Please note that the Corkscrew will close
to the general public
at 3.30 on Sunday 9th November
At the end of the
2008 season the Corkscrew, an iconic Alton Towers ride will close
for the final time. To celebrate its life and times, the park has
decided to give her one final spin on Sunday 9th November, a week
after the main season has ended.
1980s
Opening in 1980, the
Corkscrew will have operated at Alton Towers for 28 years making it
one of the oldest rides in the park, along with the Bouncing Bugs,
which is also due to close at the end of this season.
It was the opening of
the Corkscrew that started the craze for amusement parks in the
1980s which saw the likes of Drayton Manor, Chessington World of
Adventures and Thorpe Park appear on the map. Thus in many ways this
humble ride played a key role in the development of the theme park
map we know today, without which we might never have seen the likes
of Nemesis, Rita or SW6, the exciting new project which is set to
replace the Corkscrew for the 2010 season.
1990s
Whilst it is sure to
leave a hole in the theme park experience it is widely agreed that
the time is probably right for a change and for the past few seasons
the ride really has been showing its age both in looks and
ridability.
And as with many of
the coasters of the 80s Alton Towers version is by no means the last
of the Corkscrews, with one being found not a million miles away in
Flamingo Land is Yorkshire.
2000s
On the 9th of
November the Corkscrew will be joined by a host of other rides to
celebrate final fling of this granddaddy of the theme park world
(see the left hand panel for the full line up and pricing). And best
of all annual pass will be accepted on the day, as part of their 12
months unlimited entry. So why not join Alton Towers, TowersTimes and
indeed the Corkscrew for one final twist of the 'Screw!
