Riders go loopy one last time!
SPECIAL GOODBYE TO ALTON TOWERS’ FAMOUS NEMESIS ROLLERCOASTER
THOUSANDS of thrill-seekers flocked to Alton Towers for one last chance to brave the Nemesis rollercoaster.
The iconic ride closed at 9pm on Sunday - following the Staffordshire theme park’s spectacular fireworks display which marked the last day of the season - and will undergo a transformation before reopening again in 2024.
In dramatic scenes, Nemesis was shut by order of the ‘Phalanx’ - the secret organisation tasked with keeping the beast pinned beneath its steel structure under control - over fears about her “abnormal behaviour”.
Mysterious figures in hazmat suits marched in formation towards Nemesis, with some collecting samples and covering parts of the site in biohazard tape, as white chemical investigation tents were hastily erected.
Then the very last of group riders known to the Phalanx as the “final test specimens” - took their seats for a money-can’t-buy experience which they won through a competition, beating 15,000 other entrants.
Dressed in boiler suits, they were escorted by the hazmat-clad team and received a guard of honour as they took their seats, alongside Nemesis’s creator John Wardley.
Nemesis cost £10 million and was Europe’s first inverted rollercoaster when it opened in 1994.
Riders experience 3.5 G-force as they race past the rocks and rivers of the theme park’s Forbidden Valley at speeds of up to 50mph.
One of the lucky last riders, Ben Clarke, from Sheffield, said: “What an amazing experience. Nemesis is an incredible rollercoaster and I’m so happy I got to ride it one final time before it’s given a revamp.” Superfan Ben rides Nemesis on average 700 times a year. He proposed to his fiancee on the ride in March. It holds such a special place in their hearts, they’ve even got matching Nemesis tattoos. He added: “It truly means the world to be part of history on our favourite coaster. The theming, the near misses and intensity all add up to it being the world’s greatest coaster. I will miss Nemesis more than anything, especially my favourite seat - row 8 back right. That seat really is something else. Few rides provide so many thrills. I can’t wait for it to return.” Details of its transformation remain under wraps for now.