Pleasurewood Hills has once again expanded its ride lineup with the opening of its newest roller coaster, Barnyard Whirl.
Welcoming its first riders on Saturday 23 May, the family-focused attraction arrived just in time for the busy spring half-term holidays. Standing at 12 metres tall, Barnyard Whirl is a spinning roller coaster designed to appeal to a broad demographic of park visitors.
The ride features specially engineered, free-spinning carriages that rotate independently as they travel along the twisting track layout. Because the ride rotation is dependent on the weight distribution of the passengers inside each car, the system delivers an unpredictable and unique experience every time.
The arrival of Barnyard Whirl represents the fourth brand-new attraction to open at the Suffolk theme park this season alone. The rapid expansion follows a major transition behind the scenes, after the regional park was acquired late last year by Freddy, Spencer, and Davis Stokes of Premier Attractions.
Since taking the helm and reopening the gates in March, the new owners have committed to an ambitious regeneration strategy aimed at modernising the 40-year-old park, boosting local tourism, and expanding its multi-generational appeal. Barnyard Whirl rounds out an initial wave of capital investment that has already introduced three other attractions to the park:
- Riptide: A high-profile, 30-metre-tall Star Flyer swing ride that spins passengers at speeds of up to 35mph.
- Woody’s Wheel: A classic 36-metre-tall giant wheel offering panoramic, observational views across the entire park.
- Red Apple Run: A gentle, themed caterpillar-style coaster specifically tailored for younger children and toddlers.
True to its name, Barnyard Whirl has been integrated into the park's existing farm-themed zone. The spinning coaster operates alongside the park's classic family roller coaster, the Egg-Spress (formerly known to visitors as the Lady Bird and Rattlesnake), which has been a staple of the park since 1986.
By anchoring the newly revitalised area with a second family-friendly roller coaster, the park has successfully created a themed area dedicated to younger thrill-seekers, building up their confidence before tackling East Anglia’s largest roller coaster, Wipeout.
