Thorpe Park as we know it today could have been very different if the following plans came to fruition.
Pirates 4D & Shoot the Chutes Ride – 1999 & 2000
These plans show an alternative version of Pirates 4D, featuring an entrance at the front of the building rather than the side, leading to the removal of the cafe. Tidal Wave was originally envisioned to share the pirate theme and create a new area. The Shoot the Chutes ride station is located in the middle of a ship wreck, and large masts and sails would surround the lift hill.
Elevator Ride / Shot & Drop Tower – 2001
Detonator could have been manufactured by S&S had these plans not been withdrawn. This ride would have been situated on the site of the former Model World instead of where Phantom Phantasia / Wicked Witches Haunt once stood.
Launch Coaster 1 – 2002
Prior to 2002 and set to be the ride to relaunch Thorpe Park, The Tussauds Group had envisioned a very different ride to Colossus. The park set about putting together plans to build a launched B&M sit down coaster similar to Incredible Hulk at Universal’s Islands Of Adventure. Here we have a rare glimpse at some of the early plans for this immense thrill ride. Also included are the Colossus plans with an outline of the proposed launch coaster overlaid for a sense of scale.
Launch Coaster 2 – 2003
Before Nemesis Inferno hit the drawing board, The Tussauds Group had planned a large Vekoma or Premier Rides LIM launch coaster with a layout similar to Xpress at Walibi Holland and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World. This attraction would have kept the classic Mr Rabbit’s Tropical Travels rather than demolishing it.
