Plans have been submitted by Alton Towers Resort for the addition of a new attraction in Forbidden Valley, broadly located in the area most recently occupied by Funk’n’Fly.
Referred to as Project Ocean in the application documents, details about specifically what model of attraction is being proposed are not disclosed in plans. However, the attraction is noted to be “more fixed” in nature than that of Funk’n’Fly, a travelling flat ride, and will sit outdoors atop a 4.8m tall building. The attraction will measure 11.5m in length and 14.5m in width, and stand at an approximate overall height of 18m from ground level, implying that the attraction itself will be around 13.2m tall. Nonetheless, it is not expected to be visible from outside of the Resort, due to the cover provided by the neighbouring trees and vegetation. Note that, although a box is shown in place of the ride system in the plans and renderings, this is understood just to reflect the ride envelope as opposed to indicating that the attraction will be enclosed.
The building is positioned further north-east than Funk’n’Fly, closer to the Coffee Lounge, and occupies a larger footprint. It will therefore sit across the path that runs along the south-west side of Forbidden Valley, and so will incorporate an an east-west walkway that takes guests underneath the elevated attraction, allowing access to Galactica and the Rollercoaster Restaurant for guests walking down from The Blade. The path will therefore be slight re-routed in order to pass through the centre of the building, with two 24m² rooms on either side of the 5.5m wide tunnel housing plant and storage. Cast in-situ concrete will be used to form the structure of the building, with its walls set to receive a light-themed finish through the application of stencilled designs. There will also be two circular themed structures, located on opposing sides of the building (i.e. the northern and southern sides) and standing at approximately half the height of the attraction.
The entrance to the attraction’s queue line will be located to the right of the former Ripsaw Café, which is itself set to be converted into a retail outlet for the 2024 season. The queue will take guests through a cattlepen on the southern side of the attraction until eventually climbing a steel staircase to reach the level at which the attraction will be boarded. A lift will also be available to aid with accessibility. Two sweet chestnut trees and a holly bush will be removed to accommodate the queue line, although 208m² of soft landscaping will be introduced. It is notable that two gates are shown through which guests will enter to board the attraction, suggesting that there will two sets of seats, potentially located back-to-back. After experiencing the attraction, guests will exit through a singular gate on the opposite side and descend another steel staircase back to ground level.
A closer look at the elevation plans and 3D renderings, reveals that there is no fencing along the two sides of the top of the building which face towards the pathway below – instead there is a slightly shorter wall. This seems to imply that the attraction will potentially swing in the east-west direction, providing a spectacle to guests on the pathway below, as well as those using the Coffee Lounge’s outdoor seating area. This, combined with the provided dimensions of the ride, has somewhat narrowed down the potential ride options. With the site having also previously been occupied by Ripsaw, a HUSS Top Spin removed in 2015, it has been speculated that a ‘Top Spin style’ attraction could be installed as a call-back to the former attraction. It is worth noting that a HUSS Suspended Top Spin has a height of 13.2m, exactly in line with that implied by the dimensions set out in the application. The cylindrical structures on either side of the attraction are also reminiscent of the air chambers seen on S&S Screamin Swings, however this would seemingly be the world’s smallest version of this ride type and the noise created by these rides could be problematic in the context of the area surrounding Alton Towers.
The objective of the development is noted as being to provide a return to a more fixed attraction to aid the dwell time and attraction availability in Forbidden Valley, with guests numbers in the area expected to increase with the reopening of Nemesis. Nonetheless, no timeframe for opening this additional attraction is given in the application. The statutory public consultation period is set to run until 13 March 2024, with a decision on the application due by 2 April 2024. Therefore, it is not expected that the attraction will open for the start of the 2024 season, although it is unclear if an opening later in 2024 is being targeted, or whether this will be a new addition for the 2025 season.
Regardless, it is pleasing to see the Resort once more investing in permanent flat rides, following the departure of the Retro Squad at the end of the 2023 season. Indeed, it appears these plans only began to be worked up in the latter part of 2023, with assessments of the site undertaken in September and October, followed by pre-application advice being sought from the local council in November 2023.
What type of ride do you think Project Ocean will be? Be sure to let us know via our social media channels.
