Tidal Wave (Thorpe Park)

Tidal Wave is a Shoot the Chute-style ride located in the Amity Cove area of Thorpe Park. It is claimed to be (and probably is) the 'wettest ride in England'. It was opened in 2000 and was Tussauds' first major investment in the park.

The ride is the latest water ride to be built in the park. It is one of the more popular rides in the park attracting long queues on hot days and Fastrack was added to the ride in 2004 to reflect this.

When the ride was constructed in 2000 it was the tallest water ride in Europe [cite web| url=http://www.totalthorpepark.co.uk/features/history.shtml |title=Total Thorpe Park - Features - Timeline |accessdate=07-09-10] and retained the title until 2002, when Hydro at Oakwood Theme Park was opened. It was also the tallest ride in the park, but is now dwarfed by nearby Stealth.

Ride facts

Manufacturer: OD Hopkins

Opened: 2000

Size of drop: 85ft

Height Restriction: minimum 1.2 metres

On-ride Photos: Yes

Fastrack: Yes, with Extreme there is a choice of either Tidal Wave or Loggers Leap

Riders per boat: 5 rows per boat and 4 people per row, 20 people per boat, 3 boats

Capacity: 60 people..

Theme (Amity Cove)

The Amity Cove theme for the surrounding area and the ride was created with the addition of Tidal Wave to the park. The theme is based on a 1950s New England fishing village which has been hit by a tidal wave, and the area and queueline for the ride fit around this. The queueline is host to a number of ruined, partial buildings, including a bathroom with leaking toilet, while the ride's station is a 'cannery', sloping at an angle into the water to give it a submerged/destroyed feel. Other themeing includes a petrol pump (near the Thorpe Mega Store) and a truck. A former feature was a flame ball which fired up from a damaged storage tank approximately every 10 minutes, fueled by gas cylinders which were located near the former site of the small Flying Fish roller coaster (now the Stealth area).

Upon leaving the ride guests are led to walk through 'Pier 13', where they may observe the ride splashing down. Of course, one window is missing.

There is also a two hour (approximately) looping soundtrack that plays in the surrounding area and the queueline and is based on a radio station, called WWTP radio. The radio show is hosted by "Big Bob" Jones and plays music from the era (for example Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys) interspersed with comical news reports and fictional competitions.

tory

The story of the area, which plays during the news reports on the soundtrack, is based around a tidal wave which has devastated the village. Citizens of the village must escape in order to evade a freak second tidal wave. The only way that they can do so is to board a boat at the cannery which will take them over the sandbanks. The cannery is featured in the ride - it is the theming for the station.

hops

The area also features four food outlets - a doughnut shop called Amity Naughty Bites and an ice-cream/drinks shop called Amity Bugle (the Tidal Wave photo unit is located in the same building as Amity Bugle). A small Cornetto Soft kiosk was also added to the Amity Cove area in 2005. In addition, the Fish and Chips shop formerly known as "Hungry Pirate" (next to Pirates 4D) was renamed "Amity Fish and Chips" when Amity Cove was extended towards the Teacups.

There are also two shops in Amity Cove, Thorpe Park's largest shop (called Thorpe Mega Store) and in 2007 a new shop called Amity Shop and Drop opposite the '4D' cinema (this was formerly the Quicksilver shop). There is also a Tickets and Information kiosk next to Tidal Wave's entrance selling Fastrack and Bounce Back tickets.

There is also a KFC in the area, which fits into the theme as it looks like a 1950s American diner. In addition, the roof appears to be wrecked to fit with the Tidal Wave theme.

Other rides

When Tidal Wave opened, it was the only ride in Amity Cove and remained this way until 2004. In anticipation for Stealth, the Amity Cove area was extended towards the Teacups (a traditional fairground 'teacups' ride). The Teacups were rethemed, with cracks painted onto the cups and the ride was renamed "Storm In A Teacup". When the Flying Fish was relocated in 2007 it was also fitted to the Amity Cove theme.

References

External links

* [http://www.thorpepark.co.uk/explore_the_park/tidal_wave/tidal_wave.asp?css=2 Tidal Wave at Thorpe Park's official website]
* [http://coasterkingdom.fateback.com/html/tidalwave_main.htm Coaster Kingdom's Review of Tidal Wave] ..