WICKER’S WICKED
Alton Towers’ £16m new ride to fire up thrill-seekers
ALTON Towers yesterday released incredible pictures of its £16million fire-breathing roller-coaster.
The Wicker Man ride is based on the 1973 cult horror movie.
Its body-shaped structure with a human face on one side and ram’s head on the other bursts into flames as the train races through its chest.
The six-storey attraction is the first wooden-built ride in the UK for 21 years and will open to thrillseekers in the spring.
Francis Jackson, operations director at Alton Towers Resort, said: “Wicker Man is our most ambitious project to date and we’re excited to finally reveal our newest thrill attraction to the world.
“We’ve spent four years creating an experience that is truly spectacular by investing in the latest technologies which combine wood, fire and special effects to give riders the genuine feeling they will be racing through flames.
“We can’t wait for everyone to experience Wicker Man when the park opens this spring.”
Before boarding the ride, passengers will embark on a journey into the world of the Beornen, a secret community living in the woods around the Staffordshire theme park.
Lured in by chanting, rhythmic sounds and hidden eyes watching them, guests can watch a short movie setting the scene for the ride.
Disturbing
It is based on the film starring Christopher Lee about the disappearance of a girl on a remote Hebridean island where locals take part in a series of disturbing pagan and sexfuelled ceremonies.
The ride is nearly 60ft tall and its track spans 2,000ft.
During the ride, two trains, each made up of six wooden carriages, will carry 12 passengers each.
As well as Wicker Man, Alton Towers also features attractions including Nemesis and Oblivion.
In June 2015, a horrific crash on its Smiler ride left several passengers with serious injuries, including Leah Washington who lost a leg in the incident.
The horror led to park operator Merlin Attractions being fined £5million.