Alton Towers reveals first-look images of new ride Wicker Man
Alton Towers Resort has released first-look images of their latest attraction.
The new thrill ride, Wicker Man, is the first wooden rollercoaster to be built in the UK for 21 years.
The rollercoaster, which shares its name with the British 1970s classic horror film, starring Christopher Lee, is due to open to visitors this spring.
Alongside the new images of Wicker Man, further details reveal that the ride is a whopping 57.57ft tall, and 40,000 tonnes of soil has been excavated to make way for the ride.
Work started on the rollercoaster around two years ago on the site of the old flume ride in the centre of Alton Towers.
The coaster will feature a “six-storey high flaming effigy” of the Wicker Man which will “spectacularly ignite into flames as the train bursts through his chest three times”.
The track spans 2,000ft and is made from naturally treated timber, hand-carved specifically for the project.
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Every ride will house 2 trains, each made up of 6 wooden carriages carrying 12 passengers.
Before boarding Wicker Man, riders will embark on a journey into the world of the Beornen, a secret community that are said to 'live in the woods around Alton'.
Alton Towers Resort has invested £16 million into the creation of Wicker Man, which has been in development for the last four years.
Francis Jackson, Operations Director at Alton Towers Resort, commented: “Wicker Man is Alton Towers’ most ambitious project to date and we’re really excited to finally reveal our newest thrill attraction to the world.
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"We’ve spent four years creating an experience that is truly spectacular by investing in the latest technologies which combine wood, fire and special effects to give riders the genuine feeling that they will be racing though flames.
"We can’t wait for everyone to experience Wicker Man when the park opens this Spring."
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