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The Wicker Man has replaced 'The Flume' and is the first wooden coaster in the UK in 21 years is opening at Alton Towers within the next couple of months. Rides website: https://www.altontowers.com/theme-park/wicker-man/ Stats: Cost: 16,000,000 Pounds (Approx $28,000,000) Height: 72 ft (22 m) Drop: 46 ft (14 m) Length: 2,028 ft (618 m) Here is a teaser video of the ride:

well we might have jumped the gun. Inferno is no longer listed as closed. I am going to AW Nights tonight and we cheek if it has reopened. However Water Mountain is currently listed as closed.

That right there is how you theme a coaster!

This seems like a real bonehead move. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad the 'race to the bottom' appears to be at an end. But the thing is with Village raising their price from $99 they've kind of given DW the wriggle room and a spot in the market. DW can now park themselves at that $99 price point and get all the people who will inevitably balk at how expensive Village are now. Happy days, they were flogging passes off significantly cheaper than $99 at different times during the year so if they can hold firm at $99 they'll be doing better in terms of how much they're charging per pass and will sell more come Village renewal time, particuarly given most guests probably haven't had a DW pass for a long time. By raising their price to almost inline with Village's local pass price they can kiss that advantage goodbye in one swift incompetent blow.

Cynical as most of us are about what DW \ Ardent will do with this area, i'm glad to see them at least start the removal process. It is an all too ugly reminder to people visiting the park about what happened, and the sooner it is gone, the sooner that open wound in the park can start to heal. I do hope that they, in consultation with the families, do something tasteful and touching in memoriam, either on the spot, or nearby, and I'd really like to see the area reinvigorated with something new. I only pray that the new area is done as much justice with theming and layout as the original area was - which likely will need a Buzzsaw retheme as well (which shouldn't be too hard).