Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. It caused a chain of cars to hurtle back into the boarding area, smashing into a wall and killing five children and injuring 13 more. Few rides, either before or since have captured the imagination and affection of park guests quite like The Black Hole. No replacement was ever built inside the tent, although the park considered various ideas including flat ride and rollercoaster concepts. The ride sadly closed in 2016, to make way for the latest wooden rollercoaster, the Wickerman. You're usually too busy shooting at the various ghouls to actually be scared as obviously you need to try and score a higher number than whoever is sitting next to you. Try it outhere. Ever since the 2016 crash the news are all over anything the smiler does. All that happened, by reading that article at least, is part of the undercarriage became loose and impacted with the track, causing the train to sharply stop and the track to be lightly damaged. [2], In 1985, the bottom of the first drop was modified slightly to make the ride run more smoothly. Clearly showing the supports still in place. Opening in 1980, Corkscrew was a landmark investment for the park, and one which literally doubled attendance in a couple of years due to its popularity.In 1979, John Broom, one of the original Directors of Alton Towers, wanted to install a flagship attraction that would be unique to the UK, and set the benchmark for thrills in the theme park industry. 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Black Hole, briefly known as Black Hole II (1988) and New Black Hole (1989), was an enclosed steel roller coaster located at Alton Towers theme park near Alton in the English shire county of Staffordshire, United Kingdom. The Black hole is a Schwarzkopf Jet star 2 coaster with a length of 1919ft, Height of 44'3 and a duration of 1min 50 seconds. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. The space-themed ride had some lights added in 1985, as it turned out that a sudden drop in complete darkness was actually quite unpleasant for the riders. Riders would be taken on a journey through outer space with various theming objects and special affect 10. Six were killed and ten more taken to hospital unconscious. Closed: The ride shut for a year after Hayley Williams death. Something went wrong, please try again later. In 2013 the new ride to replace the Black hole was announced as "The Smiler", to open on the 31st of May 2013. But in June 1986 missing bolts caused the four-car-train to fly from the track. The ride stood in the X-Sector area of the park. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The second happened a year later (approx) on MindBender at West Edmonton Mall, Canada, where poor maintenance and loose bolts caused the undercarriage to fall away from the last car of the coaster, killing 3 people. Black Hole was one of Alton Towers' classic rides. This ride, that opened in 1983, was spooky in the fact it took place in total . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Want to make sure you never miss the most important headlines from Stoke-on-Trent daily? A bit of History about the ride. The wave pool became known as the "Grave Pool" after a series of deaths in the 1980s. A board celebrating the coaster's twenty years of operation appeared at its entrance, but the ride itself joined a long list of SBNO attractions in the park at that time. Enclosed within a giant tent, Black Hole was a rollercoaster which took place in near complete darkness. James, 29, was an Iraq War veteran who had lost both his legs in the conflict. Easter 1984. We know how irritating it is to find your inbox filling up with emails you don't want. wait wait wait.. did the black hole not have the under wheel? The Black Hole accident happened in 1984, not very long after opening. Inside, the ride retained its theme of space but received a newly designed queueline and station with steampunk architecture. Most recently, the ride system has been reused again as part of the Alton Towers Dungeon. You can make donations VIA By Me A Ko-fi.Donation page: https://ko-fi.com/themeparkenthusiastWhat is the Black Hole?Black Hole, briefly known as Black Hole II and New Black Hole, was an enclosed steel roller coaster at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England. It was later found the safety barriers were not designed for amputees and he should never have been allowed on. The dome plunged 35 feet to the ground, on fire, with more than 44 people inside. Black Hole was standing but did not operate. The audience had no means of steady themselves which meant quite a few often fell over, which probably means it wouldn't get past health and safety today. The Black hole is a Schwarzkopf Jet star 2 coaster with a length of 1919ft, Height of 443 and a duration of 1min 50 seconds. The ride stood in the X-Sector area of the park. The opening of Oblivion in 1998 led to the redevelopment of Fantasy World, which became known as X-Sector. Mindbender rollercoaster at Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall. Trains were comprised of two cars, each seating up to six riders in three groups of two, one in front of the other. A 19-year-old university student was killed, and 19 other people were injured. Not so much a rollercoaster, but instead purely a product of its time, before 3D was even a thing. Contact Eco-Adventure Valley Space Journey at Overseas Chinese Town East, Shenzhen, China. The park shut in 1996 due to legal action, but reopened under a new name in 1998 following a safety-led refit. Lights were also added to the lift, so that riders were able to brace themselves for the first drop. Now renamed Duel, the Haunted House was originally quite a different experience. Three horrific deaths happened on the same day at King's Island in June 1991. During a question-and-answer session in 2010 celebrating the opening of TH13TEEN, it was confirmed by John Wardley and then-marketing director Morwenna Angove that preparation for a new roller coaster in 2013 had begun, and that the former site of Black Hole was being considered for the location. Attraction Source Events & Meetup Archive, http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p281 cu0009.jpg. The Black Hole accident happened in 1984, not very long after opening. At the same time it gained new effects within the tent as well as an updated restraint system. If so, then have I got a throwback for you. [3], Media related to Black Hole (Alton Towers) at Wikimedia Commons, Last edited on 10 November 2022, at 03:20, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Furuvik zet Schwarzkopf achtbaan Rocket te koop (Furuvik puts Schwarzkopf roller coaster Rocket up for sale)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Black_Hole_(roller_coaster)&oldid=1121026397, This page was last edited on 10 November 2022, at 03:20. A spiral lift hill carried guests up into space before they were dropped 15 metres into the Black Hole, where the darkness was only penetrated by brief glimpses of the stars or occasional laser beams illuminating hidden asteroids or other residents of the void. Black Hole was an enclosed steel roller coaster at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England. Most recently, the ride system has been reused again as part of the Alton Towers Dungeon. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Nearly all of us have enjoyed a day out at Alton Towers over the years. For the 1988 season, Black Hole was dismantled and transported to Europe, where it had an overhaul by BHS (later becoming Maurer Shne) of Peienberg in Germany, to accommodate dual-car trains. The ride began with an unusual spiral lift hill, before plunging down a 44 foot drop into the "black hole". Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The Battersea Fun Fair closed two years later due to the accident. 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When the ride first opened, the ride was completely dark. Three people fell to their deaths and the fourth suffered serious neck and chest injuries. Firstly, the bottom of the first drop was modified slightly to make the ride run more smoothly. It was a Jet Star 2 (Jet Star I did not have a spiral lift hill i don't think) as far as I know, a smaller (45ft) version of Jet Star 3 (Alton Beast). However, 1001 Nights was renamed Ug Land, and primarily aimed at families. If you have an email address, then you're sorted. Riders would be taken on a journey through outer space with various theming objects and special affects. ''keep low and keep your eyes peeled boys were goin in guns blazing''. It was also designed to allow a high throughput whilst allowing the cars to travel the ride separately, and at different speeds, to allow the effects to spook visitors. The three other deaths involved an electrocution, a heart. Its interior was redesigned, featuring a modified queue layout and station, which were restyled with a Jules Verne theme. An hour later, Candy Taylor, 32, fell from a ride called Flight Commander and died from the impact. [quote=""Blaze""]Just to clear it up, it did not 'derail'. The Black Hole Few rides, either before or since have captured the imagination and affection of park guests quite like The Black Hole. It was originally brought to Alton Towers as the Black hole in 1983 before going through a couple of name changes, New Black Hole, Black Hole 2 and finally back to Black hole again. Follow Defunctland on Social Media:Twitter: https://twitter.com/defunctlandFacebook: https://facebook.com/defunctlandDefunctland Subreddit: https://reddit.com/r/defunctlandFor more great content, visit https://defunctland.comGet in touch with Defunctland: contact@defunctland.comBlack Hole Footage: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh2QwD7SoVmAF-_j8Do6Z_gFree HD Stock-Footage and Motion Graphics by CyberWebFX - Top Footage For Free - https://www.youtube.com/c/CyberWebFX*Obligatory Michael Eisner reference* Click this link and you'll see what you can expect. The tent remained in place for several years, being utilised Boiler House and Carnival of Screams scare mazes for Scarefest 2011, before finally being torn down to make way for The Smiler which now sits on the site. This situation was somewhat rectified at the end of 1987, when the coaster was dismantled and taken away to be re-profiled in order to accommodate coupled trains, greatly improving the ride's capacity. However, the ride became costly to maintain and out of date with the rest of the theme park, leading to its closure in 2005. So why in 2005 would the Black Hole roller coaster be removed and the tent left abandon many years later? The ride was closed in 2006. The ride, which closed in 1992, was the resort's first 'dark ride' taking its smaller visitors on a trip based on Phileas Fogg, and the 1873 novel, called - you guessed it - Around the World in 80 Days. The coaster was located within a huge blue tent (formerly green and yellow) that ensured the ride took place in total darkness. Once upon a star field you could journey into deep space and explore a powerful natural phenomenon. It was loosely themed around space exploration. More than 30 accidents have been logged at Alton Towers in the last three years, the Birmingham Mail can reveal. The flume was originally designed around logs floating in a river, before it was sponsored by Imperial Leather in 2004, at which the point the logs were swapped out for giant bathtubs. The horrific accident on the 18m attraction will make others questioning their addiction to amusement park rides and wonder just how safe they can be. Oblivion, Alton Towers' Secret Weapon 4, was the fourth of the Ministry of Joy's experiments in X-Sector. I legitimately have around eight of them, starting from age five, in my fetching Dalmatian-themed raincoat, to the year before it closed. Boy, 11, 'pricked by used needle' in Stoke-on-Trent taxi, Yak Yak Land's back as one family find man upside down in their bin, 'Never-ending' roadworks leave Tunstall traders in turmoil, 11 abusive Stoke-on-Trent men who put their partners through hell, Former Dudson worker, 69, died six days after positive Covid test. true i admit it there has got to be more eliments to make a derailment happen. and our Six Flags Great Adventure park, Jackson Township, New Jersey, USA. The last car hit support structures before crashing into a concrete pillar in front of a packed audience watching a concert. Share your memories of Alton Towers' extensive past here. The roller coaster was given a space theme and debuted at the park in 1983. Did you grow up in the 80s? It was not until Scarefest 2011 that the tent finally found a new occupier when it housed the two paid mazes, when The Boiler House and Carnival of Screams came on park for the first time. Thankfully we have what's called "The Freedom of The Press" which means the . Following The Black Hole, Enterprise and Energizer, Oblivion was designed to surpass its neighboring thrill rides. When did the Black Hole had the accident? At the time of its closure, there were no plans on what to do with the now redundant area, so the building that once housed the ride was never removed. Later that month, at the graduation ceremony, 17 students accepted their diplomas in wheelchairs. There were no confirmed plans to reuse the site, and the tent remained unused for several years. It was originally brought to Alton Towers as the Black hole in 1983 before going through a couple of name changes, New Black Hole, Black Hole 2 and finally back to Black hole again. Here, you're welcome to talk about all things Alton Towers! Black Hole underwent another refurbishment and was integrated into the new themed area. Hidden away from sight, the ride was located in a large tented structure which gave away little about the thrills that could be found within. For more information, please see our I spotted one residing in the children's section of the Royal Stoke University Hospital. In the summer of 1997 the waterslide collapsed under the weight of 33 excited end-of-term high school graduates who crowded onto it. New Black Hole (1989) Black Hole II (1988) Black Hole (1983 to 1987) Former status: SBNO from 3/6/2005 to 2006 Operated from 1983 to 3/5/2005: Relocations: Alton Towers as Black Hole Furuvik as Rocket: Capacity: 900 riders per hour: Dimensions: 82.0 ft x 152.6 ft: Designer: Ing.-Bro Stengel GmbH Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. The ride reopened with the new laser quest element at the start of the 2003 season. There have been various shakeups over the years but it has remained popular with thrillseekers and families. [2] The track layout was enclosed within a large tent to provide a dark ride experience. This was the first time the structure had been put to public use since the attraction's closure in March 2005. Mindbender - the world's largest indoor triple loop roller coaster was dubbed one of the "safest rides in the world" when it was built. A 17-year-old died from a crushed chest, and all 32 others were taken to hospitals. They're a digest of all the most important local headlines of the day in an easy to read format. By the mid-2000s, however, it was becoming unreliable and costly to both maintain and keep in line with modern safety standards. 6 people could fit per car and there was only one car per train. Have you ever really been to Alton Towers if you don't have a photo of you and your friends or family on the log flume - your faces frozen in an expression of excitement or terror? The ride was closed in 2006. I don't think AT ever revealed what happened, but obviously it was deemed safe to ride after inspection. However, this does take the anticipation and tension out of what originally was so scary. A planning application for the Black Hole site was submitted in early 2012 and approved by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. This ride, that opened in 1983, was spooky in the fact it took place in total darkness as it was enclosed in a green and yellow tent, which was eventually replaced with a blue one. On June 29, 2010 one of the cars came loose and lost all power. All you need to do is sign up to our daily email alerts, and you'll get them sent straight to your inbox. In 1988, the ride was dismantled and went on holiday to Europe, where it had an overhaul to hold dual-car trains. Join me as I take a look at the history of one Alton Towers most iconic ride The Black Hole. However, it seems accidents of this have not previously dimmed people's appetite for peak-altitude, maximum-speed adventure. It was also a UK first, following successful launches in Germany and Belgium. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Situated next to Corkscrew, it attracted long wait times. Cookie Info The ride opened seven months later with new safety measures, and since then has had an excellent safety record. The coaster was located within a huge silvery black tent (formerly green and yellow) that ensured the ride took place in total darkness. Opening in 1983, The Black Hole was located inside a large green and yellow tent. Black Hole went where no man had gone before! The article above has it about right (according to all the other reports I remember reading at the time). Manufactured by Gerstlauer, it opened in 2013 as the world's first Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster. The ride wasn't really for those scared of heights as it involved being suspended from an animatronic toadstool on a seat hanging on by chains at quite a height. The coaster was located within a huge silvery black tent (formerly green and yellow) that ensured the ride took place in total darkness. However, in 2002 visitor numbers dropped, and the ride was renamed Duel. And there isn't just the main news email - there are Stoke City and Port Vale newsletters, our Way We Were nostalgia weekly email, and many others that might be of interest. "When Alton Towers decided to remove the ride the manufacturer Gerstlauer bought it back and restored. The devastating crash on The Smiler has capture the attention of the nation, but it is not the first time thrills have turned to horror on the biggest rides. All that happened, by reading that article at least, is part of the undercarriage became loose and impacted with the track, causing the train to sharply stop and the track to be lightly damaged. Black Hole was an enclosed steel roller coaster at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England. With 14 inversions, The Smiler holds the world record for most inversions on a roller coaster. The Black Hole was built on the site of the former Dinosaur Land in 1984, becoming the park's second major coaster and quickly establishing itself as a perennial favourite with park guests. The worst theme park accident ever happened on May 11 1984 at the traditional and seemingly-safe haunted house. When researching the article, this is the one that stood out most to my mother, who said she was "fascinated" by the ride, at the tender age of around eight when it opened in 1981. Having wound through the ride's outdoor queue-line, guests would enter into the futuristic (by 80's standards) indoor queue, before entering the space-station, which provided riders with their first glimpse of the ride itself. Let me know in the comments down below! This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. They're have been some accidents however nobody has actually died. All three suffered electric shocks and the rescuers, William Haithcoat and Darrel Robertson, both 20, were killed. Alton Towers is clearly a fan of recycling, as the ride has been reused many times since its initial conception - it was replaced by Toyland Tours in 1994, then Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride in 2006, with the ride track and boats remaining the same, but with new scenes. Indeed for those who had never ridden before, the enigmatic nature of the ride built up tension and upped the fear factor. In its earlier years the ride suffered from through put problems due to its single car trains, which resulted in long queue times for the popular attraction. It closed to make way for Rita: Queen of Speed in 2003. The large tent which housed the now former Black Hole was eventually dismantled in April 2012 to make way for The Smiler.
