Thorpe Park

Thorpe Park (formerly known as Thorpe Park Resort) is a theme park located in the village of Thorpe between the towns of Chertsey and Staines-upon-Thames in Surrey, England, 20 miles (32 km) west-southwest of Central London. It is operated by Merlin Entertainments and features rides, themed cabins, live events, and Hyperia, the United Kingdom's tallest and fastest rollercoaster at over 236 feet (72m) and 129 km/h (80 mph). The ride also includes Europe's tallest element and the world's first outer-banked airtime hill. In 2019, Thorpe Park was the United Kingdom's third most visited theme park (1.9 million visitors), behind Alton Towers and Legoland Windsor. Thorpe Park opened in 1979, originally as a leisure park, on the site of expended, flooded gravel pits that give it its distinctive water-based surroundings. It has since expanded into a major theme park in the United Kingdom. Major attractions include a number of roller coasters, Hyperia, Colossus, Nemesis Inferno, Saw – The Ride, Stealth, The Swarm, and The Walking Dead: The Ride, as well as a dark ride, Ghost Train. History Initial development The demolition of the Thorpe Park Estate in the 1930s resulted in the grounds being converted into a gravel pit, originally owned by Ready Mixed Concrete Limited. RMC extracted gravel from the site for thirty years, from 1941 until 1970, at which point the company began planning to flood the expended gravel pits and develop the site into a leisure-based visitor attraction. In 1975, the Water Ski World Championships were held on the lake. RMC established a subsidiary, Leisure Sport Limited, to operate the 400-acre (160 ha) park for water sports, leisure activities, and heritage exhibitions, at a cost of £3 million. The park was formally opened to the public by Lord Louis Mountbatten on 24 May 1979, in what would be his final public appearance before he was assassinated later that year by a bomb planted by the Provisional IRA on a fishing boat in Mullaghmore, Ireland. In addition to its lakes and parkland, the site featured a replica Stone Age cave, a Celtic farm, a Norman castle, and a Viking camp, as well as exhibits of historic watercraft and aircraft. Theme park development In the early 1980s, the park was redeveloped into a theme park with permanent themed rides and attractions. New large attractions were introduced throughout the 1980s, including Magic Mill, Phantom Fantasia, Thunder River, Logger's Leap and the Canada Creek Railway, along with the development of a central area of themed streets, shops and eateries. Space Station Zero was the park's first roller coaster, an indoor powered coaster, opened in 1984. New themed areas opened in the 1990s with Fantasy Reef and Ranger County. The last major attraction developed under Leisure Sport Ltd was the themed indoor roller coaster, X:\ No Way Out, in 1996 (now The Walking Dead: The Ride). Between 1983 and 1989, the park was also used as a filming location for The Benny Hill Show. In 1998, The Tussauds Group purchased the park. This period saw considerable investment, with major attractions opening such as Tidal Wave in 2000, Vortex in 2001, Colossus in 2002, Nemesis Inferno in 2003, and Stealth in 2006. In May 2007, the Blackstone Group purchased The Tussauds Group for US$1.9 billion, and the company was merged into Merlin Entertainments, who took over operation of Thorpe Park. Dubai International Capital also acquired a 20% stake in Merlin Entertainments. On 17 July 2007, as part of the financing for the Tussauds acquisition, Merlin sold Thorpe Park to the private investment firm Prestbury under a sale-and-leaseback agreement. The site is operated by Merlin under a renewable 35-year lease. As of 2023, the site is owned by LXi REIT plc. In 2009, the park opened Saw – The Ride. In 2010, the park outlined a five-year development plan, which proposed new roller coasters for 2012; this was later realised with the opening of The Swarm. The plan also included a roller coaster scheduled for 2015 and a permanent lakeside hotel, neither of which has come to fruition. No application was ever submitted for the 2015 development, and the site behind The Swarm remains undeveloped. In 2014, Merlin also sought to broaden the park's appeal to families with additions including Angry Birds Land and the park's onsite hotel. In July 2016, the park opened Derren Brown's Ghost Train. After the 2022 operating season, the ride’s virtual reality elements were removed, and its association with Derren Brown was discontinued. On 20 February 2019, Thorpe Park's official Twitter account confirmed the permanent closure of Logger's Leap. In 2021, the park announced plans to construct a new roller coaster on the former site of the log flume. During the 2023 Fright Nights event, the ride was officially revealed as Hyperia. Designed to become the tallest and fastest roller coaster in the United Kingdom, Hyperia reaches a height of 236 feet (71.9 metres) and achieves speeds of up to 81 mph (130 km/h).[16] The roller coaster opened to the public on 23 May 2024. For the 2023 season, Derren Brown's Ghost Train was re-imagined into Ghost Train. For the 2024 season, Thorpe Park adopted a new logo and branding, which the park stated was to "encapsulate the spirit of Thorpe Park". For the 2026 season, it was announced that approximately half of the Amity Beach area would be redeveloped to create a new relaxation zone called The Launchpad. The Launchpad is designed as a year-round space for visitors to rest and refuel between rides, featuring seating and canopies. The smaller remaining half of Amity Beach will remain operational. On 12 March 2026, the park released an official statement alongside Jack Silkstone, confirming the permanent closure of Rumba Rapids after 39 years of operation. The park has stated ‘Whilst we don’t have plans to share just yet on what’s next, we’re always reviewing our line-up of world-class rides and attractions to make sure Thorpe Park remains the UK’s most thrilling theme park’. Rides and attractions Roller coasters Flat rides Water rides Family attractions Dark rides and other attractions Former attractions Park Areas Thorpe Park has featured multiple themed areas and attraction zones throughout its operational history. Between 2008 and 2015, these areas were not identified by name on park maps or signage, although their physical layouts and attractions remained unchanged. From 2016 to 2020, the park reintroduced named zones under the designation “Island Territories,” during which several areas received updated names and thematic identities. From 2021 onwards, named designations were again largely removed from maps and signage; however, new area names have continued to be introduced within the park. The Dome is the large dome building guests first enter at the park. Amity opened with Tidal Wave and now includes Stealth, Depth Charge, Amity Beach, High Striker, Flying Fish, and Storm Surge. The Jungle contains Nemesis Inferno, Mr Monkey's Banana Ride, and a street of restaurants. Saw – The Ride and Samurai are located in a zone formerly joined with "Old Town". Fearless Valley is located towards the back of the park and contains Hyperia. Lost City contains Colossus, Rush, Quantum, Vortex, and Zodiac. Swarm Island is an area containing The Swarm. The Dock Yard is the area immediately outside Ghost Train and includes The Walking Dead: The Ride roller coaster. Big Easy Boulevard is located between Amity and The Jungle, and contains Detonator, Big Easy Bumpers, and Sunset Cinema. The Dome The Dome serves as the central hub of the park, accommodating a range of guest and operational facilities. These include Vibes Bar & Kitchen (previously Infinity Bar & Kitchen), an arcade, The Coffee Shack, toilets, lockers, the Island Gift Shop, guest services, first aid, photo points, and staff areas such as the canteen, The Core, and administrative offices. The structure has undergone several rebrandings over its history. Originally named the Mountbatten Pavilion, it was redesigned in 2000 as Port Atlantis, featuring an underwater Atlantean-themed interior. In 2016, it was renamed Basecamp, during which the underwater theming was gradually removed. Since 2021, the building has been known simply as The Dome. The Dome also operates outside standard park hours to provide dining and entertainment for guests staying at the Thorpe Shark Cabins, including breakfast service. Amity Amity is themed as a 1950s American fishing village affected by a tidal wave and opened in 2000 alongside the Tidal Wave attraction. The area was originally known as Amity Cove, a name that is still reflected on certain themed signage. In 2006, the area was expanded with the addition of Stealth, set at the Amity Speedway racetrack. Subsequently, Amity incorporated attractions from the former Neptune’s Beach family area, including Depth Charge and the Amity Beach outdoor water park. Amity Cove and Amity Speedway are no longer physically connected, having been separated by Big Easy Boulevard. The area also includes rides relocated from the former European Park section of the park, such as Flying Fish and Storm in a Teacup, now known as Dobble Tea Party. Flying Fish was originally situated beside Tidal Wave on the site later occupied by Stealth but was removed in 2005 for construction and reopened in 2007 near The Swarm following popular demand. In 2011, the raft ride Storm Surge was relocated from Cypress Gardens in Florida, United States, prior to its retheming at Legoland Florida. Storm Surge occupies the former site of the Octopus Garden children’s area. The Jungle The area’s principal attractions are Nemesis Inferno, an inverted roller coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and set within a volcano. The area was formerly known as Calypso Quay and incorporates elements from the former Ranger County family area, including Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride, a small swinging ship, as well as shopfronts and dining facilities retained from the former European Park section of the park. The Dock Yard This area functions primarily as the plaza for Ghost Train, an indoor dark ride. The area also features The Walking Dead: The Ride, an indoor roller coaster. The zone features limited theming beyond its buildings. Historically, the area has been known as The Depot and Thorpe Junction. Lost City The Lost City is themed around the ruins of a newly unearthed Atlantean civilisation, with Colossus as the main attraction since 2002. The area first opened in 2001 with Vortex and Zodiac as its only rides. In 2003, the area was expanded with Quantum (a magic carpet ride) and Eclipse (a Ferris wheel). Eclipse was removed after the 2004 season and relocated to Chessington World of Adventures. It was replaced by Rush, an S&S Screamin' Swing, which opened in 2005. At the end of the 2005 season, Zodiac was removed and replaced with a HUSS Enterprise relocated from Drayton Manor, where it operated as Cyclone before closing due to noise issues. The replacement Zodiac opened without fanfare in 2006. Old Town The attractions in this area are Saw – The Ride, a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter roller coaster featuring a 100 ft (30 m)-tall, 100° beyond-vertical drop. The ride is themed to the Saw horror franchise and is set within a derelict warehouse and sawmill. The flat ride Samurai was relocated from Chessington World of Adventures in 2004. The majority of the area, now replaced by Hyperia, was originally named Canada Creek and featured the log flume Logger's Leap. The area opened in 1989 and had a Canadian aesthetic, though this shifted towards a Western-style theme over time. Logger's Leap ceased running after the 2015 season and the area was renamed "Old Town" (incorporating the adjacent Saw area) in 2016, though there were no changes to the area theme. The area also hosted Black Mirror Labyrinth between 2021 and 2023. The main Old Town area closed after the 2021 season to be redeveloped for Hyperia, which opened in 2024 and the area was subsequently renamed Fearless Valley. Saw and Samurai continue to operate in a separate now unnamed zone, following the disuse of area names from park maps from 2021. Fearless Valley The main attraction in this area is Hyperia, the United Kingdom's tallest and fastest rollercoaster. Fearless Valley also includes a Burger King, Victorious Games, the Hyporium gift shop, Cloud Nine Treats, and toilets themed to Hyperia. Swarm Island Swarm Island serves as the plaza for The Swarm, a wing coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard that opened in 2012. The area was built on land reclaimed from surrounding lakes and is themed to depict the aftermath of an apocalyptic event or alien invasion caused by “The Swarm.” Key thematic elements include a crashed aeroplane, damaged emergency vehicles such as a helicopter and fire engine, a partially destroyed church that functions as the ride station, and additional ruined structures. Several guest and operational facilities are integrated into these props, including a shop housed within a shipping container and the ride control room located in an overturned police trailer suspended within the church roof. Timeline of park areas Previous named area Current named area Records held by the park Nemesis Inferno is the first inverted coaster to feature interlocking corkscrews (in the same layout). Additionally, the world record for "most naked people on a roller coaster" was set on Nemesis Inferno in May 2004. The Swarm opened as Europe's tallest wing coaster and the first coaster in the world to feature the "wing over drop". Saw – The Ride was marketed as having the world's steepest "freefall" drop, and as the world's first horror movie themed roller coaster. Saw - The Ride was not actually the steepest roller coaster in the world when it opened in March 2009 - Steel Hawg at Indiana Beach had opened the previous year with a steeper 111° drop. However, whilst Steel Hawg's drop has brakes on it, Saw's drop is brakeless - hence it being marketed as having the steepest freefall drop. This particular accolade was taken by The Monster in 2016 (and, as of 2022, is held by Defiance). Colossus held the world record for the most inversions on a rollercoaster when it opened in 2002, with 10 inversions. This record was matched in 2006 by 10 Inversion Roller Coaster (an exact clone of Colossus) and then beaten in 2013 by The Smiler at Alton Towers, with 14 inversions. Stealth was the United Kingdom's fastest roller coaster, launching from 0–80 mph (0–129 km/h) in 1.8 seconds (as of 2024 this record has been taken by Hyperia) Standing at 205.1 ft (62.5 m), it is also the United Kingdom's third tallest roller coaster (behind The Big One and Hyperia). Tidal Wave opened as Europe's tallest water ride. Hyperia is the tallest roller coaster in the UK at 236 ft (72 m), and the fastest roller coaster in the UK at 81 mph (130 km/h). Hyperia also contains Europe's tallest inversion at 168 ft (51.2 m), and a world's first outer-banked turn inversion. Thorpe Park also claim that Hyperia has 14.8s of airtime being the UK's most weightless coaster. However, this is debated as they have included a 3s stall in this statistic, which is widely regarded as hangtime and not airtime. Stealth is the world's fastest accelerating rollercoaster (0–80 mph (0–129 km/h) in 1.8 seconds) with the announced closure of Do-Dodonpa at Fuji-Q Highland on 13 March 2024. Fright Nights Fright Nights, formerly styled as "Fright Nites", is Thorpe Park's annual Halloween event and one of the largest Halloween events of its kind in the United Kingdom. The event has run at the park since 2002, celebrating Halloween with extended opening hours and a range of temporary Halloween attractions. Roaming actors in costume or make-up can also be found around the park. During Fright Nights, the park operates with extended opening hours and features a series of themed “scare mazes”. In previous years, the park also offered an additional paid experience titled Face It Alone, which allowed an individual guest to navigate a scare maze alone; participation required the signing of a liability disclaimer. In 2013, Fright Nights was rebranded to feature a horror film–themed format under a three-year licensing agreement with Lionsgate. As part of this rebranding, all existing Fright Nights attractions were discontinued, with the exception of The Asylum and Saw: Alive, and replaced by new scare attractions based on popular horror films produced or distributed by Lionsgate. In 2014, following the opening of the Thorpe Shark Hotel, Thorpe Park introduced two overnight scare experiences for guests. The first involved a “night terror” character entering guest rooms during the night, while the second, called the “Extra Cut,” staged a scenario in which guests were “kidnapped” from their rooms and pursued throughout the park. In 2017, Fright Nights was redesigned with a Walking Dead theme in collaboration with The Walking Dead. Two new attractions based on the series were introduced to coincide with the premiere of its eighth season. Existing attractions from previous years, including Saw: Alive, The Big Top, and Platform 15, were retained, while Containment returned as a paid upcharge experience. In 2020, restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic limited Fright Nights operations to two scare mazes: Platform 15 and Roots of Evil, both of which were primarily outdoors. For the first time, a range of scare zones was introduced across the park, including The Swarm: Invasion on Swarm Island, Creek Freaks Unchained in Old Town, The Fearstival Arena in the Dockyard, The Howling of LycanThorpe High in Lost City on the site typically used for a scare maze near Zodiac and Rush, and Terror at Amity High, returning for its third year on Stealth Plaza. Additionally, The Crows were introduced as roaming scarecrows, stationed at key locations but moving throughout the park and interacting with other scare zones. – Previous Fright Night attraction. – Current Fright Night attraction. Thorpe Shark Cabins Guests can stay on-site at the Thorpe Shark Cabins, comprising 90 rooms converted from shipping containers and linked to facilities in the adjacent Dome. The accommodation takes its name from its shark-head entrance feature, constructed from recycled park signage. The hotel initially opened in 2013 as The Crash Pad, operated by the external company Snoozebox. The temporary development was purchased by the park the following year and rebranded as the Thorpe Shark Hotel. Thorpe Park had originally planned to construct a permanent 250-bed hotel as early as 2006. It would have been located on the opposite side of the lake, on the site of former excavation works, and feature a lakeside bar, health club, and restaurant. Planning permission was granted in 2011. The development was proposed again following the installation of The Crash Pad to "test market conditions". The park received planning permission to construct the permanent hotel in 2014, with construction planned to begin in 2016 and an opening scheduled for 2018. However, the hotel was never built, and the Shark Hotel’s planning permission was instead extended by ten years. In 2023, new Swarm, Nemesis Inferno, and Stealth-themed rooms opened in the Thorpe Shark Cabins. They feature bespoke theming and provide unlimited fastrack access to each room’s associated roller coaster on the second day of a stay. In 2024, new Colossus and Hyperia-themed rooms opened in the Thorpe Shark Cabins. Transport There are no direct rail connections to Thorpe Park; the nearest railway station is Chertsey, situated approximately 2km away. Thorpe Park is served by the 950 express bus, which departs from Staines railway station, providing connections from London Waterloo and Reading. Other local bus routes serving the park include routes 461 and 446. Additionally, there is the seasonal 951 bus between Watford and Thorpe Park, operating once daily (arriving in the morning and departing in the evening), with two return journeys during Fright Nights. Incidents See also Merlin Entertainments The Tussauds Group RMC Group "Thorpe Park", an episode of The Inbetweeners in which the main characters visit Thorpe Park. Primeval – the third episode of Series 2 featured the park under a fictitious name. Staines railway station Chertsey railway station Alton Towers Chessington World of Adventures Drayton Manor Theme Park References External links Official website Memories of Thorpe Park