First of all, let me begin by saying a massive thank you to Paultons Park for their time and for agreeing to participate in this Q&A. I have had a fab time putting this together & hope y’all enjoy reading this too and don’t forget to book your tickets HERE to experience Torando Springs this April!
Q) Let’s begin with a little explanation as to what Tornado Springs is & when is it expected to open to the public.
A) Tornado Springs is a new themed land opening at Paultons Park, featuring 8 exciting rides and experiences. The concept of Tornado Springs is based on a small American 1950’s town that has a history of less favourable weather conditions, regularly resulting in cyclones and tornadoes.
Residents of the town (who you may or may not have spotted on Twitter …. @TornadoSprings) have adapted to this way of living and are re-opening the town to tourists. You may notice that things in Tornado Springs are a little more crooked than anywhere else, which has certainly allowed us to apply attention to detail when theming some creative additions within the area.
Initially, we had planned to open Tornado Springs to the public on the 19th May 2020 but in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project came to a halt for a few months as it was not safe to continue construction at this time. Over recent months the team have worked incredibly hard to complete the area and have had the time to add further detail to the project. We have no doubt guests will enjoy all that Tornado Springs has to offer when it officially opens on the 12th of April 2021.
Q) When did the planning begin for Tornado Springs, can you talk us through some of the planning process?
A) Planning for the project began back in 2017 when initial ideas and areas for a new land were discussed. A Wild West area was initially considered that would have been about half the size of the current project. We began working with the Leisure Expert Group who assisted in the development and progression of the main theme and master plan for the area. We were confident we had a very strong offering for our younger age group, strengthened by the extension to Peppa Pig World, and therefore wanted to look at larger, more thrilling rides that would excite older children and parents too. Tornado Springs is designed to be an area that can be enjoyed by the whole family, including those with slightly older children within them.
Q) What can you share with us regarding the highlight attractions of the area & what riders can expect from them?
A) There are many! We are particularly proud of Storm Chaser, our first Mack rollercoaster and the first of its type (Spinning) in the UK. The theming and thought that has been put into developing this experience really shows and we are sure it is going to prove extremely popular. Obviously, our new Zamperla Discovery ride is also very exciting, becoming the most thrilling ride in the Park and very much offering our more adventurous guests something to enjoy. It will be interesting to see how this attraction is received with a view to what future rides we may consider in the future – for now, it certainly adds a major wow factor to the area. Al’s Auto Academy is not to be underestimated though, we fully expect this to be one of the busiest attractions in the Park as it is perfect for our usual target age group and we know how much children love experiences where the can control vehicles rather than simply passively ride them. Overall, Guests to Tornado Springs can expect fun and smiles from all the different elements but hopefully, they will also feel that they are somewhere unique and rather special, like they have been transported way out west to a quirky, welcoming, storm-ravaged town!
Q) During the planning process was there any other manufacturing companies or rollercoaster types considered for Storm Chaser?
A) Only before the theme was changed if we had gone with the original Wild West theme we would have perhaps ended up with a wooden coaster. Members of the team had experienced Mack Spinning coasters at several locations across the world and we were confident that this was a high-quality ride and the perfect fit for our new project.
Q) Is there any fun factors about Tornado Springs which you can share with us?
A) There are lots of great little details tucked into the theming around the area. The main road, called Route 83, is a nod to the Park’s opening year in 1983. Also, there are many, many chickens!
Q) How many hours have been put into the testing of Storm Chaser & the rides within this area?
A) Storm Chaser went through a rigorous 6-week testing process in conjunction with MACK Rides and our external inspecting engineers. The other rides are put through similar testing processes.
Q) How has this project and area construction compared to previous ones such as the Lost Kingdom?
A) Each time we start a new project the learnings from the previous project stand us in good stead. Having LEG onboard during the project planning stages has certainly streamlined the construction as everything from floors, to colours and theming elements were specified and agreed upon early on. The level of detail also seems to increase with each project as well and Tornado Springs will be the most high-themed area we have built to date. The delay in opening the area (caused by the pandemic) has actually allowed us even more time to add yet more detail and this has been achieved by our fantastically talented in-house team.
Q) Finally, Is this project an insight into what can be expected from future projects/developments for the park?
A) It is no secret that works to expand Tornado Springs is already underway and a lovely new (highly themed) ride will be added to the area in 2022 – this will complement the existing rides and again provide something for younger guests that have visited, initially, for our Peppa Pig World attraction. We will then think of Tornado Springs as complete and turn our attention back to the other side of the Park for future years. The timescale has undoubtedly changed due to the pandemic, but our ambition and drive have not. Our mission is to be the best family day out in the UK and we certainly see adding new themed areas with fun, exciting, and unique rides being a big part of us reaching and maintaining this position.
I really hope you have enjoyed this blog post and are as excited as I am for Tornado Springs! Once again, thank you so much to the team at Paultons Park for joining me in this blog post!
Thank you so much for reading..