Temporary flat rides

Alton Towers rented four temporary flat rides for the 2021 season to help with capacity. Three of these were part of the "Retro Squad". Flavio's Fabulous Fandango, Funk'n'Fly and Roller Disco all returned for the 2022 season. Mixtape did not return for 2022, and was instead replaced by a new ride, Spinjam.

Water/Dark rides

Children's rides

Theme park transport and grounds

Past rides and attractions

Past roller coasters

Main Past Attractions

Other notable past rides

* Adventure Playground 1974–1993
* Adventure Railway ( gauge) 1982–1992
* Alpine Bob Sled 1980–1986
* Astroglide mid-1970s–1992
* Barney's Playground 2000–2002
* The Blue Carousel 1981–1991
* Bob the Builder's Playground 2006
* Bouncing Bugs 1982–2008
* Cable Cars (open air) 1964–1986
* Cine 360 1981–1987
* Cine 2000 1980–1992
* Cred Street Carousel 2000–2005
* Cred Street Playground 2006–2008
* Dinosaurs 1980–1983
* Doll's House 1981–1995
* Fantastic Fountains 1981–1992
* Ferris wheel 1985–1986
* Gravitron 1990–1992
* Magic Carpet 1984–1985
* Magic Show 1980–1986
* Miniature Golf 1980–1994
* Mississippi Showboat 1985–1996
* Mixtape 2021
* Model Railway 1957–1992
* Motor Museum 1987–1992
* Nickelodeon: Outta Control 1997–1998
* Nina's Science Lab 2014–2018
* Octopus 1984–1991
* Old MacDonald's Singing Barn 1995–2013
* Old MacDonald's Tractor Ride 1995–2013
* Park Railway ( narrow gauge) 1953–1996
* Paddling Pool 1963–1992
* Peter Rabbit and Friends on Ice 1994–2001
* Planetarium 1972–1987
* Rowing Boats 1923–1996
* Sea Lions 1957–1990
* Space Boat 1983
* Spider 1986–1991
* Splash Cats 1966–1996
* Splash Karts 2004–2007
* Sun Liner Trains 1984–1986
* Swan Boats 1987–2003
* Tea Cup Ride 1986-2007
* Thunderbirds 1982–1990
* Towers Express 1974–1983
* Tri-Star 1989–1992
* Turbo Star 1984–1989
* Tweenies Playground 2003–2005
* Vintage Cars 1983–2005
* Wobble World 2009–2015
* 3D Cinema 1981–2004
* 1001 Nights 1985–1994

Food facilities

* Theme Park
** Towers Street: Costa Coffee, Towers Street Hot Dogs, Towers Street Doughnuts, Treats, Coca Cola Freestyle
** CBeebies Land: Little Explores Lunch Box, Big Fun Showtime Snack box
** X-Sector: Just Chicken, Donut Factory, Rehydrator, Coca Cola Freestyle
** The Towers: Burger Kitchen, Archway, Front Lawns, Coca Cola Freestyle
** Dark Forest: Woodcutters Bar and Grill, Eastern Express, Tormented Treats, Coca Cola Freestyle
** The Wonderful World Of David Walliams: David Walliams World Ice Cream
** Forbidden Valley: Rollercoaster Restaurant, Costa Coffee, Nemices Donuts, Forbidden Valley Refresh, Coca Cola Freestyle
** Gloomy Wood:
** Katanga Canyon: Explorers Pizza and Pasta Buffet, Coca Cola Freestyle
** Mutiny Bay: Burger Kitchen, Costa Coffee, Welcome Inn, Eastern Express, Courtyard Hot Dogs/Wraps/Waffles, Mutiny Bay Doughnuts, Pirates Kiosk, Coca Cola Freestyle
* Accommodation
** Alton Towers Hotel: Secret Garden Restaurant, Costa Coffee, Dragons Bar, Captains Bar
** Alton Towers Conference Centre: Algenon's Bar, Sir Algenon's Grill (Only open in peak times)
** Splash Landings Hotel: Flambos Jambo, Ma Garrita's Bar, Costa Coffee, Burger Cove
** Enchanted Village: Crooked Spoon
** CBeebies Land Hotel: The Windmill Restaurant
** Stargazing Pods: Stargazing Bar
* Midway Attractions
** Alton Towers Waterpark: The Cave, Ice Cream Shack
** Tree Top Quest: The Crooked Teaspoon

Past food facilities

Alton Towers previously had leases with High Street outlets, which have since been replaced by in-house brands such as Explorers Pizza & Pasta, Just Chicken and Burger Kitchen.
* McDonald's (1998–2007)
* Burger King (2008–2012)
* Pizza Hut (1998–2008)
* KFC (1998–2011)
* Fried Chicken Co. (2011–2018)
* Forest Feasts (2010–2016)
* Courtyard Tavern (2008–2016)
* Towers Street Bar and Grill (1985–2016)
* Nitrogenie (2015–2021)
* Cloud Cuckoo Land Café (2008–2021)
* Gloomy Wood Kiosk (1992–2021)

Alton Towers Theme Park

The Alton Towers Theme Park is divided into areas: Towers Street, Mutiny Bay, Katanga Canyon, Gloomy Wood, Forbidden Valley, Dark Forest, The Gardens, The Towers, The World of David Walliams, X-Sector and CBeebies Land. The SkyRide cable car system travels between Towers Street, Forbidden Valley, and the Towers and takes in views of the gardens.

The park's maximum capacity at any one time is set at 28,000 guests. According to the TEA attendance report, the park was estimated to have attracted 2,130,000 people in 2019, a 1.4% increase on 2018's figure of 2,100,000. This made Alton Towers Britain's 2nd most visited theme park, after Legoland Windsor, and the 13th most visited theme park in Europe. Annual admissions surpassed 3 million in both 1994 and 2010, when the Nemesis and Thirteen rollercoasters were opened respectively.

Timeline of park areas

  Previous themed area

  Current themed area
File:MutinyBay2015.JPG, Mutiny Bay
File:Katanga Canyon at Alton Towers.jpg, Katanga Canyon
File:Alton towers zombie.jpg, Gloomy Wood
Exterior of '' Duel''
File:Alton Towers Dark Forest entrance.jpg, Dark Forest
File:Cloud Cuckoo Land, Alton Towers - geograph.org.uk - 1464494.jpg, The World of David Walliams
Royal Carousel
File:Nemesis at Alton Towers 162 (4756073039).jpg, Forbidden Valley
Nemesis theming
File:X-Sector, Alton Towers - geograph.org.uk - 1464822.jpg, X-Sector
Enterprise and Oblivion
File:Sonic Spinball.JPG, The Towers
Spinball Whizzer roller-coaster

Towers Street

Opened in 1986, Towers Street is the first area that visitors to the park encounter. Themed loosely as a town street, it leads to views of the gardens and the Towers across the lake in the distance. Along the pathway are the park's jumping frog fountains and a lawn where seasonal events take place. The first ''SkyRide'' station is located nearby, which is a long cable car transport that opened in 1987, and was refurbished 2009. The monorail moves guests from the four on-site hotels and the water park to the theme park; it opened 1987 and was refurbished in 2008. In this area during the hour before the park's daily closure, departing guests are entertained by three people wearing police costumes, two of them riding Segway-like vehicles which play party music and the third standing with an old-fashioned megaphone that is unused, and a man riding a miniature ship while dressed as a sea captain.

Katanga Canyon

Themed as an African village; created in 1992 and incorporated existing rapids ride. Rides include the roller coaster Runaway Mine Train and Congo River Rapids. Both are well-established rides in the park whose ride tracks share a tunnel. Congo River Rapids is a river rapids ride that opened 1986, as The Grand Canyon Rapids, and was refurbished in 1992. A 735 m long wild river rapids ride down the Congo River that lasts six minutes. Runaway Mine Train is a steel sit down powered coaster that reaches a speed of 22 mph (36 km/h) on a 1000 ft long track (305 m) and height of ; height limit 90 cm. It was designed by John Wardley for Tussauds and manufactured by Mack Rides.

Gloomy Wood

Gloomy Wood serves as the area for the dark ride ''Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back!'', originally ''The Haunted House''. Opening in 1992, this was originally Europe's largest haunted dark ride, but was significantly altered with interactive laser guns in 2003. Each player's shooting score was recorded on a display in the ride car, as guests shot targets throughout the layout. The ride closed in September 2022 for refurbishment.

In 2007, a themed footpath through the woods was added to the area, named ''Haunted Hollow''. The pathway follows the route formerly used by the park's old scenic railway, linking from Mutiny Bay. ''Haunted Hollow'' includes tombstones, statues and other features, some of which interact with guests using sound effects. In July 2015, Nitrogenie opened and replaced the old Waffles and Ices, a shop producing ice cream using liquid nitrogen. Gloomy Wood was suggested by the 2017 park map to be home to the new ''Wicker Man'' wooden coaster, opening 2018. However, the park later stated that the ride was in Mutiny Bay.

Forbidden Valley

Forbidden Valley is set in a 'post-apocalyptic' landscape, with standing stones and rustic structures populating the 'valley'. A ''SkyRide'' station also serves this area of the park.

The area's principal attraction is '' Nemesis'', opened in 1994. ''Nemesis'' is a steel inverted coaster that reaches a speed of 50 mph (81 km) with four inversions, set in a rocky quarry over waterfalls. The ride is built down into excavated ground and was designed by Tussauds, primarily John Wardley. The attraction is themed as an alien creature inhabiting the quarry where the coaster is situated.

''The Blade'' is a Huss Pirate Boat modified with a pendulum blade. It opened in 1980, and was relocated to the area in 1997 from Fantasy World. The Blade currently operates as the only flat ride in Forbidden Valley since the removal of ''Ripsaw''. However, in October 2019, The Blade was dismantled to be 'Resharpened by the Phalanx' and has since been added back in its pit after a refurbishment.

Galactica is a B&M flying coaster, originally opening as ''Air'' in 2002. Air was loosely themed as a peaceful landscape, distanced from the 'apocalyptic' look of Nemesis. Air was redesigned as Galactica in 2016, adopting virtual reality headsets and a space travel theme. The VR headsets have since been removed due to feedback from customers.

In May 2016, the ' Rollercoaster Restaurant' opened, offering a dining experience where guests have their food delivered by looping rails. The restaurant is open daily from 10am - 9:30pm; available to guests without theme park admission after the park has closed, except during Scarefest and Fireworks events.

Adventure Land

Adventure Land is a small family area featuring '' Spinball Whizzer''; based on a pinball machine in which the car is the ball whizzing around the machine. The ride originally had this name, until 2010 when it was known as ''Sonic Spinball'' until the name change back in 2016 when a contract ended with SEGA after six years. The ride is a Maurer Söhne spinning roller coaster, in which riders sit in cars that can spin on their base whilst travelling at speed around the track. Spinball Whizzer is now part of The Towers, alongside Cuckoo Cars Driving School, Hex and the Alton Towers Dungeon.

Adventure Land is named after the adventure play ground which previously sat on the site. The former play area was one of the attractions of a larger area called Kiddies Kingdom. In 1996, Kiddies Kingdom was split into Adventure Land and Storybook Land.

*This area as of 2017 is considered part of The Towers*

X-Sector

X-Sector is themed as a secretive industrial complex, suggested to be subjecting park guests to experimental testing.

The area currently contains three thrill rides. The steel dive coaster '' Oblivion'' which opened in 1998 as "the world's first vertical drop rollercoaster", designed by Tussauds and manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. The cars are held over the edge of the drop for three seconds, before diving into a deep tunnel. ''The Smiler'' is a Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster which opened in May 2013 and currently holds the world record for most inversions on a roller coaster at 14. The area layout was partially altered in 2013 season to accommodate the opening of The Smiler.

Previous rides in X-Sector include The Black Hole, which was a Jet Star 2 coaster enclosed in a tent, where The Smiler is located today. Energizer (later renamed Boneshaker) was a swinging gondola flat ride. It was replaced by Submission in 2001, a "Chance Double Inverter" flat ride, which was itself removed in 2014. ''Enterprise'' was a standard HUSS Enterprise model which opened in 1984, spinning riders 360 degrees and giving the illusion of defying gravity. It was permanently removed from the resort in 2022.

Mutiny Bay

Mutiny Bay is a pirate-themed family area, which opened in 2008. the area was a retheme for Merrie England.

Attractions in Mutiny Bay include: ''Battle Galleons'', an interactive "Splash Battle" boat ride, where guests sit in tracked boats while soaking other riders with water cannons. Also in the area is the rocking boat ride, ''Heave Ho''. The park's original teacups ride was re-themed to become '' Marauders Mayhem'', with the tea cup cars being redesigned as gunpowder barrels. ''The Flume'' was a Mack log flume ride that opened in 1981 and was rethemed in 2004 with a sponsorship from Imperial Leather alongside Bubbleworks at Chessington World of Adventures. Upon opening, it was the longest flume ride in the world at . Late in the 2015 season, the ride and the neighboring tavern closed and were removed in 2016 to make way for the Wicker Man roller coaster and the "Welcome Inn" bar which shares the coaster's theme.

In 2009, a Sea Life Centre named ''Sharkbait Reef'' opened in the location previously home to the 3-D Cinema. This includes "touch pools" for interacting with underwater species and a underwater tunnel.

The World of David Walliams

The World of David Walliams opened in May 2021 and is aimed at younger children aged 7–11. It is based on the children's books by David Walliams. Attractions include Gangsta Granny: The Ride, Raj's Bouncy Bottom Burp (the former Frog Hopper) and Royal Carousel (previously Galloper's Carousel). The area has had various names over the years including "Cloud Cuckoo Land", "Cred Street" and "The Land of Make Believe", each had a similar a cartoon-inspired look, mainly featuring ''Toyland Tours''. The area was first built as "Talbot Street" in 1981, becoming the park's first themed area, home to the ''Around The World in 80 Days'' and '' Doom & Sons'' dark rides. The World of David Williams also includes many of the author's hidden secrets such as one of the streets being called "Wallibums Way".

In October 2019, it was announced that Cloud Cuckoo Land will be replaced by "The World of David Walliams" for the 2020 season, which will feature attractions based around Walliams' series of children's books.

On May 29, 2020, it was announced that the opening of "The World of David Walliams" would be delayed from 2020 to the 2021 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another attraction, Flavio's Fabulous Fandango, was temporarily added to the land for opening. The land also features Raj's Shop and various outdoor entertainment.

Dark Forest

The Dark Forest is themed as a supernatural woodland area; to coincide with the opening of '' TH13TEEN'', a steel family coaster themed as a haunted crypt, that opened on 20 March 2010. Th13teen, features the "world's first freefall drop on a roller coaster" - an indoor, vertically dropping track element. The ride replaced the ''Corkscrew''; the park's first roller coaster, which opened in 1980. ''Rita'' is a hydraulically launched steel sit-down coaster that reaches a top speed of 62 mph (100 km) that is now themed around an abandoned drag racer that is used to escape the Dark Forest.

The area was previously a cartoon prehistoric area named Ug Land, which opened in 1999, but was half-demolished to make way for Rita's construction in 2005. Rita used to be themed around drag racing but was changed with the opening of Th13teen and the Dark Forest. With the opening of ''Th13teen'', the area was renamed as Dark Forest and further altered with a new colour scheme and entrance feature. ''Rita'' was also given a repainted control cabin and trains, shortening its name from "Rita - Queen of Speed".

CBeebies Land

CBeebies Land is based on the BBC
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