Kent park roaring ahead with dinosaur-themed rollercoaster
Kent could be home to Europe’s fastest rollercoaster after plans for a “dino park” were revealed.
Bosses of The London Resort shared images of what they hope Base Camp will look like when the park is finally built on the Swanscombe Peninsula, between Dartford and Gravesend.
Among the plans are two rollercoasters. The first will celebrate the reign of Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest known, winged reptiles of all time.
Set over 1km of track, it aims to be one of the fastest coasters in Europe.
Instead of the usual towering heights and big drops, it will recreate what scientists believe was a typical flight path of the extraordinary beast. It will stay low to the ground, zipping across treetops, skimming water and bursting through rocky canyons.
A multi-launch coaster reaching speeds in excess of 70mph, the ride will replicate the hunting speed of Quetzalcoatlus which would swoop low and fast to snare prey in its long, tweezer-like beak.
The second coaster inside Base Camp will offer a family-orientated experience. Weaving beneath the flight path of Quetzalcoatlus, this ride will allow for adventurers of all ages and sizes to experience a rollercoaster with just the right level of ‘thrill’.
An indoor, 1,500 seated arena will feature shows set within a dense tropical forest.
For an up-close look at Ichthyosaurs, Mosasaurs and other terrifying hunters of the ocean, guests will head over to a motion-based 4D ride.
It will dive underwater in search of cold and calculating predators offering guests an expedition into the darkness of prehistoric waters.
The land is also set to deliver educational opportunities. An enormous play area will be created for young palaeontologists to explore and excavate exciting fossil finds.
Zip lines, climbing walls and multiple archaeological tunnels will welcome the most enthusiastic of kids while underwater viewing platforms will offer calming moments as families peer into prehistoric lagoons.
An interactive, immersive, dark ride will use sophisticated gaming technology to enlist the help of guests to track and tag a variety of dinosaurs and ancient reptiles in the wild.
One of two food and beverage offerings will be an eclectic family restaurant situated along the edge of a Cretaceous watering hole.
It is also here that the life and legacy of Mary Anning will be fully celebrated.
One of Britain’s greatest scientists, Mary Anning was a world-renowned fossil collector and palaeontologist. Her life was made into a film starring Kate Winslet this year.
The second food and beverage destination is billed a “fine dining experience with a difference”.
Floor-to-ceiling windows will wrap the dining room, offering guests a front-row seat to the flora and fauna of the prehistoric oceans.
Throughout the meal, schools of ancient fish may swim past the windows, followed by Ichthyosaurs.
“Our vision is for The London Resort to be a beacon of worldclass entertainment experiences set within a world-leading sustainable environment”, explained chief executive PY
Gerbeau at a sustainability conference.
“We are building a unique, global destination and the storytelling, thrilling adventures, and environmental messaging found inside Base Camp help to reinforce that effort.”
The resort will cover 1,245 acres – a space equivalent to roughly 113 Wembley stadiums – larger than the UK’s current largest theme park, Alton Towers.
A planning bid was submitted to the government’s planning arm, the Planning Inspectorate, for review in December. If approved, it will be the first European development of its kind built from scratch since Disneyland Paris in 1992.
We are building a unique, global destination and the storytelling, thrilling adventures and messaging found inside Base Camp reinforce that effort