Sunday, 21 February 2016 14:56

Apollo: New for 2016 at Lightwater Valley

Lightwater Valley theme park in North Yorkshire will open a new spinning swing tower ride and a soft play area in 2016.

Apollo is a 25m tall Star Flyer spinning swing tower ride from Funtime, designed to appeal to both young and old, the adventurous and not so adventurous. To ride, guests are seated in a double seat next to their friend or partner. 

The ride spins like a normal chair-flyer but also races up to the top as it is spinning. Riders are treated to wonderful views and a series of ups and downs as they spin backwards and forwards during the experience.

Much larger versions of the ride exist at many theme parks around the world including the famous SkyScreamer rides at eight Six Flags theme parks in the United States which range from 46m to 120m tall and the Star Flyer at Tivoli Gardens in Denmark which is 80m tall.

The ride is also similar to Pterodactyl, the 46m tall spinning swing tower at Flamingo Land, which is a Vertical Swing from Zamperla that opened in 2012. The smaller version opening at Lightwater Valley will be ideal for families.

Apollo replaces Whirlwind, a Top Scan from Mondial which operated at the park for 5 years and has now been removed from the theme park. The removal of an intense thrill ride and the introduction of a much more family friendly attraction is part of their increasing family focus.

Lightwater Valley are also introducing a new play area called Funkey Monkey’s Soft Play and Café in the theatre, this jungle themed area will be suitable for under 8s and opens in Spring 2016. 

A new Treetop Nets attraction opens next to the theme park in Summer 2016 set high in the trees with giant trampolines, walkways, slides and tunnels made out of netting, suspended 9 metres off the ground.

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