Thorpe Park Looks to Add New Coaster

December 10, 2021, 6:31 PM · Thorpe Park is looking to add its first new roller coaster in more than a decade. The London-area theme park has begun soliciting public comment on plans for a new coaster, with a goal of starting construction late next year.

The proposal would lead to the removal of Thorpe Park's Lumber Jump, The Rocky Express, and Timber Tugboat, which now stand on the site where the coaster is planned. Public comment will continue through January 7, at which point Thorpe Park and owner Merlin Entertainments will complete and submit their application to the Runnymede Borough Council next spring.

The park has not officially named the coaster maker or model, but has provided several concept images, which ought to provide several clues.

Proposed Thorpe Park coaster concept art 1
All images via Thorpe Park

Proposed Thorpe Park coaster concept art 2

Proposed Thorpe Park coaster concept art 3

Proposed Thorpe Park coaster concept art 4

And here is the proposed track layout.

Proposed Thorpe Park coaster site plan

As part of the proposal, Merlin revealed its annual attendance numbers for four UK theme parks: Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, and Legoland Windsor. The data show that Thorpe Park, without major new attractions, had fallen to fourth place among its Merlin peers in 2019.

"Visitor numbers to Thorpe Park remain well below the peak levels experienced in 2010. The graph below demonstrates that visitor numbers fluctuate and that without investment in new rides visitor numbers will decline," the proposal website stated. That site also is where you can submit a comment, if you are a local resident.

Merlin UK theme park attendance

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Replies (5)

December 11, 2021 at 3:57 AM

Typical lack of entertaining queue. Wish Thorpe Park would change this as all there queues are dull and boring. They are usually an hour or more long too for a very short ride which makes for a miserable day out. Queuing for possibly 5-6 rides if you are lucky.

December 11, 2021 at 6:20 AM

I don't get it, is that sculpture thing part of the ride? It doesn't seem to match the track.

December 12, 2021 at 2:34 PM

Don't know what to make of this, as one image looks like a launch track but Thorpe already has a launched coaster in Stealth - and another image looks like a keyhole element but they already have that in The Swarm. At least they aren't subject to the same zoning restrictions as Alton Towers, where no installation can be above the tree line. As to lack of an entertaining queue, I find that this is true of many parks. I just happened to get lucky on one of my visits to Thorpe because the forecast was for rain all day and I had a ticket good for only that day so had to go or lose my money. As it turned out, it didn't rain at all but the threat of rain kept people away from the park so I was able to get on multiple rides without a wait.

December 13, 2021 at 3:14 AM

Me again. Has anyone else spotted the adult and child walking in mid air under the first drop!on the first picture lol ! Attention to detail oops!
Also this ride will be less than 90 seconds, with moray of the ride time being the lift hill.

December 14, 2021 at 12:54 AM

oh wow! It will be a great experience! I want to join cookie clicker online

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