Thursday 21st May saw Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool open their brand new thrill ride, Aviktas, the UK’s largest Gyro Swing.
The launch of Aviktas has brought a brand-new level of excitement to the famous seaside park. Invited guests gathered for the official opening as the towering new attraction was unveiled for the first time. Built by Intamin Amusement Rides at a cost of £8.72 million, Aviktas now holds the title of the UK’s tallest Gyro Swing, reaching an impressive height of 138 feet. The ride can seat 40 passengers at once, sending them soaring high above the park while swinging at extreme angles that create a powerful thrill experience.
During the launch event and before guests got to experience the ride, CEO and Managing Director, Amanda Thompson OBE, and Executive Vice President of Intamin, Sascha Czibulka, presented a short talk where they praised the work of the construction and engineering teams, whilst highlighting Aviktas as a major milestone for Pleasure Beach Resort. Being their first large investment since ICON in 2018, Amanda proudly stated that there is “simply nothing like it in the UK”.
As the ribbon was cut to celebrate the launch of the ride, gold confetti rained from above. Members of the Thompson family and Sascha Czibulka boarded Aviktas for its first official dispatch alongside members of the press. Following the ceremonies, at 14:00 the gates officially opened to the public and the ride quickly gained a 70 minute queue.
The area around Aviktas has received a fresh new look to match the attraction’s dramatic presence. The ride stands on the former Bowl’a’Drone and Black Hole buildings, later used as the 4D Cinema and Planet Rock show. These occupied the area until demolition began in August 2024, which paved the way for Aviktas being announced in May 2025. During construction, the park buried a time capsule under the ride. This contained over 200 fan messages from thrill seekers, ride memorabilia such as blueprints and decommissioned ride parts, a document detailing life in 2025, and a USB drive containing photos of team members.
The sight of Aviktas instantly catches the attention of everyone when entering the park with its huge rotating gondola and striking support structure. An atmospheric soundtrack has been produced by musician and composer Glenn Robertson, who has a history with the park having previously produced the musical scores for other major attractions within the resort such as ICON, Launch Pad, and Big One.
The plaza includes a large golden serpent emblem which contributes to the ride’s distinct identity. Various snake imagery can be seen throughout the area such as below the ride gondola, throughout the queue line, and on themed benches. With such close attention to detail, Aviktas stands out as one of the best stylised flat rides in the country.
Once the ride begins, guests are swung higher and higher as the pendulum swings over the park skyline. It doesn’t take long to reach full height of 138ft, creating moments of weightlessness and thrill. The ride allows fantastic views across Blackpool’s coastline, alongside Pleasure Beach itself. The outward-facing seats have a lap bar and allow a lot of freedom which leave riders feeling completely exposed, adding to the sensation of speed and height. As the gondola rotates during the swing cycle, every seat delivers a slightly different experience, making the attraction feel unpredictable and exhilarating from start to finish. The ride cycle is 2 minutes, 15 seconds though feels much longer.
Aviktas is already proving to be one of the biggest new attractions in the UK theme park industry. Combining impressive engineering, eye-catching presentation and an intense ride experience, the attraction adds another major thrill ride to Pleasure Beach’s collection. The opening of Aviktas also highlights the park’s continued investment in new experiences, ensuring visitors have something bold and exciting to look forward to for years to come.
Have you had the chance to visit Pleasure Beach Resort and ride Aviktas yet? Or do you have a trip planned at some point this season to experience the UK’s largest Gyro Swing? Let us know on our social media channels!
