Reliving the Thrills: 24 Things We Loved Most About Thorpe Park in 2024
- Thursday December 19th 2024
- Charlotte
As 2024 comes to a close, it’s impossible not to reflect and reminisce over what a record-breaking, totally thrilling, incredible year we had! From the launch of our brand-new record-breaking rollercoaster, to our exciting and reimagined land, to heartwarming moments shared with our guests, and everything in between, 2024 truly has been a year for the history books! Let’s dive into the 24 things we loved most about 2024.
- The Arrival of Hyperia
On 24th May, our golden goddess, Hyperia officially opened, breaking records and redefining thrill rides in the UK. Towering at an incredible 236 feet, our masterpiece proudly holds the title of the fastest, tallest and most weightless rollercoaster in the country! A marvel of engineering and adrenaline, Hyperia isn’t just a rollercoaster, it’s a call to unleash your fearless spirit and discover what it means to Find Your Fearless.
- Big Easy Boulevard Made Its Debut
With its vibrant, feel-good, carefree atmosphere, Big Easy Boulevard captured the hearts of guests who took a stroll through our reimagined land. Whether dropping 100 feet on our exhilarating drop tower ride, Detonator, enjoying Sunset Cinema’s new 4D releases, or getting behind the wheel on Big Easy Bumpers and taking the bumper cars for spin, this lively new area brings pure joy.
- Thorpe Park Turned 45 Years Old
On 24th May we celebrated our 45th birthday and gifted you the ultimate present - the launch of the UK’s tallest, fastest and most weightless rollercoaster, Hyperia! It was an unparalleled celebration of thrills featuring stunning pyrotechnics, a dedicated airplane flying overhead and speeches from Thorpe Park’s Divisional Director and Hyperia’s Senior Creative Lead. With live entertainment, the Fearless Valley welcoming you and you ready to Find Your Fearless, the milestone of Hyperia’s opening day was a spectacular and special day that will be in the history books for sure!
- Sparkle Project Transformation
Thorpe Park sparkled brighter than ever in 2024. Last winter saw us receive a massive investment in ride refurbishments, luscious landscaping, revamped theming and more magical sparkle touches across the park. From a major glow-up in the Stealth area to a new bridge at Tidal Wave, the Sparkle Project upgrades were bursting at the seams to improve your experience and make every visit even more magical.
- DeadBeat Scare Maze Debuted
This Fright Nights we unleashed a brand-new scare maze that joined our award-winning event line-up, DeadBeat. With demonic forces, relentless rhythm and hypnotic beats, our electrifying new scare maze turned up the horror dial.
- Finding Your Fearless
Belief. Hope. Power. As you prepared to forge your wings of steel aboard Hyperia, you were not just riding a theme park rollercoaster, you were stepping into a story of courage and determination. Hyperia challenged you to leave doubt behind and embrace your courage, making you feel fearless and invincible. You journeyed through the Fearless Valley and returned victorious, triumphant and having found your fearless; a feeling that will stick with you for years to come.
- The UK Theme Park Awards Took Centre Stage
Thorpe Park proudly hosted the fifth annual UK Theme Park Awards. In this year’s awards ceremony, we took home an astounding seven awards, including Theme Park of the Year! A huge thank you again to everyone who supported and voted for us!
- Fright Nights Took Fear to New Heights
Fright Nights returned with unmatched intensity for a horrifically hair-raising, horror-fuelled Halloween season. Delivering spine-chilling scare mazes, Hyperia’s nighttime thrills, unnerving scare zones and world-class rollercoasters and rides under the cloak of nightfall, the 2024 spooky season had us all rallying to find our fearless and face our fears. Fright Nights 2024 was nothing short of the ultimate Halloween experience!
- A Year of Memory-Making
Nothing compares to the joy of seeing families and friends making memories together; your laughter, smiles and screams made every day at Thorpe Park unforgettable!
- Mardi Gras Brought Spring Vibes
Thorpe Park came alive with the spirit of the New Orleans during our springtime event, Mardi Gras. Bringing toe-tapping beats, scrumptious street food and infectiously incredible live music to the home of feel-good thrills, Mardi Gras certainly put the spring in our step this spring.
- Hyperia-Themed Cabins Opened
Our Hyperia themed Shark Cabins launched this season, offering the ultimate way to unwind after a day of thrills. These brand-new themed cabins immerse you even more into the legendary story of our golden Goddess, Hyperia.
- Prost to Oktoberfest
Autumn was an Alpine wonderland with our cheerful event, Oktoberfest. Delivering Bavarian beats, epic German treats and awesome entertainment to raise your stein in celebration to, Oktoberfest was an awesome way to embrace the autumn season.
- National Rollercoaster Day
Taking place every year on 16th August, National Rollercoaster Day is one of the greatest days of the year! With our award-winning collection of record-breaking rollercoasters and exhilarating rides, Thorpe Park is the ultimate destination to celebrate an epic day with and adrenaline-fuelled adventure!
- The Introduction of our Sensory Guides
New for 2024 on our website, we launched our Rider Requirements page which hosts detailed information about all of our rides and the requirements for guests riding them. On this webpage there is a whole host of information including our brand-new Sensory Guide; a comprehensive guide detailing sensory information and ratings on all rides and attractions to help neurodiverse guests plan their visit. We also launched a dedicated Fright Nights Sensory Guide too!
- Hyperia was Born
6th March marked an extraordinary milestone for not only Hyperia, but for Thorpe Park and our rich history, as the final piece of Hyperia’s track was hoisted into place with precision. Watching the 92nd piece connect and complete the 995.4m long track of triumphant fearlessness was nothing short of breathtaking.
- Facing Your Fears
From escaping Saw’s malicious mechanical treacherous traps on the world’s first horror movie themed coaster, SAW – The Ride, to braving our horror-fuelled scare mazes throughout our Fright Nights event, you stared fear in the face and emerged a champion!
- The Best Toilets Award
It might not sound glamorous, but we were thrilled to be crowned for having the best guest-scoring toilets in any Merlin Entertainments UK theme park! Feeling flushed with excitement, it’s cracking you rate our toilets as number one!
- Colossus Cabins Brought Celestial Comfort
This year, inclusivity reached new heights as we launched Merlin Entertainment's first ever rollercoaster-themed accessible room, our Colossus Accessible Cabin. For guests with accessibility needs, our Colossus Accessible Cabin offers an immersive night's rest within these newly decorated cozy and celestial-themed cabins.
- Supporting Future Generations
We are proud to continue our partnership with DFN Project SEARCH in creating supported employment internships for young people with learning disabilities, autism, or both, helping them to take positive first steps into the world of employment
- Flying Fish Turned 40
The original Flying Fish, which debuted in 1984 as Space Station Zero, celebrated four decades of family-friendly fun this year – fin-tastic!
- Leap Day Inspired Us All
With an extra day in the year, Leap Day was the perfect moment to embrace the spirirtt of adventure, seize opportunities and find the courage to face new adventures.
- IT: The 4D Experience Premiered
This year, horror fans could immerse themselves even more at our award-winning Halloween event, Fright Nights, as we showed spine-chilling screenings of IT: The 4D Experience in Sunset Cinema; a chilling cinematic adventure that brought Pennywise terrifyingly close.
- Your Loving Words Lifted Us
Thank you for every kind word, praise and supportive shoutout. Your kindness and support are greatly appreciated, we are thankful and grateful for you.
- Golden Day Shone Bright
23/6, also written as 23rd June 2024 became Golden Day and what a day is was! Our guests dressed in gold and earning exclusive prizes, the energy, costumes, and giveaways made it a standout day of the season.
What a Year It Was!
2024 was a year for the history books! Thank you for an unforgettable year! From Hyperia’s golden debut to the endless moments of joy and adrenaline, we can’t wait to spend another thrill-filled, memory-making year with you. Here’s to 2025 - see you there!
Until next time👋
Charlotte