UK seaside theme park reveals plans to reopen closed-down ride – and it will be much faster
BLACKPOOL Pleasure Beach is set to reopen one of its most iconic rides following a year-long closure.
Ice Blast, a 210ft shot tower that launches riders skywards at 80mph, closed earlier this year.
For next year, the ride will reopen under the name Launch Pad.
The seaside ride has also received a new pressure cylinder, which will "transform the current ride experience, and thrust riders with more force than they've experienced in recent years".
The new cylinder will give the ride more speed thanks to the higher pressure.
However, it's not the first time the ride has been reimagined.
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The newly-named Launch Pad first opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1997, becoming the UK's first tower ride.
It opened under the name PlayStation: The Ride, because of a sponsorship deal with Sony.
Boyzone opened the ride with frontman Ronan Keating being among the first people to try the tower ride.
In 2000, the tower ride was re-named Ice Blast - after the drinks brand Tango became the sponsor.
Launch Pad will open at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in March, 2025.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort boss, Amanda Thompson, said: "Earlier this year we announced that we are focusing on constantly evolving and renewing our ride offering, and confirmed our intention to make some exciting announcements in the future.
"The new era of Launch Pad is only the first, and we’re looking forward to everything the future holds at Pleasure Beach Resort."
Meanwhile, director of engineering at Pleasure Beach Resort, Karl Murphy, added: "A new cylinder might not sound much on paper, but it will make a huge difference in terms of the ride experience.
"Riders can expect to feel their stomachs drop to the floor with the increased force, and experience epic moments of weightlessness."
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort is home to the only two rides in the country to have been given a prestigious global award.
Earlier this year, the American Coaster Enthusiasts (ACE) awarded two rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach with Rollercoaster Landmark Plaques - a special recognition reserved for rides of historical significance.
Both the Big Dipper and the Grand National were awarded Rollercoaster Landmark Plaques.
Riders can expect to feel their stomachs drop to the floor
They were the 49th and 50th rollercoasters in the world to be presented with the award, making Blackpool Pleasure Beach the second theme park in the world to receive two plaques at the same time.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is home to plenty of record-breaking rollercoasters, including the UK’s tallest rollercoaster, The Big One, the UK’s first looping coaster, Revolution, the UK’s first suspended looping coaster completely over water, Infusion, and the UK's first double launch coaster, Icon.
Meanwhile, younger guests are also very well catered for, with Wallace & Gromit's Thrill-o-matic, the Alice in Wonderland dark ride and Nickelodeon Land all on offer among many others.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been praised by visitors on TripAdvisor, with a 4 star rating from more than 4,000 reviews.
One person wrote: "By far one of the best days out this year, the staff are fantastic and the rides are out of this world."
Someone else added: "A great time with all the family, kids absolutely loved Nickelodeon Land."
A third review read: "I had a really good time at Pleasure Beach with my family, had a lovely day on the rides."
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How to spend a weekend in Blackpool
TRAVEL writer Catherine Lofthouse visited Blackpool last year with her family, here's what she thought...
Bumbling along the beach in Blackpool, with the iconic tower as a backdrop, it feels like we've stepped inside a postcard, capturing the very essence of the great British seaside.
Whether you love a back-to-basics bucket-and-spade beach break, want a thrill a minute at one of the UK's oldest theme parks or fancy a night on the tiles, there's everything you need at Blackpool.
As a Strictly fan, I'd wanted to pay homage to the home of ballroom, but didn't find much else to make me break out in song and dance.
But this summer, it feels like Blackpool is on the up.
Everywhere I look, there's building taking place and existing attractions being spruced up.
There's been investment along the seafront, with Merlin, the company behind Alton Towers and Legoland, recently opening its eighth attraction in the town with the arrival of the Gruffalo Clubhouse for little ones.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach is redeveloping some of its big name rides too, like Valhalla, which draws in theme park enthusiasts from across the UK and beyond.
Away from the beach, work is taking place to restore the historic Winter Gardens and their surrounds to their former glory.
Plans are underway to develop pet-friendly apartments at the seaside theme park.
And this award-winning theme park is opening a new £300m attraction in the UK.