The Thirteen ride took two years to plan and construct and is the sixth major attraction at Alton TowersOn the approach to Thirteen, the latest ride to be unveiled at Staffordshire theme park Alton Towers, there were certainly some alarming and quite obviously frightening things with which to commence a furious biting of nails.
The promise of unexpected taps on the shoulder by characters known as 'faceless wraiths' - who look more like hunched monks with extraordinarily large cossacks pulled over their heads; the anticipation of stomach-crunching near-vertical dips amidst a forest of trees; the 67mph speed of the mechanism and the unknown 'twist' which had been kept hidden until the day of its launch.
Actually, it was none of those elements which really terrified me - and, I hope, others - on the day I was asked to ride Thirteen. Because in a strange act of unnerving tension, those fortunate few - or not, depending on how one rates themselves on the thrill-seeking gauge - who had been ushered to the front to test the new rollercoaster, were met with the overwhelming smell of fresh paint. I questioned: is construction finished? Should this ride even be open? Am I going to be safe?
The inclement Derbyshire weather was the least of Priscilla's worries as she prepared to board ThirteenOf course, deep-rooted human fear, along with just about any thought one might have on entering this ride, quite literally takes an immediate proverbial backseat. Off we went in the two-seating five-car 'psycho-coaster' to begin a gruelling journey of 40 seconds - or was that 50? - slicing through a thick array of intentionally-stark trees with two sudden 60ft drops, three sharp turns and a speedy Lewis Hamilton-type entrance into a smoke-filled, green-illuminated crypt, where the doors close and riders are left to await a sticky end. More of this later.
Feel the fear: riders, who've already included Jonathon Ross and his wife Jane (pictured right), can expect a terrifying ending to the Thirteen rideThirteen, despite having an almighty mountain of expectation to climb, does not disappoint. It's fast, it's frightening and it makes you scream.
It is also accompanied by clever viral marketing, with builders and organisers telling us that not only is the terrifying Thirteen built on an unearthed ancient burial site - why weren't we told about this when the late Corkscrew ride was in its place? - but that the very name of the ride itself is intended to cast an irreversible spell on all Alton Towers' aficionados, making certain they will visit again.
Marketing push aside, the ride that was two years in the making and known as Secret Weapon 6 (it is the sixth major attraction at Alton Towers) until its official unveiling is a great - and vastly different - addition to a park that already includes Air, Nemesis and the much-feared Oblivion.
While the hype continues to reverberate around the new ride - and it will for some time - it is worth noting that its popularity will no doubt give rise to astronomical, knee-busting three-hour lengthy queues – which for effect, may I add, weave their way through a dark forest and a gothic castle - and therefore fast track passes or a weekday visit are advisable.
And now to the twist, for surely that is what you all want to know?
It might be a good idea to look away now if you choose to remain in the dark (excuse the pun), but for all those desperate to discover what happens once the Thirteen crypt takes riders captive, here goes...
An eerie silence mixed in with the audible bemusement of other train passengers takes hold, until a sudden shudder on the tracks jolts the car and the entire ride drops a vertical 10 feet. Screams and wide grins from the amazement of the unexpected twist are rapidly wiped away when the car falls another 60 feet and then, without any brief momentary pause, the coaster begins to carouse backwards taking in high-speed turns and spinning into a helix before emerging back into the light outside and driving slowly back to its starting station.
Applause was rife when my own particular ride drove back into its terminal and we vacated the car, the unsettling scent of freshly-licked paint still lingering in the air.
Travel facts A stay at the Alton Tower Hotel starts from £99 per room based on four people sharing and includes bed and breakfast and access to the park.
General admission tickets cost £30.40 for adults and £23.20 for children. A family ticket for between three and six people reduces the ticket price to £21.60 per person.
Visit www.altontowers.com or call 0871 222 9901.
source :dailymail
