Inside Alton Towers’ mysterious plans for new ‘secret rollercoaster’ – here’s everything we know
PLANS for a new rollercoaster at Alton Towers have been given the green light.
But details of the £12.5 million ride – referred to as “new coaster” in the planning application – remain a closely-guarded secret.
The Staffordshire-based park say they are keeping their lips sealed to maximise enjoyment for customers.
But there are some key giveaways that have been revealed in the plans passed by councillors earlier this week.
The first is that the mysterious ride will be dark green to match the surrounding landscape.
And it will be a whopping 20m (65ft) tall and include a vast 71 metre-long building.
The queue to reach the attraction will be through existing woodland.
Alton Towers has labelled the mysterious plans Project Horizon.
The land the new ride will be built on is currently being used as a maintenance and storage yard, but was once home to The Mouse ride.
Following the plans, Alton Towers boss Francis Jackson said it was “vital” the theme park “refreshes” its offers to remain competitive.
He added: “Ongoing investment in attractions is even more important against the backdrop of the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Mr Jackson stressed that the park was excited to “bring something new to the resort”.
Ben Emery, a local councillor of Staffordshire Moorland District, said colleagues were as clueless about the “highly secretive” plans as the thrill-seeking public.
He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “None of us know what’s going on in there.”
But he stressed the park has “consistently delivered good, impressive, exciting rides that our children and ourselves have loved for many years”.
The park’s massively popular Nemesis rollercoaster shut last year having thrilled Brits since 1994.