Blackpool Pleasure Beach to Close Valhalla for 2020 Season for Major Refurbishment

© Blackpool Pleasure Beach

England's Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced that they will be closing their iconic water flume ride, Valhalla, for the 2020 season in order to complete a total refurbishment.  Details as to exactly what they have planned are slim, with the park only saying it will be given a "reimagining during the 2020 season."

Valhalla is planned to reopen in 2021 in time for the park's grand 125th anniversary year.

Fans of the ride should be please as Valhalla has been known to have many of its fantastic effects not working in recent years, having opened in 2000.  One has to wonder if these exact effects will return in 2021 or if the "reimagining" will include brand new replacement effects.  Either way it is nice to see the park decide to double down on the ride, which is massive and I'd assume expense to operate, instead of retiring it.

If you haven't had the pleasure of checking out Valhalla, here is an unofficial on ride movie of the experience from a few years ago when more of the effects were working.  The fire at the end is super intense and I hope that's not changed during the renovations!

Take a Ride on Icon at Blackpool Pleasure Beach - New Mack Launched Coaster

© Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure beach has opened Icon to visitors, the park's new Mack Rides launched roller coaster.  The ride has been a long time coming and fans of the classic amusement park have carefully watched as the park build the ride under, over and in between many of their existing attractions.  It is also one of the largest projects in the history of the park, costing more than £16 million to complete.

© Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The custom design features two separate LSM launches and hits a maximum speed of 53 miles per hour, stretching 3,750 feet long.  The first element after the initial launch is a giant air-time hill, and the twisted layout also features a heartline roll mid-ride.  The second launch sends trains up into an 88 foot tall Immelmann, the second inversion featured on Icon.  Mixed between all these elements are a seemingly endless mixture of highly banked turns, with the majority of the ride staying quite close to the ground.

For those who can't experience Icon in person, here is a nice point of view experience of the ride from Coaster Touring:

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Now Testing ICON - New Launched Mack Coaster

© Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach's massive new launched roller coaster, ICON, is now testing and the amusement park has released a new video showing off the ride.  Designed by Mack Rides, ICON features two separate LSM launches and 3,750 feet of track, which is quite long for a launched roller coaster.

Check out the video to see the ride in action, both on ride and off ride views:

ICON combines launch speeds of up to 53 miles per hour with a hyper-twisted layout that interacts with many of Blackpool Pleasure Beach's existing rides.  There are elements such as a giant air-time hill, an Immelmann, tunnels, helices wrapped around rides, and even a heart-line roll.  ICON is the largest investment that the park has ever made in a single attraction.

For more on ICON, check out Blackpool Pleasure Beach's official website.

Another New For 2018 Coaster, Blackpool's Icon, Heads into Vertical Construction Phase

© Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The crop of new-for-2018 roller coasters around the world is an exciting bunch, and one of the standouts is Icon, opening at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

The extremely custom designed Mack Rides launch coaster will twist its way throughout a large section of the classic seaside amusement park, interacting with several rides and buildings along the way.  It was announced some time ago, with plenty of lead time built in to construct such a complicated but thrilling addition.

© Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Now, we've finally entered the exciting construction phase of Icon where track and supports have started to be placed.  Granted it's not a ton of track just yet, seen above, but it's wonderful to see the ride standing.  Featuring gray track with black supports, the finished ride will feature 3,750 feet of track including two separate LSM launches.

Features on Icon include a layout that includes heavily banked turns and little straight track, aside from one huge air-time hill and the launches of course.  There will be two inversions found on the ride, a giant Immelmann after the second launch and a heartline roll.

The layout is so twisted that it might be easy to forget what the ride will offer as we watch it be constructed, so check out the video below for a nice refresher.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Gives a Name to its 2018 Launched Coaster

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been hard at work on their new for 2018 roller coaster since last fall, and today announced that the ride will be known simply as Icon.  The name is simple, but powerful, and helps enforce the park's belief that it will be one of the most iconic roller coasters ever built.  The coaster is the largest project that Blackpool has ever taken on, and it will interact with the park's other rides 15 times throughout its layout.  Blackpool is known for having a great amount of rides packed into a small space, so to build a ride of this size is no small undertaking.

Icon is being built by Mack Rides and will feature two LSM launches, one to start the coaster and one halfway through the ride.  The twisted layout stretches 3,750 feet and features elements such as an Immelman, an in-line roll and two tunnels.  The maximum height Icon will hit is 89 feet above the park, and trains will zoom at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour.

To celebrate the announcement of the Icon name, Blackpool has also released a new teaser video.  It shows not only some of the recent construction work, but also hints that the ride may have an Asian-inspired theme when complete.  Check it out below.

Major New Launched Coaster Headed to Blackpool Pleasure Beach in '18

© Blackpool Pleasure Beach

The trend of earlier and earlier announcements of new rides continues, this time for "Construction 2018" - a brand new, custom-designed Mack double-launched roller coaster at England's Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

Obviously that won't be the final name of the new roller coaster, but until the park releases that the ride is just Construction 2018.  The coaster is billed by the park as having the "most interactions" at 15, involving 5 different rides at the park and two tunnels.  There will also be one inversion along the 3,740 feet of track.

The experience will start with a launch featuring a top speed of 50 miles per hour directly up onto a large air-time hill.  The ride twists and turns around the park's attractions until it hits another launch that will get the trains through the remainder of the course.  The maximum height of the ride is 88.5 feet and the largest drop is 82 feet.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach released this footage of the ride, both off and on-ride, showing all the elements packed into the layout.  It allows us to follow the track as the coaster interacts with rides like the Big One, Steeplechase, Big Dipper, Pleasure Beach Express and the park's Grand Prix.

Blackpool's Managing Director, Nick Thompson, commented that the park has "been working on this concept for five years now and are delighted to be able share news of our plans.  Construction 2018 will be fast, adrenalin fuelled and exhilarating but also smooth and comfortable – an entirely new ride experience."  The park is spending around $21 million (at a current conversion rate) to bring the massive new ride to life.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach looks like they have a winner on their hands, at least judging from the above video.  I can't wait to follow the ride's progress over the next year and a half!

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Spins into 2015 with Sky Force

The Sky Force, a brand new Gerstlauer Sky Fly attraction, will debut at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 2015, it has been announced.

The park has teamed with the "world famous" Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, known as the Red Arrows, to create the theme of the new flat ride.  The park touts that this is the world's first tourist attraction to have a ride themed to the famed aerobatic team.  The Red Arrows are a part of the Royal Air Force and are known for their aerobatic formations, especially the "diamond nine" formation.

The Sky Force ride will allow riders to control their flight, the ride vehicles can be seen in the upper right of the artwork the park has released.  The attraction will feature a control tower where new pilots will prepare for take-off.

The 12 individual vehicles are located at the end of a giant rotating arm, which moves 360 degrees at a maximum height of 72 feet above the ground.  Riders have the ability to help their plane spin, and full rotations are possible.

At the end of the ride experience guests will be able to check out a Red Arrows shop, with merchandise available exclusively at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.  The park has indicated that the ride will be located near the Big One roller coaster.

New Wallace and Gromit Ride Open at Blackpool

England's Blackpool Pleasure Beach has opened a new dark ride named Wallace and Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic.  The ride is based on the short films that feature the adventures of the two characters and replaced the park's Gold Mine ride.

Here's a video of the attraction:

If you feel like you have no idea what you just saw, join the club. I really have no knowledge of the characters though, and the ride seems to just replicate scenes from their adventures instead of try to follow one cohesive story. So in that vein the confusion makes some sense I suppose as things jump around an awful lot.

A great part of the ride is so dark that it does not translate to being recorded, but I did catch a couple of scenes and I'm sure riders will always remember the encounter with the Were-Rabbit at the end!

Confusing or not, it's always fun to see a new dark ride pop up - and the park did spend a nice chunk of change on this one as well.  I'm sure they'll at least make that back from the merchandise shop at the exit!

Weekly Rewind 1.19.13

Quassy Amusement Park has announced the details of their third annual Wooden Warrior Day.  The event includes exclusive ride time, a picnic meal, shirt, and more.  Registration details here.

While currently in the middle of a huge expansion, Fun Spot America has announced that they have purchased another 8 acres of land directly across the street from the park for future expansion.  Quite interesting!

Conneaut Lake Park is facing a possible sheriff's sale of its assets if they are not able to pay a substantial tax debt, according to this news report.  If it happens, the sale would take place in September of this year.

Silver Dollar City has released a new video about Outlaw Run, this time documenting the arrival of the coaster's new trains. Check it out above!

Ohio's The Beach Waterpark is gearing up to reopen this Summer after being closed for all of 2012. The park has new owners that are spending $5 million on the park to get it in tip top shape.  Guests who had bought passes for 2012 and did not receive refunds will be able to use them this year.

In other water park news, a giant Kalahari indoor and outdoor water park could be built in the Poconos, located in Pennsylvania.  The company has submitted plans for a large resort that could eventually be home to a 15 acre outdoor water park as well as an indoor one.

Check out this new photo that Kings Island has shared of the former home of Son of Beast!  You can't even tell there was any ride there at all, with all the footers gone.  Looks perfect for redevelopment!

Sounds like the race to have the first huge observation wheel in Vegas is going to go to Caesar's Entertainment.  The SkyVue Wheel hasn't been worked on in months, and has many lien's filed against the developers for lack of payment.

England's Blackpool Pleasure Beach will add Wallace & Gromit Thrill-O-Matic this year, what sounds like a large new dark ride.  Based on the characters of the same name, the ride will chronicle the amusing adventures of the park.  For more and some art, check this out.

Nickelodeon Land at Pleasure Beach Nears Completion

Last July the UK's Blackpool Pleasure Beach announced they would build Nickelodeon Land for the 2011 season.  Now, with the grand opening of the area set for May 4th, finishing touches are being placed on the new rides and attractions.

via Facebook

One of my most anticipated rides is Spongebob's Splash Bash, seen above.  The new tea cup/splash battle mix was created by MACK rides, and personally I'm hoping they take off like wildfire.  They look like a ton of fun!  Each rider gets control of a squirt gun, and with the whole thing spinning that'll be crazy.

The new Nickelodeon Land will contain 12 rides aimed at kids and their families.  All are themed to different Nickelodeon properties, like Spongebob (look at the Krusty Krab on the left!), but also Dora, Avatar, and Fairly Odd Parents.

Interestingly, Rugrats will be the theme to the park's log flume, similar to what was once seen at Kings Island until switching to the Peanuts characters.  Two of the park's classic wooden roller coasters will also be repainted and renamed - now known as the Nickelodeon Streak and the Blue Flyer.

Blackpool has more information on the new land, including all the rides and a map, on the web.  You can also check out the park's Facebook to see fan-added construction photos.

Weekly Rewind 11.27.10

Alabama Adventure has announced that their new splash boat ride will be named Buzzsaw Falls.  Yes, that was the name of a flume/coaster hybrid at Silver Dollar City some time ago.  The name is the result of a contest where readers could submit ideas, for which over 500 entries were received.

I honestly thought that Six Flags New England would have tackled painting their new Gauntlet coaster in the sunny Springtime, but I was wrong.  In new photos posted by the park it appears as though almost all the ride's track has now been painted an alternating yellow and white color scheme.

This story is a good update on the trouble that Belmont Park operator Tom Lochtefeld has been having with the city over the lease payments he owes to them.  According to the city they did not raise his rent at all - the uptick was part of the agreement all along.  Now bankruptcy court is involved, so things will be stretched out.  The Giant Dipper is operated under a separate lease, so it won't be affected by these proceedings.

Kentucky Kingdom has a new website, and it's much better developed than the previous version.  This one includes lots of data, including a very detailed and interesting history of the park.  Check out the site here.

It's time for Christmas at Wild Adventures theme park!  Festivities include the Let It Snow Dance Party, O Holy Night: A Living Nativity, and the Elf's Workshop Craft Station plus much more.  Plus the park is decorated in its holiday finest.

Check out these great photos of Superman at Six Flags Magic Mountain.  The paint job is flying along, and there's even a great shot of the ride lit up at night.  It looks so much better than before!

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is hard at work on their new Nickelodeon Land, and has posted some new construction photos for us.  That is going to be one very orange wooden roller coaster!

The famous Calico Mine Ride at Knott's Berry Farm celebrated a very special 50th anniversary last week.  Fans of the park know that the ride is just packed with history and is still one of the greatest of its time.  Mice Chat published a nice look at the ride for it's anniversary.

Miracle Strip at Pier Park is still working on its plans to rebuild the Starliner coaster, but in the meantime they are not holding off on expanding.  The park is currently refurbishing a Scrambler and Tilt-a-Whirl to add to the park, and also recently opened a butterfly pavilion.

Weekly Rewind 7.31.10

Turns out that the Spongebob Splash Bash attraction at Blackpool's new Nickelodeon area isn't a Splash Battle at all - but one of Mack's new Twist 'n' Splash water filled flat rides. It's like tea cups only with a lot of interactive water features. Looks awesome!

Cedar Fair's Coasting For Kids event looks to have been a success across the nation. Coaster riding marathons were held at all the parks with the goal of riders collecting donations for Give Kids The World. Here's one report from the event at Dorney Park.

One other Cedar Fair tidbit - the company has announced that they have indeed completed the refinancing of their debt. It's a lot of financial jargon - but basically this gives them some breathing room over the next 5 or so years to keep expanding the parks and get some increased revenues. Bring on the new rides!

Sesame Place is celebrating it's 30th anniversary this season. What started as a small, 3 acres family fun area has grown into a large theme park that focuses on family fun. Read more about the park's celebration plans here.

Busch Gardens Tampa's 2010 Howl-O-Scream event will center around a band named "My X." In typical Haunt fashion they've launched several media sites to stay connected with the event including Twitter, Facebook, and their home page.

Another week has gone by, and there is now a lot less of the Scream Machine still standing at Six Flags Great Adventure. Pretty much the lift, drop, and vertical loops are what is left. Stay connected with the park's official photo updates.

Disney has announced a new parade for Disneyland, to debut in 2011. Parades are a very big deal when it come to Disney parks - no marching band wandering down the midway with these, the parades are full scale productions. This one will be called Mickey's Soundsational Parade, and obviously have a music theme to it. Read more from Disney Parks.

The rumor mill is pretty quiet on this one right now, but Westcoaster has pointed out that Knott's Berry Farm is currently covered in survey markings. Either they're going to repave the entire place or something big might be in the works. See the update here.

Still no word on what Hershey Park is starting to work on, but lots of survey markings are showing up there, too. RCPro has some shots of those. It sure seems like after taking a year or two off of big expansions all the parks are really gearing up for a wild 2011!

Blackpool Announces Nickelodeon Land for 2011

England's Blackpool Pleasure Beach has announced a large new kids area, named Nickelodeon Land, as the park's new for 2011 development. The area will take over a large section of the park - 6 acres - and feature a total of 14 family rides. Nine of those rides will be brand new, while 5 of them will be existing rides that will be totally re-themed. The expansion will cost more than $15 million to complete.

One of rides being highlighted is SpongeBob's Splash Bash, which sounds like a splash battle interactive boat ride. There will be plenty of other rides, such as a log flume and a re-theme of one of the park's wooden coasters.

The new area is scheduled to open in April, 2011.

Aerial Antics: UK Park + Ride Aerials

Friday is a good day for Live Local aerial obsessing. Today the site took me to jolly old England and I found some treasures, like:

Thorpe Park. Home of the 10 Inversion Colossus, B&M Inverted Nemesis Inferno, the Intamin launched Stealth, and a new for 2009 Gerstlauer Euro Fighter.

The Vampire, at Chessington World of Adventures. This Arrow Dynamics suspended coaster opened in 1990, and received some great new trains from Vekoma in 2002.

G-Force at Drayton Manor park. What a funky little ride! It opened in 2005 and was designed by Mauher Sohne. Oh, and it's not a launched ride, that weird loopish track on the right side is the lift!

Blackpool Pleasure Beach - with the Pepsi Max towering over everything. You also have to love how crammed in everything is at the park.