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Drayton Manor Resort

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Drayton Manor Theme Park is a British theme park near Tamworth in Staffordshire, England.

Drayton Manor is a family theme park with a mixture of scenic and white knuckle rides. It covers 250 acres of land, with over a million visitors a year. Drayton Manor opened to the public on October 16th, 1949 as an 'inland pleasure resort' and has since grown substantially in size. It is the UK's leading family run theme park and the fourth most popular theme park in Britain in terms of visitor numbers.

Rides

Rides in the park include StormForce 10 (opened by the pop group Steps), Shockwave, Europe's only stand-up roller coaster, Apocalypse, a freefall drop tower with a choice of sit-down, stand-up or floorless ride positions, Pirate Adventure, a dark ride loosely based on Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunting, a walkthrough attraction that incorporates a haunted swing, Excalibur, another scenic ride where riders go around a lake looking a medieval scenes, Splash Canyon, a river rapids, G-force, a short but fun roller coaster, Pandemonium, a double inverted swing and Maelstrom, a gyro swing.

Stormforce 10 is a water ride that recreates the story of a lifeboat rescue. It is said to have been thought up by the manager's nephew. It is sponsored by the RNLI and holds the title as the world's first charitable ride. It has a small, but fun drop at the start, a awesome backwards drop and a 9m final drop. It is in fact the park's most popular ride. It was opened in 1999 to replace the aging Log Flume. The site the flume was on had a sign saying 'world first ride coming 1999' and this lead to rumours such as the first water ride with a loop; but it was the first charity sponsored ride and today, Drayton Manor has raised £66,000 for every rider of Stormforce 10 and every photograph sold since 1999 that go to a boat named the 'Drayton Manor' Atlantic 75 rescue boat.

Shockwave is a roller coaster that was built in 1994 by Intamin AG. It became part of double deal that lead to Splash Canyon being built, while Shockwave would be built above it. It cost £4 million and is in fact Europe's only stand-up roller coaster. The ride features a lift hill up to 120ft, then into an 80ft drop and a medium size loop followed by an awesome zero-gravity roll and finishes with two corkscrews and a bend around back to the station; the ride also delivers 4gs to the riders as well. It is located in the area 'Action Park' and is next to its neighbouring coaster, G Force. In fact Shockwave was lucky to have a large and tight bend. This was mentioned in a interview with the manager to celebrate Shockwave's 10th anniversary back in 2004. The ride has the force of 4gs while going at 51mph. Back in 1994 when Shockwave was completed, neighbours complained that the final bend was too close to the edge of the property and it was missed out by 1mm on the scale drawing by the local Councillors.(But it is impossible today, because of digital technology)To read more about it click the link: [1]

Apocalypse is a tower drop ride built by Intamin and opened in 2000. Back in 1999 (the year of construction) it was never expected by visitors that a tower drop would be built. It is thought to be the scariest ride in the park and was voted 'Britain’s scariest ride'. It is a tall tower at 54m or 180ft high (equal height to the vertical coaster Oblivion) and has 3 different forms of seating. One is the normal sit down, another is stand-up position- it is in fact the world's first stand-up tower drop-and the last one is a stand-up floorless which was introduced in 2002 known as the 'Fifth Element'. The ride has 4gs thrown to the riders as they drop down in less than 3 seconds.

G Force is a roller coaster that is new of its type, the X-car coaster. Its coaster train has a hip restraint (instead of the usual over shoulder restraints) that is designed for large people hence its name 'Big Boy' seats. It even has a world first inversion- the 'Humpty Bump Lift'- which looks like an extended loop but with a chain lift on it. This inversion is the main feature of the ride as the x-restraint safely holds riders in, but at the same time makes the rider feel loose to add more intensity. This ride features a small and fun drop as you come out the station that goes into the humpty bump lift, after you zoom downwards the ride goes up and then down on a cool camelback. Here we enter a loop and (instead of the usual straight loop, this ones suddenly turns right) and arrive into a another new inversion called the 'Bent Cuban Eight' which the parks describes it as 'to perform aerobatic manoeuvres' which we go up and turn across down a drop, then left around (above and under the bumpty lift) and then up to the station. It was designed by Germany designers Maurer Söhne and was influenced by the prototype x-car coaster in Skyline Park, Germany which is called Sky wheel. Magic Springs & Crystal Falls and Parque de Atracciones Madrid are also having x-car coasters for completion this year. G Force does 4.3gs during its 385 metres long ride with speeds of up to 70kmph.

Pandemonium is a swinging inverter ride that offers a unique thrill to Drayton Manor. It was opened in 2004 and was manufactured by Fabbri. It is on the site of its similar predesessor, SkyFlyer which closed in 2003 apparently due to a accident invloving a rider who died on it. So it is said that Pandemonium was only built to be a safer, better, more thrilling replacement. But it is still a good ride and it had cost £1million. The ride has two large swinging cars that have strong over shoulder restraints connected to another from the seat area. Then a large lap bar is place in front of riders. Then the two ships raise up on its support and start doing two small swings (in the oppisite direction)until it swings right over in 360 degrees and does the oppisite number of swings (and the height) until the ride is lowered down and is over. Pandemonium is recommended for thrill seekers who just love a lot of instensity and adrenaline to themselves!

Maelstrom is a Gyro-swing ride from Intamin that has something special about it. Its seats face outwards on the circular gondola unlike other gyro swings which have seats that face inwards which makes them look bad compared. The ride swings up to a maximum height of 22.5m in the air at an angle of 95 to 120 degrees while it simultaneously revolves at 5rpm. The ride is one of the best in the park because of it thrill factor and is themed to be an actual Maelstrom that has struck Drayton Manor (as said in its adevrtising back in 2002) while some say the 'cornish' fishing village which is Stormforce 10. The theming includes surf boards washed on shore, a submarine swept up with a shark picered throught it, road mimical signs that shows a circle that is out of angle, a 'road' sign with people running from a maelstrom, a circle with a that is out of place, (it is a changed copy of the roundabout road sign)a hut that has been damaged and rocks, sand and lamp posts recreate a coastal village and it is very thought out too. It is a ride that has proved popular since its late opening in April 2002 due to respect of the Queen Mother's death. It was opened by Hear'say and cost £1million and has the capacity of 32 riders.

Future Projects and Rumours

The Intamin flat ride has been confirmed to a Drunken Barrels ride and will make its debut in June this year. On the new 2006 park map, the site where Cyclone was, it has a picture of a tent in place. Which suggests that the Drunken Barrels will be enclosed as said months back that Cyclone's replacement would be an enclosed Huss ride. But it is a Intamin ride so it is not going to be a Huss attraction as said.

Last year, Drayton Manor had an a official press release on their plans to build a water park to go along with their also planned hotel to create a resort for the park, much like what Alton Towers have done. The water park is called 'Stormalong Bay' and is to have many exciting attractions built in such as water slides. The hotel has been planned for over 4 years and has the green light to be built. According to the new 2006 map, the hotel will be completed by 2008; while the water park will not be around until 2012. To see the press release from last year, click the link:[2]

In 2021 it will be the year when the park starts expanding land for more space. To look at the official plans that were submitted to the Licfield District Council follow this link: [3]

As reported in Airtime (a RCCGB magazine), the ride Shockwave may take an exit by 2010, despite it repaint this year a new frontage fitted on it trains. But it looks like it will stay for many seasons to keep that in mind. Also, the whole of Shockwave except it's lift hill have been re-painted sky blue.

The manager, Colin Bryan hopes to have a wooden coaster built as said in a recent interview, but strict planning regulations seem to keep these plans still in consideration. Click the link to read it:[4]

A 4D cinema is planned, and is rumoured to arrive in 2007. Its possible location is the empty space next to the Bunccaneer Burger Bar where The Crypt used to be and was also known as the 'Project Development Site' on the 2005 park map. But recently no name was given for that space on the latest map. Its maybe due to planning and decisions the park needs to finalise on. So it will keep people guessing whether it will a staff room or the 4D cinema until it is confirmed.

Recently, Stormforce 10's drops have been painted sky blue inside where the water flows. Before this was done, the ride had to cleaned out of green slime to keep it clean and efficient.

List of all rides

The following list indicates all the current rides at Drayton Manor Theme Park and what areas they are in:

AERIAL PARK: Apocalypse, The Haunting, Pandemonium, Big Wheel, Flying Dutchman, Drunken Barrels (NEW FOR 2006) Wild West Shoot Out, Buffalo Coaster, Sombrero, Drayton Queen Boat.

PIRATE COVE: Excalibur- a Dragon's Tale, Pirate Adventure, Jolly Roger, Dodgems, Jolly Buccaneer, Pirate Raft Ride.

ROBINSON'S LAND: Flying Jumbos, Junior Carousel, Ladybirds, Vintage Cars, Mini Balloons, Arriva Crazy Bus, Super Dragon Roller Coaster, Frog Hopper, Whirly Wheel, Cadbury's Junior Pirate Ship.

FISHERMAN'S WHARF: Stormforce 10, Polperro Express Railway, Carousel.

ACTION PARK: Maelstrom, Shockwave, Splash Canyon, Black Revolver, G-Force, Chair Lift.

Slogans & Quotes

These are the slogans and Quotes that Drayton Manor are using to advertise the park this season:

"Everyone's Favourite Theme Park!" - 280 arces of thrills and fun - with some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides around!

"Fun for the Family"

"Your Best Value Day Out!"

"Best UK Attraction for Children" - Winner for 3 Consecutive years! (2003-2005)

"Visitor Attraction of the Year" (Heart of England Tourism 2005)

"Thrills & Entertainment all year round"

"All year entertainment right in the Heart of England!"

WORLD CLASS THRILLS

G-Force- hang form the hip for a rollercoaster experience you've never had before!

Apocalypse- the world's first stand-up tower drop!

Maelstrom- the only gyro swing to make you face outwards!

Shockwave- Europe's only stand-up rollercoaster!

Stormforce 10- "the best water ride in the country!" (The Daily Telegraph)

Pandemonium- turns your world upside down!


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