The main theme park season in the United Kingdom has drawn to a close, following a year of major rollercoaster investments.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which opened the Icon rollercoaster this year, this evening closed its gates until it fully reopens in February.
Yesterday the Lancashire amusement park was forced to abandon its end-of-season fireworks display due to high winds, but offered Saturday’s guests a free return visit today.
Alton Towers closed with two sell-out fireworks displays across the weekend, the first time the park has reached capacity in both the Saturday and Sunday displays for several years.
The Staffordshire theme park launched Wicker Man in March, which is the first wooden rollercoaster built in the UK since 1996.
The ride has contributed towards what bosses describe as a “continued recovery” at the park following 2015’s Smiler accident.
Thorpe Park ended its season on 31 October, with its final night of its series of Fright Nights scare events.
This year the Surrey theme park re-launched the X rollercoaster as The Walking Dead: The Ride, as it continues to expand its intellectual property model of attraction launches.
Fantasy Island opens for its final weekend next week, where it will host its traditional end-of-season celebrations featuring heavily-discounted ride wristbands.
Ride Rater Awards 2018
Voting is now open in Ride Rater’s inaugural Vlogger of the Year award, and you can choose your favourite here.
We will also be naming our sixth Photographer of the Year, and entries are now open for you to submit the best image you have taken this season.
Also entering our Hall of Fame in December will be our Park of the Year and Best New Addition, after our editorial team internally decide the winners.