Thorpe Park 2026 Closed Season Update
The closed season at Thorpe Park is officially halfway done, and it won’t be long until we’re back riding the attractions once again. Thorpe Park reopens in 76 days, on Friday 27th March 2026, and from what we can see, there is already plenty happening behind the scenes.
While the park remains closed, some views into Thorpe Park can still be seen from Monks Walk, the public footpath that runs alongside the theme park. Access to the front of the lake in front of the park is no longer possible due to new fencing, but during winter the trees offer clearer sightlines, allowing some great views into the park. From this vantage point, the park looks like a hive of activity, and it appears we may be saying goodbye to one attraction this year – Rumba Rapids.
The maintenance shed for Hyperia is currently under scaffolding, with new cladding seen on the ground waiting to be installed. A large box has also been spotted nearby, leading us to believe the maintenance shed is receiving a new roof and improved insulation. Mack Rides boxes can be seen outside the maintenance area, and the coaster itself looks incredibly clean. From Monks Walk, the lift hill and drop appear spotless, making us wonder if the park has jet-washed the track. TV screens within the queue line are also still playing their video content, although there is currently no audio.
Scaffolding can be seen on the lift hill for Nemesis Inferno, alongside a shiny new red gearbox for the lift hill motor. The train that was previously parked on the brake run has now been moved into the maintenance shed, while another train can be seen sitting inside the station.
Zodiac spent much of the 2025 season closed, but it looks promising for 2026, with the ride still appearing fully assembled from what can be seen in recent photos.
Scaffolding has been erected around Mr Monkey’s Banana Ride, suggesting that off-season maintenance is underway.
At Dobble Tea Party, the teacups have been removed and can be seen laid on their sides.
Rush is undergoing its winter maintenance, with the seats currently removed from the ride.
Samurai is currently in pieces, with the counterweights from the top of the ride temporarily removed.
There are no visible signs yet of Colossus receiving a fresh coat of paint this winter, although we remain hopeful, particularly for the lift hill and final sections of the coaster. Despite being repainted only a few years ago, the exterior paint on the Colossus shop already appears to be peeling.
SAW Alive is, surprisingly, still floating – just about. However, by the end of the 2025 season it appeared to be starting to sink, leaving questions over how much longer the boat will last.
Vortex is also undergoing winter maintenance, with the backs of the seats removed so work can be carried out on the restraints and other ride components.
Work has been spotted on Tidal Wave along Monks Walk, with engineers using a cherry picker to access what appeared to be the lift chain return. Part of the lift hill is also currently under scaffolding.
Ghost Train remains standing strong, with no re-theme announced for 2026. This now makes it the longest-running single theme the attraction has ever had.
Logger’s Leap continues to live on in fragments, with one of the boats still visible from Monks Walk, now overgrown with plants. This is the same boat that once sat in Old Town as a memorial, while the central theming piece from Rocky Express can also be seen nearby, gathering dust and leaves.
There have been many rumours suggesting that Rumba Rapids may be closed permanently, and sadly the evidence on site is not reassuring. Work on the attraction appears almost non-existent, with all four pumps removed and left untouched for several weeks. This is highly unusual, particularly for such a large water ride. Many of the boats also appear to be missing, with only the rubber rings left stacked up. It is possible these could be being used as spare parts for the rapids ride at Alton Towers.
With Rumba Rapids being one of the most expensive rides to operate at Thorpe Park, we sadly believe these rumours may be true and that the attraction may not be returning for the 2026 season, or possibly ever. Although signage for the ride remains in place, the lack of visible progress is giving strong flashbacks to the closure of Logger’s Leap, which was initially described as being under refurbishment.
On a more positive note, this would free up a huge area of land for a potential new attraction, rollercoaster, or even an entirely new themed area in the future.
Finally, while driving past the Thorpe Park car park, a large number of vehicles were spotted parked up, suggesting that the drop-off area may once again be rented out to an external company during the closed season.
Tickets for the 2026 Thorpe Park season are already on sale and can be purchased directly from the Thorpe Park website.
