Alton Towers confirms popular rides will leave the park for good next month
THEME park enthusiasts only have until the end of next week to go on three popular rides at Alton Towers before they leave the park for good.
The resort has confirmed that its Retro Squad rides will be removed at the start of next month, with their “mission complete”.
In 2021, the park brought in three “flat” fairground-inspired rides, which at the time included Roller Disco, Mixtape and Funk ‘n’ Fly, to “bring more funktastic thrills to the nation”.
Of that trio, only Funk ‘n’ Fly remains, and is now joined by Twistatron and Spinjam.
However, all three of those rides are set to leave the park after the final day of the 2023 season, on November 5.
The park confirmed their departure with a video showing a retro 80s-style cartoon, in which a robot recalls the three rides to their home planet, stating their “current mission” has been completed.
The video is accompanied by a simple message that reads: “Don’t miss your chance to ride goodbye to the totally rad Retro Squad.
“You’ve got until November 5 to spin, twist and fly before they blast back to Planet Retrograde.”
Some park-goers have been saddened by the news that the rides are leaving, leaving comments on the theme park’s Instagram.
One wrote: “I’m gonna miss Spinjam.”
Another said: “Aw no my girls just discovered Funk ‘n’ Fly and loved it!”
A third added: “Noooo, they’re so good, especially Funk ‘n’ Fly, RIP.”
However, others speculated that their departure would make way for some brand new permanent rides.
One commented: “Hope to see some good permanent additions come instead then.”
A second wrote: “Hopefully seeing some permanent rides soon then!”
Another agreed: “Very exciting news for the rides that will fill it.”
While there’s currently no news on what will replace the rides, there is good news for Alton Towers fans with the park’s most famous ride Nemesis set to reopen next year.
The iconic attraction has been closed for refurbishments for almost a year now, but new photos have revealed that the work is going well.
Parts of the coaster‘s track has been replaced, while a new paint job has given it an exciting new appearance.
Alton Towers has remained tight-lipped about the changes they’re making to the ride, but planning documents provided park fans with some hints.
Last year, the ride’s creator John Wardley told Sun Online Travel that the work wouldn’t change the ride too much, but would bring some improvements.
He said fans could expect “essentially the same Nemesis that everybody loves, but even better”.
He also claimed that when it reopens, the ride will include “more storytelling, more special effects and scenery”.
The coaster’s trains are also being updated, with John claiming the ones that had been on the track had completed the equivalent of 30 times around the world.
Meanwhile, a new “duelling family coaster” is set to open at Legoland soon, with work already underway.
And Thorpe Park is building the tallest and fastest rollercoaster in the country.