With Halloween on the horizon, our first ‘Coaster Focus’ puts an iconic Alton Towers attraction under the spotlight.
Opening in 2010, on the site of the iconic 1980s ‘Corkscrew’, this family-friendly rollercoaster (the world’s first “vertical freefall coaster”) perfectly blends a slightly milder coaster experience with an eerie theme, making it a perfect ride for those looking to begin their themed-coaster adventures with something that is both thrilling, yet fun!
The experience begins as you walk through the wraith-guarded archway, making your way deep into the Dark Forest. The queue line winds far into the depths of the natural woods, creating an unsettling feeling of isolation and complete with a gloomy soundtrack to set the tone. Heading ever-closer to the gothic revival-style building, which closely resembles the architecture of the original Alton Towers stately home, the theming really starts to increase; there is disused scaffolding surrounding the building – a chilling reminder of the abandoned task of uncovering the crypt itself. Why was the project abandoned? Where did the workers go? This all adds to the mystery that you will go on to explore…
Upon walking up the steps of the building, the queue line darkens indoors – strange noises and a few surprises fill the room, with the painstakingly slow counting from 1 – 13 whispering in your ears. You then descend a steep staircase to the loading station, where you are batched to your assigned row (a front row queue is available, but the back of the coaster is where the party is at!). Stone wraiths and dim lights line the walls, reinforcing the disquieting mood.
The ride experience itself features a tyre-drive lift hill for a quick ascent to the peak of the 65 foot hill, before diving towards the forest floor and speeding between the trees on an air-time filled adventure that is perfect for those who are not yet ready for more extreme thrills – this might not sound like the biggest compliment to the hardcore thrill seekers out there, but the sheer fun of the ride’s experience, combined with the intricate theming and clever use of the natural woodland, more than makes up for it!
Th13teen has become a classic coaster for the United Kingdom, and a staple ride for park goers at Alton Towers Resort. The ride is incredibly popular and still often features a strong range of merchandise, despite being 15 years old!
The concept of superstition and an unknown evil is an interesting twist on the classic ‘horror’ theme for a ride; this is NOT your average ghost train! Superstition plays a big role in the establishment of the atmosphere itself, particularly adding to the uncertainty of the riders – in fact, on Friday 13th August 2010, the name of the ride was temporarily changed to FOURTEEN!
Perhaps one of the features that brings a genuine, haunting feeling to the area is the fact that the ride now stands where the Corkscrew once stood – the first real thrill ride that put Alton Towers on the map. The laughs and screams that once filled the immediate area are now a distant memory, with the echoes of those same sounds of fun now eminating from deeper into the forest. And to top it off? The large tree on the side of the station building was even made with metal from the old Corkscrew track. If past rides could haunt a theme park area, it’s definitely happening here!
Fact File:
- Height Requirement: 1.2m
- Maximum Height: 65.6 feet
- Top Speed: 42mph
- Track Length: 2,480 feet
- Ride Duration: 1:40
- Capacity: 1,400 per hour (approx.)
- Manufacturer: Intamin
- Designer: John Wardley
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