Latest news with #themePark
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
First look at new ‘tallest of its kind' ride to open at English seaside theme park
A MUCH-LOVED family attraction has unveiled plans for a brand-new £8.7million ride set to open in 2026. Blackpool 's Pleasure Beach Resort is set to build a 138-foot swing which will allow riders to fly parallel to the coast. The ride will be named Aviktas and will be the 'tallest of its kind' in the UK, according to the park. The new addition will also change how the seaside resort's famous coastline will look, towering above the rest of the park. The ride will feature a giant spinning pendulum that will swing 120 degrees and seat 40 riders at a time. Riders' legs will dangle giving them the feeling of flying. Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort said: "This ride will be colossal, daunting, exhilarating and an incredible addition to the town." There are other swinging pendulum rides in the UK already, but Blackpool 's will tower higher. For example, at Drayton Manor, the Maelstrom ride reaches around 74 feet - 64 feet shorter than Blackpool's ride will be. The ride was previously referred to as 'Project 2026' until the attraction finally released the ride's official name back in May. Amanda added: "This is the first small tease of what we have planned; there's plenty more teasers on the way!" The ride will be located on the former site of Bowl-A-Drome and will open in 2026. The attraction is also set to become the first theme park to ever broadcast from space. Members of the public are being invited to submit messages they want to be seen from space using a specially designed screen high above the planet. The mission will be attempted in celebration of the attraction's re-imagined space-themed ride, Launch Pad, which opened earlier this year. Some visitors will be invited to Pleasure Beach to film them delivering their message whilst riding Launch Pad. And on August 11, there will be a 'mission control booth' stationed by the Launch Pad ride where guests can record their messages to space in person. Use these tips on your next theme park trip NEXT time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer - this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest. Download the park's app to track which rides have the shortest queues. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out "birthday badges" that can get you freebies. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return. Blackpool was also named the top place in the world to take bored kids this summer. Plus, the UK's best 100 cheap stays – our pick of the top hotels, holiday parks, B&Bs and pubs from just £22 a night. 4 4
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Island attraction up for four awards at 'Oscars of the theme park world'
A historic Isle of Wight tourist attraction has been nominated for four awards at the 'Oscars of the theme park world'. Blackgang Chine, the UK's oldest theme park, is up for the honours at The UK Theme Park Awards, hosted by To get attraction over the line, Islanders are being asked to vote. Read more: Isle of Wight history of UK's oldest theme park Blackgang Chine Dom Wray, managing director at Blackgang Chine, said: 'This is a huge honour and a testament to the passion, creativity, and dedication of our entire team." 'We're proud to fly the flag for the Isle of Wight, and now we're calling on our local community to help us win – every single vote counts!' Here's how to vote for Blackgang Chine Jolly Robin at Blackgang Chine (Image: Blackgang Chine) The talking bin, voiced by Joe Sugg (Image: Blackgang Chine) Blackgang Chine is shortlisted in the following categories: Best Customer Service, backed by a recent 98 per cent score in VisitEngland's Quality Assessment. Best Reimagined Ride for swinging ship the Jolly Robin (formerly at Robin Hill as the Colossus), which incorporates old Blackgang Chine favourite Jonah's whale. Best Seaside Park Best Marketing Campaign – for the viral Joe Sugg and the Talking Bin campaign. Public votes help decide the winners, and support from Islanders could prove the difference. Voting closes on September 1.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
At Least 20 People Get Stuck 60 Feet in the Air After a Ride Malfunctions at Knott's Berry Farm in California
Guests got stuck on the Sol Spin ride on July 26 Numerous riders got stuck mid-air when a ride at Knott's Berry Farm malfunctioned this weekend. In a video shared on the community safety site Citizen on Saturday, July 26, at least 20 park guests can be seen stranded on the Sol Spin ride at the Buena Park, Calif., theme park. The ride, which opened in 2017, is described as a 'thrilling adventure' that spins guests 60 feet above the ground, per the park's official website. Guests must be at least 4 feet, 5 inches to ride, according to Knott's Berry Farm. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In a statement to PEOPLE, a representative for Knott's Berry Farm said the ride was 'stopped for approximately five minutes." The spokesperson added that "everyone exited the ride safely" and the ride 'received a full safety inspection and reopened shortly after." The Knott's Berry Farm representative also told PEOPLE, "The safety of our guests is a top priority." This isn't the first time that the Sol Spin ride, which rotates riders in multiple directions while swinging them high above the ground, has malfunctioned recently. Back in November 2024, 22 park guests were left stuck on the ride for hours when it stopped mid-cycle. They were eventually evacuated after park officials 'followed the ride manufacturer's and Knott's emergency procedures' to safely get everyone off the ride, a spokesperson for the park told PEOPLE at the time. 'Out of an abundance of caution, two female guests were transported to the hospital for further evaluation,' the rep added. In footage taken from the 2024 rescue effort, a large crane could be seen slowly bringing officials over to the guests as they assessed the ride. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
At Least 20 People Get Stuck 60 Feet in the Air After a Ride Malfunctions at Knott's Berry Farm in California
Guests got stuck on the Sol Spin ride on July 26 Numerous riders got stuck mid-air when a ride at Knott's Berry Farm malfunctioned this weekend. In a video shared on the community safety site Citizen on Saturday, July 26, at least 20 park guests can be seen stranded on the Sol Spin ride at the Buena Park, Calif., theme park. The ride, which opened in 2017, is described as a 'thrilling adventure' that spins guests 60 feet above the ground, per the park's official website. Guests must be at least 4 feet, 5 inches to ride, according to Knott's Berry Farm. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In a statement to PEOPLE, a representative for Knott's Berry Farm said the ride was 'stopped for approximately five minutes." The spokesperson added that "everyone exited the ride safely" and the ride 'received a full safety inspection and reopened shortly after." The Knott's Berry Farm representative also told PEOPLE, "The safety of our guests is a top priority." This isn't the first time that the Sol Spin ride, which rotates riders in multiple directions while swinging them high above the ground, has malfunctioned recently. Back in November 2024, 22 park guests were left stuck on the ride for hours when it stopped mid-cycle. They were eventually evacuated after park officials 'followed the ride manufacturer's and Knott's emergency procedures' to safely get everyone off the ride, a spokesperson for the park told PEOPLE at the time. 'Out of an abundance of caution, two female guests were transported to the hospital for further evaluation,' the rep added. In footage taken from the 2024 rescue effort, a large crane could be seen slowly bringing officials over to the guests as they assessed the ride. Read the original article on People
CNA
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
A Pokemon theme park will open in Japan in 2026
Come 2026, there will be more reasons for you to visit Japan. On Tuesday (Jul 22), The Pokemon Company provided an update on its upcoming theme park PokePark Kanto – a venture that was first announced in 2023. PokePark Kanto is set to be the "first permanent outdoor Pokemon attraction" and will be housed within the Yomiuriland amusement park in Tokyo, Japan. Spanning over 26,000 sqm, PokePark Kanto will be made of two distinct areas: Sedge Town and Pokemon Forest. You'll finally know what it's like to explore a town in the Pokemon universe at Sedge Town. Here, you can visit iconic fixtures of the franchise, including the Pokemon Center, a Poke Mart and even a Pokemon Gym. The area will even have a fountain, as well as shops selling merchandise. If you want to witness Pokemon in their natural habitat, head to Pokemon Forest which spans nearly 500 metres in length. The area comprises many different terrains, including hilly paths, tall grass, tunnels and rocky trails – just like in the games. In a statement, Junichi Masuda, chief creative fellow at The Pokémon Company, said: "Pokemon has grown so much thanks to lots of support from many people. So we wanted to make a place everyone could come together and enjoy. "A space where Pokemon will always be and where people and Pokemon can have fun together. That wish prompted us to begin work on a world where Pokemon truly exist." PokePark Kanto is set to open in early 2026, with advanced ticket sales expected to begin late this year.
