Further details have today come to light surrounding Secret Weapon 8, Alton Towers Resort’s wooden rollercoaster development set to open in 2018.
In plans submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands District Council as part of the requirements of the planning permission granted earlier this year, details surrounding the manufacturer, timescale, and cost of the attraction are confirmed.
Set to be constructed by Great Coasters International (GCI), the wooden rollercoaster will take a total of 58 weeks to construct, followed by 11 weeks of testing and staff training of the ride. With recent reports of construction having commenced in the past week at the Resort this would mean a potential opening date of the end of March or beginning of April 2018, a timescale which would potentially coincide with the start of the main 2018 season. Also contained within the submitted details is confirmation of a £15 million cost for the construction of the ride. However, it is perhaps important to note that this figure will not include the cost of promotion or marketing of the ride and therefore will not be representative of the total investment for SW8.
Other smaller details are also illustrated within the new documents with retaining walls now shown on either side of the track as it leaves the station, and on part of the final break run. There is also what appears to be some form of small building underneath the lift hill, although exactly what this is for is uncertain at this stage.
Also contained within the submitted documents are details of plans to maintain and conserve the historic Deer Park Wall which boarders the site of SW8. Thought to date back to as early as 1316, the medieval Deer Park Wall formed part of the historic estate and is considered an important part of the history of the site.
What are your thoughts on these latest developments for SW8? Have your say over on the Attraction Source Forum. With construction now underway on the Resort’s newest rollercoaster TowersTimes will continue to bring you all the latest news and developments.
