In February 2024, Alton Towers submitted plans for the addition of a new attraction in Forbidden Valley, which would ultimately be revealed as Toxicator when it opened in 2025. Then referred to as Project Ocean, details about specifically what model of attraction was being proposed were not disclosed in the plans, although it was referred to as being “more fixed” in nature than its predecessor, indicating that it would be a permanent flat ride.
Although the plans did not show the ride hardware itself, they did set out how it would sit outdoors atop a 4.8m tall building and that the attraction would 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. The building was shown to sit across the path running along the south-west side of Forbidden Valley, and so would incorporate an east-west walkway taking guests underneath the elevated attraction. Also shown were 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 – upon the attraction opening, these were revealed as giant silos incorporating screens with one also acting as the ride’s operator’s cabin.
With the site having previously been occupied by Ripsaw, a HUSS Top Spin removed in 2015, it was speculated that a ‘Top Spin style’ attraction could be installed as a call-back to the former attraction. Indeed it was noted that a HUSS Suspended Top Spin, the type of ride which Toxicator was revealed to be, had a height of 13.2m, exactly in line with that implied by the dimensions set out in the application. Other hints towards the ride type within the plans were the two gates through which guests would enter to board the attraction (suggesting two sets of seats, potentially located back-to-back), and that there was no fencing along the two sides of the top of the building which face towards the pathway below (implying that the attraction would swing in the east-west direction).
