Within the last month, planning applications been submitted by Alton Towers Resort for proposals to refresh other aspects of Forbidden Valley alongside the reopening of Nemesis in 2024, following the completion of the track replacement project.
The first of these proposals is in respect of the former Ripsaw Café building, located between the former site of Ripsaw (most recently occupied by Funk’n’Fly) and the Rollercoaster Restaurant. Plans have been submitted for an extension to the building, along with internal alterations in order to open the space as a new retail unit. The building, constituting four adjoining portacabins, currently houses potwashing, office and storage facilities for the nearby Rollercoaster Restaurant. While the cabins which contain the potwashing facilities will be retained, the other two will be removed and replaced with a purpose-built retail unit in a new 10.4m x 10.2m extension that can accommodate up to 45 people at any one time. It is noted that the retail unit will be associated with the rethemed Nemesis, and it is intended to form part of a refresh of the Forbidden Valley area when the iconic rollercoaster reopens in 2024.
While the exact exterior colour and themed finish is noted as ‘to be confirmed’ in the documents, it is shown to be clad with metal panels finished in a dark grey. At the front of the retail space will be a roller shutter door, with double glazed toughened glass windows on either side. This certainly looks to be on brand with the Phalanx and the black and red colour scheme that Nemesis is adopting, and has already started to be rolled out to the wider area, most notably with the reopening of Nemesis Sub-Terra earlier this year. A ‘Refill & Refresh Station’ (i.e. Coca Cola Freestyle) is also shown to be installed on the refurbished building’s exterior, on the right-hand side of the retail unit entrance.
The second proposal is for the demolition of the existing Edge Games arcade, located opposite Nemesis Sub-Terra, in order to be replaced with a new purpose-built steel frame structure that is said will serve the same function. Due to the anticipated popularity of Nemesis upon its reopening in Spring 2024, the Resort believe there will be the requirement for dwell areas within Forbidden Valley. With the existing structure again consisting of portacabins, it is stated that these will be removed and replaced with a new building with a similar, if slightly reduced footprint. The new building will however more than double in height to 5.7m compared to the current 2.6m.
The building will be similar in appearance to the new retail unit, again shown to be clad with metal panels finished in a dark grey. It will also retain a covered area around its exterior, incorporating themed column surrounds and signage. There will be one roller shutter door on the front-facing side and another on the north-east facing side to provide up to 60 guests with access inside, with it stated that the interior walls are to be painted black. Although the application shows the building remaining an arcade, the design and access statement makes a curious reference to “proposed rides and operator’s booth”, raising the question of whether there could be something more to this development.
As already expected, the submission of these applications confirms the Resort’s intentions to refresh the entire Forbidden Valley area alongside reopening Nemesis in 2024. They also add to the speculation about what other changes and enhancements could be coming to the area as part of this. For example, it would be assumed that the existing Coca Cola Freestyle station located in the structure adjacent to Galactica’s lift hill will be removed, potentially leaving this space vacant. Indeed, with Galactica being the other major attraction in Forbidden Valley, speculation has been mounting that the rollercoaster could also receive some attention over the closed season. This could potentially include updates to its theme to complement that of the rethemed Nemesis – given the decline in its appearance over this past season especially, such work would certainly be welcome.
With the 2023 season also have been the last for all three Retro Squad rides, this has opened up the space occupied by Funk’n’Fly since the 2020 season (along with the two sites in X-Sector) – could we therefore see the installation of a new permanent flat ride in this area for the 2024 season? With this location falling within the section of Forbidden Valley which has permitted development rights, such an attraction could potentially be installed without the need for a planning application. The entirety of X-Sector also benefits from the same rights.
Are you excited to explore a new-look Forbidden Valley in 2024? What other changes to the area do you think we might see? Let us know your thoughts via our social media channels.
