Paultons Park unveils new £12m Viking-themed land with a first for UK parks
Paultons Park in Hampshire has unveiled its new £3.5m dark ride, Ghostly Manor, as it also looks ahead to the addition of a new £12m themed-world which opens to the public in 2026
Paultons Park in Hampshire has pulled the wraps off its spooky new £3.5 million dark ride, Ghostly Manor, which opened its doors to the public on May 17. But that's not all - they've also spilled the beans on a whopping £12 million themed-world that's in the pipeline.
Valgard – Realm of the Vikings is set to be Paultons Park's biggest splurge yet and is squarely aimed at families with older kids and teens.
The Viking-themed extravaganza, due to open in spring 2026, will be home to Paultons Park's first-ever inverting rollercoaster. 'Drakon' promises to be the park's most adrenaline-pumping ride yet, boasting a vertical lift hill and two twists that'll flip riders head over heels.
Valgard will also play host to a brand-new Vild Swing that'll send thrill-seekers spinning 12 metres into the air. The Vild Swing will make Paultons Park the first UK theme park to install a thrilling swing by ART Engineering.
But it's not just about the new rides. Valgard will also see the Cobra, a much-loved classic at Paultons Park, reimagined as a bobsled adventure. The ride will take on a new identity as Raven, adding to the immersive Viking village experience. Valgard will also feature a themed restaurant with plenty of seats and a new playground for the little ones to explore.
While keeping their cards close to their chest, Paultons Park did let slip that another major thrill ride is on the horizon for Valgard in 2027, hinting at a splashy water-based experience.
Paultons Park is set to take its visitors on an epic Viking adventure with the introduction of Valgard – Realm of the Vikings, adding to its trove of over 80 rides and attractions spanning six themed worlds. Valgard joins the ranks alongside the Midwestern America-themed Tornado Springs, renowned for its exhilarating 'Cyclonator' and the twisting 'Storm Chaser' coaster, as well as dinosaur-themed haven — Lost Kingdom.
James Mancey, deputy managing director at Paultons Park, said: "We are thrilled to share our plans for our largest and boldest investment to date, and on the day that we welcomed guests into our brand-new Ghostly Manor. As an independent, family-owned theme park, we're incredibly proud of the investments we make to deliver the very best guest experience. We've opened two brand-new rides in the last two years and with the build of Valgard firmly underway, we're excited to open a further three, bigger-and-better-than-ever-before rides, between now and summer 2027."
Mancey also expressed his excitement over the new additions, adding: "Valgard promises an immersive, atmospheric, and action-packed experience for families and has been specifically designed to grow with our fans. The introduction of inversions and a vertical lift hill on Drakon certainly ups the adrenaline levels at Paultons Park, but staying true to our roots, we haven't forgotten about the little ones and there is something for all of the family in our new Viking village."
Ghostly Manor, the latest indoor ride sensation, has upped the ante at Paultons Park with its five minutes of gameplay and an extra dose of pre-show excitement, adding to the park's already stellar roster of over 70 rides and attractions.
Ghostly Manor's interactive gameplay is suited for thrill-seekers aged five and up, with those aged eight and older allowed to ride unaccompanied.
As soon as guests step into the queue for Ghostly Manor, they'll encounter all sorts of spectral sights and haunted objects while navigating the abode of the famed ghost hunter, Dr Kinley. Riders hop into four-seater carriages and are equipped with their very own Phantom Phaser. The nifty gadget lets them snag sneaky spectres and troublesome phantoms.
The ride is a feast for the senses, featuring cutting-edge haptic interactive tech and LED lights on the handheld Phaser, enhancing the experience across eight digitally decked-out scenes. At the journey's end, each ghost hunter's score is tallied, crowning the most skilled spirit snatcher.
James added: "We have worked with the very best technical and theming experts in the attractions business to create Ghostly Manor. Our teams and partners have done a remarkable job at creating our very own haunted house, brimming with entertaining paranormal activity. Ghostly Manor really does look like it's always been part of Paultons Park, and I'm sure it's going to be an enormous hit with our guests."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edinburgh Live
3 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
Hollywood star Gerard Butler honours 'beloved' Scottish mother in emotional tribute
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Scottish-born Hollywood star Gerard Butler has paid tribute to his late mother who passed away earlier in the year. The actor attended the Brazilian premiere of the How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake earlier this week, reports The Daily Record. The 55-year-old is reprising his role as Stoick, the Viking leader in the upcoming movie. At the end of the screening, Butler's mother, Margaret Coll - who died at the age of 81 earlier this year - was honoured in a touching moment of remembrance. The actor shared pictures from the film premiere on social media, including a snap which read: "Dedicated to the loving memory of Margaret Coll." He captioned the post, on Instagram: "Getting weird. Funny face. The boys. And in memory of my dearly beloved mother Margaret Coll." Fans were quick to take to the comments on Butler's Instagram post, sending their condolences to the star following the sad news. One comment said: "She'll always be by your side, supporting you and loving you more than anyone else. And yes, she was definitely there with you, smiling, and making those funny faces." As another wrote: "Awe. So extremely sorry for the loss of your mama, Gerard. I remember seeing you mention a few months back that she was in the hospital." "Prayers of peace, strength, and comfort for you and your family. I know how truly much you adored your mama." A third put: "Your mother is watching you from above and is very, very proud of you," as a forth added: "Beautiful memories, God bless you." Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox Butler frequently left his home in Hollywood and visited his mum, in the village of Comrie in Perthshire - where she lived for more than 20 years. He previously told about his visits back to Scotland to visit his mum. He said: "I sit in the garden, I look up at the mountain ranges and I am just taken aback constantly by how beautiful it is there, and what a great land I come from." I just really connect when I get back, and I find that I recharge and knock out all the bull that's going round in my head, all of that Hollywood nonsense." 'I quickly get that slapped out of me," he joked.
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Daily Record
Gerard Butler honours late 'beloved mother' in emotional film premiere tribute
Gerard Butler shared an emotional tribute to his late mother, Margaret, during the Brazilian premiere of his latest Hollywood blockbuster. Hollywood film star Gerard Butler has paid tribute to his late mum who passed away earlier this year. The Scots actor attended the Brazilian premiere of the How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake earlier this week. The 55-year-old is reprising his role as Stoick, the Viking leader in the upcoming movie. At the end of the screening, Butler's mother, Margaret Coll - who died at the age of 81, earlier this year - was honoured in a touching moment of remembrance. The actor shared pictures from the film premiere on social media, including a snap which read: "Dedicated to the loving memory of Margaret Coll." He captioned the post, on Instagram: "Getting weird. Funny face. The boys. And in memory of my dearly beloved mother Margaret Coll." Fans were quick to take to the comments on Butler's Instagram post, sending their condolences to the star following the sad news. One comment said: "She'll always be by your side, supporting you and loving you more than anyone else. And yes, she was definitely there with you, smiling, and making those funny faces." As another wrote: "Awe. So extremely sorry for the loss of your mama, Gerard. I remember seeing you mention a few months back that she was in the hospital." "Prayers of peace, strength, and comfort for you and your family. I know how truly much you adored your mama." A third put: "Your mother is watching you from above and is very, very proud of you," as a forth added: "Beautiful memories, God bless you." Butler frequently left his home in Hollywood and visited his mum, in the village of Comrie in Perthshire - where she lived for more than 20 years. He previously told the Record about his visits back to Scotland to visit his mum. He said: "I sit in the garden, I look up at the mountain ranges and I am just taken aback constantly by how beautiful it is there, and what a great land I come from." 'I just really connect when I get back, and I find that I recharge and knock out all the bull that's going round in my head, all of that Hollywood nonsense." 'I quickly get that slapped out of me," he joked. 'When mum's like, 'can you go in and wash the dishes?' I'm always saying, 'Mum, look, I'm a Hollywood star, I don't do that!' And she's like, 'Whatever, get in and wash the dishes'," he recalled. Butler's mother Margaret died peacefully surrounded by her family in February this year, her funeral notice described her as the "beloved wife of Alex" and a "dearly loved and sadly missed mother, grandmother, sister and friend." Her funeral was held in Perth and donations were accepted for the charity Mary's Meals, which was held closely in her heart, as well as Butler working with the charity for many years.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Gerard Butler pays tribute to ‘beloved mother' at premiere of new blockbuster
Fans of the star flocked to the comments to send their condolences following the sad news IN LOVING MEMORY Gerard Butler pays tribute to 'beloved mother' at premiere of new blockbuster FILM star Gerard Butler has paid tribute to his late mum who died earlier this year. The Scots actor, 55, stepped out for the Brazilian premiere of the How to Train Your Dragon live-action remake this week. 2 Gerard Butler's mum was honoured at the premiere of his new movie Credit: gerardbutler/Instagram 2 The actor stepped out for the Brazilian showing of How to Train Your Dragon Credit: gerardbutler/Instagram He is reprising his role as Stoick, the Viking leader in the upcoming flick. Butler's late mum, Margaret Coll, was honoured at the end of the showing. She died earlier this year aged 81. A post shared by Butler on Instagram shows a slide reading: "Dedicated to the loving memory of Margaret Coll." Butler was a regular in the village of Comrie, Perthshire, where his mother lived for more than 20 years. Fans of the star flocked to the comments to send their condolences following the sad news. One wrote: "She'll always be by your side, supporting you and loving you more than anyone else. "And yes, she was definitely there with you, smiling and making those funny faces." Another said: "Your mother is watching you from above and is very, very proud of you." A third put: "That's a very sweet dedication." Inside Den of Thieves 2: Pantera – Action, Drama, and On-Set Challenges A fourth added: "Beautiful memories, God bless you." The Paisley-born star, who shot to stardom playing a Spartan hunk in movie 300, was recently spotted cosying up with his ex at a star-studded Hollywood gathering. Butler and former flame Morgan Brown, 52, rubbed shoulders with the likes of Brooklyn Beckham and wife Nicola Peltz at a 45th birthday bash for actor Oliver Trevena. The actor now spends his time between Los Angeles and Glasgow.
