Hyperia Construction

26th March 2022

Opening weekend gave the first glimpse of the construction site for Project Exodus, with most of the former Old Town / Canada Creek area closed off behind large construction walls. At the time of writing, the planning application has been submitted to the local council and is pending consideration for approval. Until permission is granted, works cannot start on the site other than demolition of fixtures and fittings throughout the area. Peering through the construction fence reveals some new signage attached to the former Mill Grill building, humorously teasing the departure of the residents of the area. A vibrant new decal has been installed on the service gate next to Burger King – it remains to be seen if this is a teaser of the branding for Project Exodus.

21st January 2023

The start of the new year saw on-site activity significantly pick up with it possible to get clear views of this from Monks Walk. The first step was of course the removal of the structures and attractions in the Old Town area that are not being retained as part of the development. Notably this included the demolition of the Logger’s Leap station, most recently used for Creek Freak Massacre at Fright Nights, as well as the dismantling of Rocky Express, with the Resort confirming that the attraction was being retired. The food kiosks in the area were also removed, along with a number of trees, which altogether opened-up the area significantly.

Still to be removed are the former station of Canada Creek Railway and the flume part of Logger’s Leap, including both lift hills and drops. Effectively only one building on the site is being retained, which will be utilised as the photo collection point / retail unit through which guests exit after riding Project Exodus. Sections of fencing along Monks Walk near the Logger’s Leap lift hill have been replaced for new, which lead to the former Canada Creek Railway maintenance building which is in the process of being cleared out. The train carriages, sleepers and track for the former railway are being stored further along the access road, presumably pending removal from the Resort – a sad sight to see.

4th March 2023

Since our last update, significant progress has been made in completely clearing the Old Town area. The former Canada Creek Railway train station has been demolished, along with further trees being cut down throughout. The large job of removing Logger’s Leap started in early February, beginning with the trough that leads from the station to the first lift hill, followed by the section from the second drop back to the station. The next stage was to demolish the smaller first lift hill and drop, and at the time of posting this update, the complete large iconic double down drop had been removed, with just the lift hill remaining. Parts of this drop could be seen looking mangled next to the lift hill.

On the service road, the Canada Creek Railway trains have been removed by their new owners – so we look forward to them being given a renewed lease of life at their respective new attractions. The large rocks that surrounded the final section of Logger’s Leap have been removed off the site and stored along the service road. Hopefully these will be integrated into the new project landscaping again.

26th March 2023

With the theme park reopening for the 2023 season, observations from the other side of the construction site are now possible in addition to views from Monks Walk. In anticipation of Thorpe Park Resort building the UK’s tallest coaster, new hoardings have been added to the construction walls around the site with the slogan “Taking thrills to new heights”. The lift hill for the second drop of Logger’s Leap has now been demolished, with the stretch of trough that crosses the lake being the only part of the former attraction yet to be removed. Mounds of dirt and rubble fill the centre of the area, which will presumably be used to infill the lake so that the construction of the foundations for the ride can commence.

21st May 2023

The demolition of the former Old Town area is now complete, other than a small section of the Logger’s Leap trough that stretches from one side of the lake to the other. The portion of lake in the middle of the site has been mostly filled in and the area flattened in preparation for construction of the various foundations that will support the project Exodus ride hardware. A large pile driver has started drilling into the ground which is the first stage in creating the footers for the coaster. In the foreground of the photos, metal rebar is being staged that will insert into the holes that the pile driver is creating, before being filled with concrete.

23rd July 2023

The Project Exodus construction site is a hive of activity, with work focused on building the many footers that the coaster will sit on. The first foundations to be completed appear to be located towards the far end of the site, with the team then working backwards towards the station area from there. The first delivery of ride supports from Mack Rides was made to the resort which are being staged in the park’s expansion area next to The Swarm.

16th August 2023

Happy National Rollercoaster Day 2023! Work on the Project Exodus construction site is continuing at a steady rate. Since our last update, work has begun on the station and maintenance area foundations. Progress has also continued on the coaster footers and foundations, meaning we are getting even closer to seeing the ride go vertical.

Thorpe Park have disclosed that some of the gold supports have arrived behind The Swarm. Unfortunately, these are only visible from onboard Stealth and The Swarm. In a video released today, Thorpe Park have also confirmed that Exodus will be the fastest roller coaster in the UK, taking the record from Stealth.

17th September 2023

Since our last update, work continues at pace on the various footers all over the site, with the foundations for the station and first curve leading to the lift hill now clearly visible towards the front of the area. The construction walls have been updated with a new gold colour scheme and an image of the layout showing the height of the ride compared to Colossus. Viewing windows have been installed next to Samurai which is a nice touch for guests to enjoy views of progress.

As part of our Southern Screamer event, we were able to visit the ride steelwork storage area behind The Swarm where many white and gold supports are being staged before vertical construction begins. Along the service road, framework for the ride station is being stored which is likely the first thing to go vertical. A model of the ride and its area is on display in the Thorpe Megastore, providing guests with an indication of what the UK’s tallest roller coaster will look like.

5th October 2023

Approximately 90% of the ride footers are now complete, with the last remaining foundations being poured for the front section of the layout, along with the maintenance building. The gold and white track supports have been moved on to the site from the staging area, with vertical construction ready to commence soon. The ride manufacturer Mack Rides are now in attendance, with one of their vehicles visible.

5th October 2023 – Name Reveal

Following the press preview of Fright Nights 2023, Thorpe Park Resort announced via a dramatic video that the name of Project Exodus will be ‘Hyperia’, with a theme based on their Fearless Goddess, and her story being revealed in due course. The ride was originally going to be called ‘Icarus’, hence the wings in the logo, but the trademark was opposed so the name was dropped. Promotional banners were installed at the park exit to entice guests to return to ride the UK’s tallest coaster in 2024.

13th October 2023

Hyperia went vertical on Monday 9th October 2023! Since then, the first gold supports and track have been installed at the far end of the site. This is the location of the 165ft outer banked turn and inversion. Work has also started on the supports for the elements after the splashdown on the attraction. The pace of vertical construction is very quick, and it is expected to continue at this rate over the coming weeks. Further track and supports have now been moved onto the site daily. Additional progress has also been made to the maintenance garage with the foundation now ready for concrete pouring.

22nd October 2023

Since our last update, significant progress has been made with vertical construction – specifically on the two supports towers that make up the 165ft outer banked turn and inversion. This element will see the train climb up, bank to the left, then continue turning into an inversion through the support structure before dropping down to the ground. Iron Gwazi’s ‘Death roll’ inversion is similar.

Over at the station, the black metal structure has been erected, with the ride platform now visible with a clear space in the middle where the train will board riders. The train storage garage foundation is complete, and the building framework has now gone vertical. The garage is long enough to store both trains in for maintenance. The beams which will make up the flooring for both the station and the train storage garage can be found staged on the service road nearby.

It appears that the only remaining footers to be poured are for the transfer track and lift hill. The rebar cages which will make up the core of both of these are now visible, awaiting concrete.

27th October 2023

Significant vertical construction has continued at the far end of the site. With the two support towers that make up the 165ft outer banked turn and inversion nearing completion, a significant amount of white track has been added and the element is now taking shape. It is expected that this element will be fully completed at some point within the next week.

Work has continued the black metal station structure, and the station is continuing to take shape. The maintenance building has seen a lot of work in the past week with the majority of the steel framework in place.

31st October 2023

The last day of the season saw the iconic outer banked turn and diving inversion completed. We noted the construction team spending two hours in the rain, 165ft in the air, in a cherry picker, connecting the track sections. The definition of a challenging profession!

17th November 2023

The team at Thorpe Park have been hard at work constructing further sections of Hyperia’s layout, with the final turn and airtime hill now in place. On our visit today we saw the brake run installed, featuring retractable and fixed magnetic brake fins that will initially slow down the train, along with friction brakes that can stop the train outside the station when required. Work on the station continues with the roof and platforms now constructed, and the ride’s PLC installed in what will be the lower level control room. Interestingly, the lower level is raised off the floor to prevent any damage occurring should there ever be flood issues.

Stretching from the station structure all the way past the brake run and down to the former Canada Creek Railway maintenance shed, a trench has been dug that may presumably be for power or water lines. The shed itself has been cleared out completely, with its intended purpose currently unknown. The ride maintenance building structure appears to be complete, with the sides now receiving cladding to enclose it. Between this building and the station, the footers for the transfer track are being poured, whilst the foundations for the first turn before the lift hill are now complete. The large triangle anchor footer that the base of the lift hill will rest on is now also ready for ride installation.

25th November 2023

The wave turn after the future splash down has now gone into place – the train will bank highly to the left before swiftly turning to the right into the final airtime hill and brake run. Work has continued on the brake run with the final section installed just before the station, and associated catwalks which will be used for evacuation of the train when required. The station is being steadily enclosed with cladding, with the front featuring an ornate diagonal design as seen in the original plans. The large footers are now complete immediately in front of the station, awaiting installation of the transfer track. Work has now also begun on the first part of the structure which will support the lift hill, immelmann and dive stall.

4th December 2023

Since our last update, track has been installed for the splashdown element before the wave turn. This straight section of track travels through a concrete trench and features a large set of magnetic trim brakes to reduce the speed of the train. Workers were busy constructing the large support structure which will hold up the dive stall. Further progress has also been made on the maintenance garage, and the exterior station cladding is steadily enclosing the building. The trench that was dug from the station area to the former Canada Creek Railway maintenance building has seen pipework installed, potentially for water utilities.

13th December 2023

Work has progressed at a significant rate at the Hyperia site in the past week. The most notable change is that the support structure holding up the Immelmann and dive stall is now visible outside of the park, and track has passed the vertical position. Over by the station, the transfer table to move the trains into the maintenance area is now in place, and part of the first outer bank turn has been installed. Drive tyres have been delivered to the garage and are being craned into position. The trench down the side of the site is starting to be filled in and the old storage building for Canada Creek Railway has seen complete demolition.

29th December 2023

To mark the end of the year, different angles of Hyperia have been provided to show how prominent the coaster now is on the Thorpe Park skyline. Since the last update, additional track has been added to the first structure for the dive stall and Immelmann. The second structure which will connect the element together has also gone vertical and track work on these two elements are expected to be completed in the new year. Some other things to note are that the trench for water utilities that follows the old platform 15 route has been covered up, and work has also continued on the station and maintenance areas. The old VIP hub which was being used as the Merlin Magic Making offices on the site has now been demolished ready for a new retail store and photo unit to be constructed.

13th January 2024

Our first update of 2024 saw the installation of the initial sections of the dive stall and non-inverting Immelmann. On the pull out of the latter element, one of the track sections features a trim section – but at present, no brake fins have been installed and will only be done so if the train is noted as travelling too fast for riders to enjoy the rest of the layout comfortably. Work has continued on the gold trim panelling on the station and maintenance garage. The framework for the new retail and photo unit has now been erected, ready for cladding and detailing to be added at a later date.

20th January 2024

The incredible looking non-inverting Immelmann was completed in the last few days, with the dive stall still taking shape. The maintenance garage now features a gold shutter over the entry, and a new wooden fence has been built around the electrical transformer. Trees and shrubs were delivered, and have started to be planted towards the rear of the site.

27th January 2024

The unnatural first turn out of the station was installed in the last week, where riders will bank heavily to the left before ascending the lift hill. The station has all been enclosed, other than at the rear, to ensure that remaining larger parts, like the airgates and baggage hold, can be craned in without obstruction. Roofing was added to the retail and photography building framework.

While we were present, an employee from Mack Rides was using a tool to confirm the exact position of the recently installed drive tyres which will jog the trains into the maintenance garage. The tool also has a cut out for the magnetic brake fins to make sure they are aligned to fit the train callipers. This week also saw further progress on the first drop, with a new support structure and track section added at the base.

3rd February 2024

In the week since our last update, additional external panels have been added around the exterior of the station. The lake which was infilled in the middle of the site is slowly being graded into its final shape, and water is now visible next to the base of the lift hill. Work has continued on the new retail store and photo unit, which has seen its wall panelling installed. Many more supports have been added for the large structure that will host the first drop and top of the lift hill.

10th February 2024

In this week’s update, additional track and supports have been added to the first drop. The curve within the first drop is starting to become visible as more track sections are added in the climb up to the coaster’s highest point – the top of the lift hill. Two additional pieces of track have been added to the dive stall, with this element close to being joined up and completed. Additional work has also taken place on the front of the station, with additional gold cladding being added over the top of the existing exposed metal. Landscaping has begun on site, with many plants and trees being planted towards the back of the area.

16th February 2024

The last week saw the completion of the impressive dive stall element, with the final track piece installed in the middle that joined the two sections. Work then focused on the lift hill, with the track leading up to it and the motor put in place. The lift hill box section track sits on the large anchor footer at an estimated 47° angle – it’ll be a steep ascent up to 236ft!

20th February 2024

Thorpe Park kindly invited us on to the Hyperia construction site where we were able to shoot some unobstructed photos of the coaster. Further track sections of the lift hill have been added, along with additional supports installed on the tower structure that will support the highest point of the ride – the 236ft crest of the lift hill and first drop. A larger crane will be delivered to the site next week to install the tallest parts of the coaster, with the crest consisting of three sections of track which will be constructed on the ground and then lifted into position.

Further gold cladding has been added to the station building, and the team were preparing to install the wings seen in the ride’s logo on the front. The maintenance garage has also received further cladding on the front, along with the attachment points for letters which will read ‘FEARLESS’. A SUDS (sustainable drainage system) pond has been constructed next to the first turn of the coaster which forms part of the flood prevention measures.

Torquing of the bolts was being carried out on sections of track and supports that were installed earlier on in the process, and the supports are being grouted to the footers at the base. Landscaping continues to progress at the back of the site, with trees, shrubs, and grass seed being planted. The former Old Town toilets and Burger King buildings opposite Hyperia are receiving extensive refurbishments, and as well as the interior of the toilets being rebuilt completely, both buildings will be re-clad in a style similar to Hyperia’s station and maintenance garage for continuity.

2nd March 2024

With the arrival of the largest crane yet, the incredible first drop was installed. The train will dive completely vertical and gain significant speed before rotating 180° and curving out towards the ground. Work will now focus on installing the remaining supports at the top of the structure, along with the crest of the lift hill.

6th March 2024 – Topping Off

Today was a huge day in UK theme park history as Hyperia reached its tallest point of 236ft and track work was completed. This brand new Mack Hyper Coaster has now officially dethroned The Big One at Pleasure Beach Resort as the tallest roller coaster in the UK. The final piece of track was moved into position around 2pm, and adorned with German and British flags, alongside the Thorpe Park logo. With the track layout completed, it is amazing to see the size and scale of this record breaking roller coaster. There are two smaller supports awaiting installation on each side of the final lift hill piece, and these are expected to go in by the end of the week. Stairs and gearboxes for the lift chain are also being worked on prior to the installation of the chain.

Elsewhere on site, planting has continued with reeds being added around the SUDS pond by the first outer bank turn out of the station. Work is also continuing on the station building interior. Elsewhere on park, Samurai is being prepared for painting, and the new logo has been installed at the Thorpe Park main entrance.

6th March 2024 – Official Photos

Thorpe Park published their own set of photos of Hyperia’s topping off, including some incredible aerial images shot from a drone. What a moment!

23rd March 2024

As Thorpe Park opened for the 2024 season, views of Hyperia construction became available again from inside the theme park. Since our last update, electrical work has continued, and the lift hill chain has been installed which is now visible wrapping around one of the cogs at the base. The station exterior is nearing completion, with the Hyperia wing motif complete to the side and now front of the building.

Some of the construction walls were removed closest to Colossus, and landscaping has started between the retail and photo unit and the main guest pathway. The nearby toilets and Burger King have been completely refurbished and now feature a stylish exterior in a light brown wooden cladding to fit into the new area. A new games unit shares the left of the Burger King building named Victorious Games, and was already proving popular with guests.

14th April 2024

The first of two trains arrived at the park from Germany and was placed into the maintenance garage, before swiftly being moved towards the station to start the programming of the ride. Final preparations are underway with area fencing and other safety measures to enable full circuit testing to commence. The exterior of the station is now mostly complete with all cladding attached, and ‘welcome fearless’ letters added above the track which riders will see as they enter the station.

16th April 2024 – First Test Run

Just after 2pm on April 16th, 2024, Hyperia made its first test run! The train was jogged slowly out of the station and was then stopped at the base of the lift hill. The team from Mack Rides then checked the train to make sure the chain dog engaged on the chain and the anti-rollbacks were working correctly, before slowly activating the lift motor so the train could start its ascent. The lift hill speed was kept slow for the initial test run so the engineers could closely monitor the train.

A crowd of at least 100 people had gathered to witness Hyperia test for the first time, creating a fantastic atmosphere! The train traversed the layout slower than it will do by the time the ride opens due to the lift hill operating at a slower speed, new wheel bearings needing to wear in, and cooler temperatures for the time of year.

28th April 2024

Since our last update, work has continued on the queue line and exit path fencing. During a lift hill walk of Colossus, we were able to shoot some aerial shots of the construction site, with the queue line cattle pen starting to emerge, with the exit path wrapping round it. The gold ride area fences are in excess of 6ft high, feature a dense mesh anti-climb design, and will hopefully not make queueing for the ride a claustrophobic experience. Within the cattle pen, a more attractive design will be installed at a lower height, and the posts for these are now visible.

Elsewhere on site, the jets have been installed either side of the concrete trough for the splash down element. Landscaping continues, with various new vegetation planted around the site. The ‘Find your fearless’ signage is now complete on the site of the maintenance garage. Lighting and CCTV cameras have recently been added to the station and on top of posts around the queue line.

4th May 2024

With the opening of Hyperia just under three weeks away, both trains are now testing on site. During the day, Hyperia was consistently testing and cycling trains – it is really impressive being able to see the trains traversing the layout from all across the park. Framework for the queue line fencing is now in the ground in preparation for the pouring of the flooring. Additional planting has been added around the area and the site offices have been removed off from the main site.

21st May 2024

Golden week has arrived and, with only a few days left until the opening of Hyperia, it’s all-hands-on-deck to complete the finishing touches. Since our last update, the majority of the queue line has been put into place and the flooring has been poured. The entrance archway, rider information and queue time board have also been installed outside of the attraction. Additionally, the Hyperia plaza and wider Fearless Valley area is starting to come together with the installation of the Cloud Nine Treats kiosk, as well as the exterior signage on Hyporium, the photo unit and Refresh & Refill station.

There is a large stage structure at the back of the plaza which looks to be set up in preparation for the opening ceremony on Friday. The queue line and plaza are now receiving the final elements of landscaping with plants, rocks and a woodchip finish. During this week, staff are also receiving the opportunity to experience the attraction for the first time – general reviews seem to be overwhelmingly positive.

17th February 2025

Following its debut in 2024, Hyperia has successfully completed its first train strip back and is cycling round the track in preparation for riders in the coming weeks. During its first closed season, some work has been taking place around the queue line and plaza to improve the overall presentation of the attraction. The changes have seen some of the areas which were previously home to wood chippings, replaced with grass turf and some new planting. This welcome change adds additional colour to the area and makes it feel more complete. In addition, a piece of the flooring on the plaza which developed a sink hole during Fright Nights is in the process of being replaced and the cables which were poking out of the ground, where the opening stage once sat are now housed within a new green box.