Saw The Ride Previews To Annual Pass Holders
Friday 13th March 2009
Thorpe Park invited Annual Pass Holders to the park today to preview the new Saw The Ride attraction. The theming inside and around the area is stunning and beyond anything ever seen at Thorpe Park Resort before. Actors could also be seen at the park entrance and around the Saw Plaza during the day.
There’s no stopping us - Developers Diary
Friday 6th February 2009
News broadcasts can’t stop talking about it, children are loving it and it stopped me flying to Edinburgh - that’s right, snow! I didn’t imagine I would be beginning my update with talk of the freezing weather again but it’s hard not to when, as the morning broke over SAW - The Ride on Monday, the track was blanketed in a light covering of snow. It didn’t stop T.G. Cruse travelling all the way up from Andover though. They were on site bright and early and ride commissioning even started up again in the afternoon. London may have ground to a halt but there was still a buzz of activity at THORPE PARK.
Things are moving along nicely now. We have all 8 ride cars on the track and Gerstlauer and the Park engineers began running them on Tuesday 20th January. So far they have already completed more than 250 test runs as part of the main commissioning of the ride.
Steel work at the entrance to the queue line has also been installed and is awaiting signage, and about half of the paving for the whole SAW - The Ride area has been laid, but obviously the snow makes this job a little difficult. We’ve also erected the retail structure and ride photo booth. They are both now waiting to be themed and fitted.
As well as all this we’ve fitted a lot of the internal theming now. Atmospheric lighting is being installed and props are being put in place inside the station building. Even though I can’t tell you what they are, you are going to love them! Sorry, I don’t mean to tease!
New Year New Developments - Developers Blog
Friday 9th January 2009
Christmas is over and I’ve still got turkey sandwiches for lunch! Not, that I’m getting that much time to eat as we’re even busier on site this year than we were in 2008 - and we’re only 9 days into January.
THORPE PARK got a fantastic early Christmas present from Gerstlauer when we received a delivery of 4 fully themed ride cars. Obviously we were all extremely excited, well it was better than the usual socks that I get in my stocking, and put one straight on the track for a one-off test run on a rainy 13th December (the car that is not my Christmas socks!). What can I say…no really what can I say, it went round!
As I said we’ve been extremely busy recently. The installation of the compressor and pipework, which will help control the brakes and internal theming, is complete, and on the subject of theming, I can confirm that the main elements of internal theming are all now fitted and being tuned and dressed ready to scare you senseless when the ride opens. We’ve also fit two huge industrial fans which can be seen both inside and outside the station building and the disabled lift has been installed and commissioned.
Over Christmas, paving and posts were laid ready for the queue lines and we’ve almost completed construction of the main bridge entrance and water channel that will create SAW - The Ride’s unique island setting. Foundations for the ride shop have started to be laid and CCTV and audio/visual equipment is now being fitted both internally and externally.
And all this has been happening while the lakes, ground and water pipes have been freezing around us. I’m not sure how T. G. Cruse, our main contractor, have managed to work at all on the site over Christmas and New Year but they did and have done a great job in such challenging conditions. Let’s hope the weather warms up a bit soon.
December 2008 - Developers Diary
Friday 12th December 2008
It’s that time of year when ice starts to cover the lakes around THORPE PARK and people are panic buying all their Christmas presents from Woolworths! And as the festivities fast approach we have been extremely busy on site. CCR’s track is now fully complete and ready to run under the watchful eye of SAW - The Ride as it travels through ‘Area 2′, in which the landscape is now finished.
The theming has commenced - that’s what a lot of people have been waiting to hear! The internal theming…well you’ll just have to wait and see - sorry. But, if you look at the ride from the A320 (or on certain enthusiast forums!), you’ll be able to see how much of the external building theming has already been done. With the corrugated iron sheets and timber having been installed; sandblasting is ongoing; rendering is complete; and the ‘themers’ have started their artwork.
This week we have also seen the arrival and installation of the ‘head-chopper’ effect at the bottom of the 100º drop. We’ve always stated that this ride will not be for the faint-hearted, but for those brave enough - seeing the circular saws from the top will not be the time for them to lose their head!
The internal cladding of the walls and electrical systems continue and the creation of the control and baggage rooms has started. Gerstlauer are currently back on site checking the brakes, electrical and pneumatic installations prior to the commissioning period, due to start in January.
Saw The Ride October 23rd Update
Sunday 23rd November 2008
Construction on Saw The Ride continues with the station building now fully enclosed with just the sides left to go on. It would also appear that all of the track is now complete! Posters can also be seen around the park advertising the new rollercoaster.
Build Update - Development Diary
Monday 17th November 2008
Gerstlauer have now completed the bulk of the electrical and pneumatic installation and their next step will be commissioning the ride, which is scheduled to start in January.
The internal and external cladding of the station building continues and the internal walls, which will separate certain aspects of the ride experience within the station building, have begun to be installed. Over the last few days, we have also seen the commencement of the electrical work, including the lighting and power.
The general area around the ride is starting to take shape with some of the foundations for theming being prepared and the excavation of the channel which will turn the site for SAW - The Ride, into an island. The railway track for CCR is being laid and the Landscape team have moved in for the plantation of ‘foliage’. The fencing around the ride’s low spots has been done, and the surrounding areas have been themed to look run-down to fit in with the derelict sawmill in which SAW - The Ride will be based.
Don’t forget to head over to the ‘Disciples of Saw’ section of the microsite to enter our ‘Ride it First’ competition, you wouldn’t want to miss out on such an opportunity!
Thorpe Park to launch Saw the ride the first-ever horror film rollercoaster
Monday 13th October 2008
Thorpe Park is set to launch “saw – the ride”, the first-ever horror film rollercoaster – the world’s scariest ride in 2009.
Rollercoaster Based On Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures’ Megahit ‘Saw’ Franchise
The UK’s thrill-capital, THORPE PARK, leading next generation film studio LIONSGATE (NYSE: LGF) and TWISTED PICTURES today announced that they will launch SAW – The Ride, the world’s first ever horror movie-themed rollercoaster, in Spring 2009. Based on Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures’ ‘Saw’ franchise, the most profitable horror franchise in movie history, SAW – The Ride is the scariest ride in the world. The latest installment in the series, ‘Saw V,’ premieres on Friday 24th October, and THORPE PARK will be inviting visitors to ‘Face Your Fears’ on their new terrifying attraction next year.
Like the films, THORPE PARK’s new rollercoaster will test the nerve of all who dare ride it and visitors will be at the mercy of the series’ master manipulator, Jigsaw. The ultimate test of SAW – The Ride will be a ‘beyond vertical’ drop of 100º from a height of 100ft, making it the steepest freefall drop in the world. Riders will also endure three inversions that will add another dimension to a whole new experience of adrenaline-fuelled fun for thrill seekers.
SAW – The Ride continues the growth of the ‘Saw’ franchise as an international cultural touchstone. The original 2004 ‘Saw’ launched a new wave in horror films and introduced a bona fide icon of terror: Jigsaw, the philosophically inclined psychopath with an exacting moral agenda and a genius for gruesome games of survival, ‘played’ with those he believes have ceased to value and appreciate the gift of life. Ratcheting up tension and invention with each successive film, the ‘Saw’ franchise has become a part of the zeitgeist while jangling nerves around the world. To date, the four ‘Saw’ titles have taken in over $550 million in worldwide theatrical box office and their combined gross DVD sales are nearly 24 million units.
Candy Holland, Creative Director for Merlin Entertainments Resort Theme Parks, is the woman behind the ride and arguably has Britain’s scariest and most exciting job. She is an extreme thrill enthusiast and will draw on her extensive background in theme park and theatre set design, working with the project team to make it the scariest ride in the world. Candy was also responsible for the creative development of THORPE PARK’s Stealth ride, Se7en maze, and Oblivion and Air at Alton Towers Resort.
Candy Holland comments, “I’m a huge fan of horror films and am utterly relishing creating the scariest ride in the world. Anybody who has sat through a ‘Saw’ film scared and terrified beyond belief will have some idea of what’s in store for them at THORPE PARK. SAW – The Ride is going to be shocking and intense…both physically and psychologically…and is sure to give you nightmares.
“We have worked in close collaboration with Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures on this project to ensure total accuracy of the key elements of the ‘Saw’ films, which when combined with the latest rollercoaster technology will create a phenomenal ride experience.
Marketing Director of THORPE PARK Carolyn London says, “SAW – The Ride is definitely only for the brave, and will add an element of edge to an already adrenaline packed breadth of thrills on offer. We’re certain the ‘Saw’ theme will set pulses racing and will satisfy the appetite of those in search of the ultimate exhilarating experience.”
‘Saw’ producers and Twisted Pictures principals Mark Burg and Oren Koules remark, “We love scaring people, and SAW – The Ride is a whole new way to do it. The team at THORPE PARK have really impressed us with their grasp of the ‘Saw’ universe and with their dedication to creating a truly edgy attraction.”
Guy Avshalom, Lionsgate COO, and Aubrey McClure, Lionsgate Vice President of Promotions, Licensing & Merchandising, add, “SAW – The Ride is a reflection of how thoroughly the ‘Saw’ franchise has crossed over into pop culture at large. We are delighted to be working with THORPE PARK to continue that expansion with the scariest ride in the world.”
The new ride will be the Park’s fourth major rollercoaster, joining an already impressive portfolio of extreme ride experiences, including Stealth – Europe’s fastest rollercoaster, Colossus – the world’s first ten looping rollercoaster and Nemesis Inferno – the 4.5 G-force experience.
THORPE PARK will open for the full 2009 season on Saturday 14th March but to preview the ride visit www.sawtheride.com.
Entire track completed - Development Diary
Friday 10th October 2008
There have been some exciting milestones reached over the last two weeks! The 29th and 30th September saw the camel hump in ‘Area 2’ completed; the last pieces of track and their columns were delivered by the 50th truck (that’s right – 50th!) on October 1st; and the track erection was completed on Sunday (5th). This resulted in Gerstlauer leaving the Project Dylan site, as of Tuesday 7th October…for the time being at least.
All the team have been extremely busy, and since I last wrote we have completed the entire track. Our main area of work was concentrated on the approach to the vertical lift, as well as the rest of the track based behind the trees. The station building is being constructed and a bridge for the Canada Creek Railway (CCR) has begun. We have continued to grout the bases for the ride structure and the profiling of the land is underway in preparation for the queue line and landscaping.
Torrential rain once again hit the site…and the rest of the UK, on Sunday 5th. Although it created quite a quagmire, you’ll be pleased to hear it hasn’t affected construction and everything is on schedule.
Unfortunately, on a few occasions, ‘we’ have been the reason for a couple of rides being out of operation – sorry! Laying foundations next to Logger’s Leap and working next to Samurai with cranes, meant that both rides had some ‘down-time’ recently. But, come next year, the inter-relationship between Dylan, the two rides and also CCR will really make it all worthwhile.
Exciting developments - Development Diary
Sunday 28th September 2008
Well…we have been busy since the last update. Anyone who managed to visit the Park would have been able to see the vast visual impact that this ride will have on the THORPE PARK skyline.
We have completed the entire track within the station building and also started to install the steel columns that will ultimately form the station building itself. But, the most noticeable thing that has been happening on site – the start and completion of the main lift and 100° ‘beyond vertical’ drop! If you haven’t seen it yet, check out my photos – it’s an awesome sight and is going to be a real adrenaline rush.
The lift base was installed on the 18th September, with the 1st section of the tower the next day and the 2nd section arriving and put in place on Thursday (25th). Anticipation was growing in the whole of the THORPE PARK team; staff members could even be seen viewing the site from Colossus bridge after close! Yesterday, we installed the pièce de résistance – the top hat. But, we can’t forget that in conjunction with this, we also completed vertical construction of the main inversion directly after the drop – hint: keep it quiet, but this will make a great photo opportunity when open!
This was a great achievement, but again the weather was against us. The main lift and drop were actually due to be one of the last pieces of track erection! With wet foundations, we were unable to get full access to the area where a large majority of the track will be placed. Therefore, the decision was made to switch the two areas around in the schedule, keeping us well on track - no pun intended!
Thorpe Park 2009 Rollercoaster Plans Approved
Thursday 31st January 2008
THORPE PARK is delighted to announce that on Wednesday 30th January 2008 Runnymede Borough Council granted full planning consent for the Park’s fourth major rollercoaster (sixth in total), and construction will commence in July 2008.
The key element of the ride will be a ‘beyond vertical’ drop of 100º from a height of 100ft, before running through a number of thrill elements specifically developed for THORPE PARK. With three loops, the new rollercoaster will take the Chertsey based theme park up to number four in the world for total number of inversions, at an impressive 17 - nine ahead of the number two in the UK.
Located behind Colossus and Samurai on it’s separate island, the new ride will offer thrill hunters an experience of a lifetime, creating a darker atmosphere never seen before at THORPE PARK. This new addition adds innovative thrills to the impressive portfolio already at the Park, including Stealth - Europe’s fastest rollercoaster, Colossus - the world’s first ten looping rollercoaster and Nemesis Inferno - the 4.5 G-force experience.
Peter Ronchetti, General Manager, comments:
“Building on the successful launch of the Park’s iconic ride Stealth in 2006, the new rollercoaster will add an element of edge to an already adrenalin packed breadth of thrills on offer. We are determined to establish THORPE PARK as the UK’s most thrilling attraction and adding this development to our current portfolio will certainly do that.”
2009 Rollercoaster Quick Facts:
• 100ft, 100º ‘beyond vertical’ drop
• 3 inversions
• Each individual car holds 8 passengers
• Up to 8 cars on the track
• Ride duration: 1min 40 seconds
• 30 seconds (30%) inside the station building
• Track length: 2362ft
