In the first Resort update of 2024, Bianca Sammut, Divisional Director at Alton Towers Resort, has shared a range of news regarding the upcoming season, which begins in just over a week’s time! This includes confirmation that Hex: The Legend of the Towers is set to reopen later in 2024 with brand new effects, with other rides also being refreshed over the closed season with deep cleaning undertaken, additional theming added and other enhancements made. Also revealed is that The Alton Towers Dungeon will be reimagined as a brand-new experience for Scarefest. However, despite ambitions for it to return this year, it has now been confirmed that Skyride will remain closed for 2024, with the Resort set to undertake a significant investment project to ensure its long term future.
The full update is published below:
As we gear up for the new season, I’m delighted to share some thrilling updates from Alton Towers Resort with you!
Firstly, let me extend a heartfelt thank you to all who joined us for our swashbuckling Pirate Takeover during the February half term. It was an epic adventure filled with treasure hunts, family thrills, and enough pirate shenanigans to make even Blackbeard blush! The success of this event truly sets the tone for what’s to come in our future events program and I can’t wait to explore more uncharted waters together as we dive into these later this year.
For now, with the main season just a week away, excitement is reaching fever pitch across the Resort! We have already gone public with some of the exciting elements making their debut this year, including track walks, VIP experiences and confirmed that we’ll stage celebratory activities marking ten years of CBeebies Land.
However, I wanted to share an exclusive sneak peek behind the scenes: over the winter, we’ve invested millions back into the Resort, focusing on enhancing the overall look and feel with our incredible resort team working hard to deep clean and enhance many of our attractions. For many of our rides this means a refreshed look and feel – in stations, on the track and in queue lines. Plus, we’ve also invested in technology upgrades, additional theming, as well as branding throughout. From floors to ceilings, pathways to fencing lines, seating, and everything in between. I am sure you will recognise this in some of your favourite spots. And that’s not all—our waterpark and hotels have also received some enriching upgrades. I can’t wait for you to experience these enhancements first-hand!
As you know Alton Towers is so much more than our rides and attractions. We pride ourselves on our rich heritage and being caretakers of our historical artefacts. Over the winter we have undertaken specialist work on The Choragic Monument and Scalloped wall in our Grade Listed gardens. The monument, designed by Peter Hollins of Birmingham and completed around 1830, is a Grade II listed building that features marble bust of the 15th Earl of Shrewsbury and the inscription ‘he made the desert smile’. Aptly, the quote ‘he made the desert smile’ refers to the 15th Earls dedication to improving the gardens and wider estate despite its lack of a natural water source. I’m thrilled the work carried out by our teams will bring smiles for generations to come.
But wait, there’s more! Get ready for new types of merchandise in our shops, limited-edition items (wait till you see our Nemesis Reborn range!), and exciting food and beverage options. It’s all about bringing something fresh and exciting that we’ve never done before, and we’ll keep listening to guest feedback to keep the momentum going. Plus, following the positive response to the launch of The Curse at Alton Manor video overlay, we’re expanding options for capturing memories across more attractions, so get ready for some new ways to relive your favourite moments!
And here’s a little teaser: next week, we’ll be launching something special to bring a piece of Alton Towers Resort to you, no matter where you are in the world. Stay ‘tuned’!
We’re dedicated to providing unforgettable experiences for all our guests, and we’re committed to driving further excitement and innovation throughout the season. From events to new attractions, it’s my ambition that there is always something to look forward to in 2024 – long after opening! And speaking of excitement later in the season, get ready for the triumphant return of Hex: Legend of the Towers! We’ve invested in brand new special effects to take this twisted tale to the next level, and I can’t wait for you to experience it. This significant investment reflects our continued passion for dark rides and creating truly immersive experiences. It has led us somewhere really exciting with this attraction. I have been blown away by the work undertaken so far. It is already phenomenal, and I cannot wait to see it come to life further as we continue to work through this project ahead of its return later in 2024. Stay tuned for more details on this much-anticipated comeback! I know you are going to love it.
For me, this kind of investment is crucial now and for the future success of the Resort.
Some of our assets require more love and investment than others. Over the last year during its closure we have been carrying out crucial work behind the scenes on the Skyride. It has been extensive but needed. As we have worked through this project in collaboration with the ride supplier POMA, we have had to make some critical decisions about the attraction’s future longevity. This went beyond our commitment to just keeping the Skyride operational, it became around the desire to ensure it remains a beloved feature of the park for generations to come. The Skyride isn’t just a ride; it’s a piece of Alton Towers history and an iconic sight at the theme park since the 1960’s. Since its debut, it has whisked millions of visitors across the park offering breath-taking views of our historic Listed gardens and their hidden gems. My ambition is not to lose this from the park.
Therefore, we are opting to place additional, significant investment into its infrastructure to protect this much-loved attraction that has been a staple of the Resort for so long. This means Skyride will remain closed in 2024 as we continue our work and undertake this multimillion-pound project. Rest assured that specialist teams are already at work behind the scenes and will ensure its eventual return will be nothing short of spectacular. You will no doubt see work progress over the coming months when visiting the Resort. In the meantime, we’ve doubled down on our commitment to accessibility with investment in expanding our fleet of mobility scooters to continue to support guests who require additional assistance to navigate our park.
In other exciting news, we’re thrilled to announce that the Alton Towers Dungeon will undergo a thrilling transformation this Scarefest season. From summer, this space will close as it is reimagined to create something truly special for our beloved event. Prepare for spooks and scares around every corner in a brand-new experience!
With just a week to go before season opening, I want to finish by saying how excited the colleagues and I are to welcome you back through the turnstiles. There’s so much to look forward to this season. Nemesis Reborn will soon deliver screams once more, accompanied by a reimagined Forbidden Valley that pays homage to this iconic coaster. I cannot wait for you to experience this thrilling space and enhanced immersion. I am incredibly proud of the team that have worked hard to deliver this area of the park and I am confident you will agree what an incredible level of theming they have achieved. If you were excited for Nemesis Reborn before, the next few days and ultimate opening day are set to really cement the anticipation of this thrilling return.
The reaction to the news that Bluey will arrive at the Resort this Easter has also been incredible. I am so proud we are bringing this award-winning and much-loved IP to the Resort in 2024. As we celebrate 10 years of CBeebies Land, we have even more exciting announcements in store to mark this milestone over the coming weeks. It’s another fantastic reason 2024 is set to be a truly memorable year for the Resort for both families and thrillseekers alike.
As always, we still have plenty of announcements to make in the coming days and lot’s more to share. So much has been achieved over the winter season from rides and attractions to facilities and infrastructure, it’s all aimed at our passion delivering a first-class experience to you, our guests. And as one final ‘spoiler’ I can confirm to you that our passion to deliver excitement has extended to our beloved park map – all will be revealed in the coming days!
With just a week to go before the season opens, I can’t wait to welcome you back to the Resort for more unforgettable experiences and memories. Get ready for an incredible year ahead!
There is certainly lots to look forward to in the 2024 season, not least of course the opening of Nemesis Reborn on Saturday 16th March! We’re excited to see new attractions and enhancements arrive over the course of the year, and will be sure to bring you all the latest updates throughout!
