Alton Towers reveals new Wicker Man ride – plus plans to take on 1,000 staff before reopening for 2018
Alton Towers has revealed full details of its newest attraction – the Wicker Man rollercoaster – as well as plans to take on 1,000 staff before it opens in March for the 2018 season.
The new ride will feature a six-storey flaming structure in what the theme park claims is the first ride to combine wood and fire.
The £16 million project, including a 2,028 ft track, is the first wooden rollercoaster to be built in the UK for 21 years, bosses at the Staffordshire attraction said.
A 57.5ft ‘wicker man’ will appear to burst into flames as thrill-seekers race through the structure three times on a wooden track. The rollercoaster, which shares its name with the British 1970s classic horror film, starring Christopher Lee, is due to open to visitors this spring. The Wicker Man burning logo was projected onto the Coca-Cola London Eye to mark the announcement, and the resort has also commissioned Stranger Things artist, Kyle Lambert, to produce its official announcement poster.
The theme park’s season begins on March 17, and there are a whole host of roles waiting to be filled. Details of vacancies available can be viewed at altontowersjobs.com, where candidates can complete an online application. A recruitment fair will also be held from 10am to 5pm on January 12, at the Quality Hotel in Hanley.
Jason Mumford, senior recruitment manager for Alton Towers Resort said: “We’re delighted to be looking for new people to join our team, with over 1,000 roles for the 2018 season on offer. Some of our lucky recruits will even have the opportunity to work on our brand new attraction, Wicker Man.”
Bradley Wynne, the theme park’s creative lead said: “We hope visitors will be blown away by Wicker Man’s breath-taking scale whilst the primal essence of the wooden coaster and astonishing effects will leave them delighted, exhilarated and eager to ride again.”
Andy Hine, the chairman of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain, said: “We’ve been hoping that Alton Towers would invest in a wooden coaster for a long time, and we’re so pleased it’s finally coming with Wicker Man.”
Alton Towers said the safety of guests has been paramount in building the ride, which has involved ‘rigorous testing’.
