The 2004/2005 Closed Season saw the first closed season for the Flume Unplugged and Splash Kart Challenge at the park. This was also the closed season when Ug Bugs became Bouncing Bugs, Nemesis gained a Single Rider Queue and of course Rita – Queen of Speed was constructed.
A small snowy and misty update from X-Sector, showing a cover and scaffolding erected at Submission whilst Oblivion stands tall in the mist.
The Vintage Cars were all lined up for their re-opening in the new season. The Congo River Rapids boats had been removed from the water, with an old style raft also pictured, and similarly the Splash Karts were removed from their lake.
A new sight for this closed season was The Flume Unplugged’s bath tubs sitting in the car parks, along with the ride’s (usually floating) theming items sitting stranded in a drained lake. As is a typical sight at this time of year, the frogs were missing from their usual location on Towers Street. The Splash Karts were still sitting alongside their lake, and some cosmetic work was being carried out on the side of the Courtyard Tavern in an otherwise quiet Merrie England. Also pictured is the old Brunch Stop café in Fountain Square which was rumoured to be turning into an arcade for the 2005 season. Finally, a new paint job for the Nickelodeon: Outta Control building was underway.
Ug Bugs sits dismantled outside the Tweenies Theatre, providing a first look at their new colour scheme. Nearby, one of the construction vehicles for Rita is parked outside Toyland Tours, with Fountain Square also full of hardware for the rollercoaster’s construction. In the same area, the Bungee Trampolines were stripped down to the frames. Corkscrew’s cars were spotted sitting behind Cred Street, with the central column of Ug Swinger also in storage whilst Rita was constructed. We also captured a Hercules plane flying over the backstage area behind Cred Street. In X-Sector, the Enterprise cars were sitting outside the Re-Hydrator Cafe. A rather blurred image of The Blade being dismantled for seasonal maintenance is also included.
This update focuses on Forbidden Valley, starting with some cleaning going on outside Nemesis Nosh. Also included is a look at Nemesis which had work carried out on its station over the closed season. Meanwhile, maintenance work was being carried out on Ripsaw and gardening work carried out alongside The Blade.
With X-Sector open for Winter Weekends, it could be seen that the area’s sign had been removed for a rehab. Refresh works had already been completed on Oblivion’s queue line, with a freshly painted concrete sign pictured along with the queue line building itself. In Storybook Land, the Bookworm was still absent, with it hoped that it would be fully working for 2005.
The Nemesis monster received a coat of paint over the closed season, along with a new Single Rider Queue and widened ride exit bridge. Ripsaw remained undercover and receiving its winter maintenance. Elsewhere, the Congo River Rapids are pictured drained of water. Also shown is the delivery of Rita’s second train and Corkscrew’s trains sitting in the snow behind Cred Street. Lava Lump was also sitting in storage, waiting to be moved to Forbidden Valley. A snowy look at the Vintage Cars and Toyland Tours is also shown.
Starting in Cred Street, we can see the new rehab and pink paint job on the Nickelodeon: Outta Control building, followed by the new look for Ug Bugs (now Bouncing Bugs), sitting on the former Cadbury House site. An unusual view of the main lake completely drained is provided, along with Oblivion at sunset.
