Alton Towers is closing its oldest ride, The Blade, which has been in operation for 44 years and will not be returning next year. The theme park is making changes to its rides and attractions lineup, with The Blade being retired due to reaching the end of its technical life. It will be replaced by a new ride in the Forbidden Valley, set to open in 2025. The new ride is part of Alton Towers’ Project Ocean and little details are known about it at this time. Other rides, such as Flavio’s Fabulous Fandango and The Alton Towers Dungeon, have also closed permanently, with continued reinvestment in rides and attractions being a priority for the theme park.
Fans of The Blade have expressed their sadness over the closure of the ride, with many sharing their memories and disappointment on social media. The Blade, originally called Pirate Ship when it first opened in 1980, was a popular attraction that reached near-vertical angles, giving riders a zero gravity moment. As one of the park’s oldest and most iconic rides, its closure marks the end of an era for Alton Towers. The park is constantly evaluating its attractions and reinvesting in new experiences for visitors, with the upcoming new ride in Forbidden Valley being part of this ongoing process.
With the closure of The Blade and other attractions, Alton Towers is preparing for the opening of a new ride in 2025 as part of their Project Ocean initiative. The park has been undergoing changes to its lineup and continues to seek ways to deliver memorable experiences for guests. The new ride will replace the existing Funk n Fly ride and will be located on an 18m concrete block, according to plans. As the park gears up for the new season in 2025, visitors can look forward to experiencing the latest addition to the Forbidden Valley area.
In addition to the closure of The Blade and other rides, Alton Towers has introduced tips for visitors to make the most of their theme park experience. These include going to the back of the park first to avoid long queues, riding water attractions in the middle of the day to cool off, using the park’s app to track queue lengths, visiting on your birthday for special perks, and contacting the park for possible rain-related benefits. The park has also recently unveiled the revamped Nemesis rollercoaster, now called Nemesis Reborn, offering guests new thrills and experiences.
While Alton Towers has closed for the season, visitors can expect the park to reopen in March 2025 with new attractions and experiences to enjoy. The closure of The Blade and other rides signals a period of change and reinvestment for the theme park, with the upcoming new ride in the Forbidden Valley being a key element of this transformation. As Alton Towers continues to evolve and enhance its offerings, guests can look forward to exciting new adventures and memories in the years to come.
