- Dec 7, 2015
- 84
- 117
Thorpe Park are launching a new dark ride for next year, costing a rumoured £35 million, Merlin's largest ever spend at one of their parks. Not much is known into the theme, ride type or anything really, though usually we have plenty of people in the know, this project is really under wraps.
Last year we got some plans submitted to the local council showing us what the building will look like once complete.
It's great to see Thorpe getting a dark ride after endless coasters and flat rides. Arguably, the park grew far too quick under the Tussauds era causing too many large rides to reside in a small park size wise. But it did lead us to get 3 coasters in the space of 5 years with Saw only a few years after.
As for WC16, basically nothing is known. Rumours started with a Dynamic SFX, won't happen in that building. Simworx were rumoured since they do a lot with Merlin and have acquired Robocoaster, and Triotech now they're working closely with Legoland. Construction started in the late spring this year as we got our first clue.
Boards were saying this. For a long time, Merlin have been rumoured to get Doctor Who as an IP, this really helped fit that bill. But, the reminiscence of a London underground sign also sprung up.
Then ground work started.
Then we got a building slowly rising which led to a new marketing image.
This really sparked theories. Another idea for Merlin has been acclaimed illusionist Derren Brown. Working with the mind theme this really helped that idea. Anyway, FN came along and had some clues to this ride.
The parks new maze for 2015, Big Top, was littered with clues to the theme. The eye was part of the theming. The maze was based upon the Figaro Brothers, these deranged owners of a circus. Derren Brown is a patron of the Parrot Zoo in Skegness, one of which is called Figaro. It all started to bubble up, clues were everywhere, we were all cottoning on to it being Derren Brown. Derren Brown posted this on Twitter.
While Thorpe posted this.
We all knew what was coming. So this happened.
And we got lots of pictures!
I'm not sure if many of you on here will be aware of him and his shows, but I love his showmanship and everything he does so this really pleased me! He is a genius of entertainment and as he is helping create the ride which has a huge budget for Merlin I have high hopes!
As for the theme, it's going to be Victorian we think. But also have a tube station. Probably Whitechapel tube station as that's the project name, Project Whitechapel or WC16. A reliable source has also said Merlin Studios have created a replica tube carriage. There was also a marketing stunt in London on the underground where two Victorian dolls walked around.
That's them.
As for the ride though we have no idea. The park is now closed until March and you can't get photos of the site from the surrounding areas as its hidden in the middle of the park. So we're all being kept in the dark. But the press release promises it will be a world first, and Derren thinks it will be the future of the industry.
From the press release.
Exciting times for Thorpe! Lets just not mention I'm A Celebrity the maze attraction thing or Angry Birds Land...
Last year we got some plans submitted to the local council showing us what the building will look like once complete.
It's great to see Thorpe getting a dark ride after endless coasters and flat rides. Arguably, the park grew far too quick under the Tussauds era causing too many large rides to reside in a small park size wise. But it did lead us to get 3 coasters in the space of 5 years with Saw only a few years after.
As for WC16, basically nothing is known. Rumours started with a Dynamic SFX, won't happen in that building. Simworx were rumoured since they do a lot with Merlin and have acquired Robocoaster, and Triotech now they're working closely with Legoland. Construction started in the late spring this year as we got our first clue.
Boards were saying this. For a long time, Merlin have been rumoured to get Doctor Who as an IP, this really helped fit that bill. But, the reminiscence of a London underground sign also sprung up.
Then ground work started.
Then we got a building slowly rising which led to a new marketing image.
This really sparked theories. Another idea for Merlin has been acclaimed illusionist Derren Brown. Working with the mind theme this really helped that idea. Anyway, FN came along and had some clues to this ride.
The parks new maze for 2015, Big Top, was littered with clues to the theme. The eye was part of the theming. The maze was based upon the Figaro Brothers, these deranged owners of a circus. Derren Brown is a patron of the Parrot Zoo in Skegness, one of which is called Figaro. It all started to bubble up, clues were everywhere, we were all cottoning on to it being Derren Brown. Derren Brown posted this on Twitter.
While Thorpe posted this.
We all knew what was coming. So this happened.
And we got lots of pictures!
I'm not sure if many of you on here will be aware of him and his shows, but I love his showmanship and everything he does so this really pleased me! He is a genius of entertainment and as he is helping create the ride which has a huge budget for Merlin I have high hopes!
As for the theme, it's going to be Victorian we think. But also have a tube station. Probably Whitechapel tube station as that's the project name, Project Whitechapel or WC16. A reliable source has also said Merlin Studios have created a replica tube carriage. There was also a marketing stunt in London on the underground where two Victorian dolls walked around.
That's them.
As for the ride though we have no idea. The park is now closed until March and you can't get photos of the site from the surrounding areas as its hidden in the middle of the park. So we're all being kept in the dark. But the press release promises it will be a world first, and Derren thinks it will be the future of the industry.
From the press release.
Exciting times for Thorpe! Lets just not mention I'm A Celebrity the maze attraction thing or Angry Birds Land...
