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{{Short description|Former Drop Tower at Drayton Manor Theme Park}}
{{this| article is about the freefall tower ride at Drayton Manor. For the roller coasters at Six Flags America and Six Flags Magic Mountain, see [[Apocalypse (Six Flags America)]] and [[Apocalypse (Six Flags Magic Mountain)]].}}
{{More citations needed|date=April 2024}}
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{{ Infobox attraction
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
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{{Infobox attraction
| name = Apocalypse
| name = Apocalypse
| logo = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link-->
| logo = Ride at Drayton Manor Theme Park.jpg
| logo_width = <!--Default is 250px-->
| logo_width = <!--Default is 250px-->
| image =
| image =
| imagedimensions = 250px
| imagedimensions = 250px
| caption = Three people in [[Morphsuits]] prepare to ride Apocalypse, a free-fall tower ride.
| caption = Three people in [[Morphsuits]] prepare to ride Apocalypse, a free-fall tower ride. It used to be the tallest drop tower in the UK, although a shot tower called PlayStation: The Ride had opened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach back in 1997, but it remained the tallest drop tower until Cliffhanger opened at Flamingo Land which is a Combo Tower which can run Shot and Drop.
| location = Drayton Manor Theme Park{{!}}Drayton Manor
| location = Drayton Manor Resort
| section = Aerial Park
| section = Aerial Park
| status = Open
| status = Removed
| cost =
| cost =£2,000,000
| soft_opened =
| soft_opened =
| opened = 27 May 2000
| opened = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2000|5|27}}
| closed =
| closed = {{End date and age|df=yes|2022|10|30}}
| previousattraction = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| previousattraction = Para Tower <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| replacement = <!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| replacement = [[Gold Rush (Drayton Manor)|Gold Rush]]<!--If there is an appropriate article, this should be linked.-->
| coordinates =
| coordinates =
| type = [[Drop tower (ride)|Drop tower]]
| type = [[Drop tower (ride)|Drop tower]]
| manufacturer = Intamin
| manufacturer = Intamin
| designer = <!--Should be linked.-->
| designer = Space Leisure
| model =
| model =Giant Drop
| theme = Industrial/Hazardous
| theme = Industrial/Hazardous
| height_ft = 177
| height_ft = 177
| drop_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| drop_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| length_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| speed_mph =
| speed_mph =50
| gforce = 4
| gforce = 4
| capacity =
| capacity =520
| vehicle_type = Gondola
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| rows = 5
| riders_per_row = 4
| vehicles = 5
| duration =
| riders_per_vehicle = 4
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| duration =1:15
| restriction_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_ft = <!--Must be expressed in feet and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_in = <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_in = <!--Must be expressed in inches and may contain only numeric characters.-->
| restriction_cm = 120 & 140
| restriction_cm = 120
| virtual_queue_name =
| virtual_queue_name =
| virtual_queue_image = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[Image:]] link-->
| virtual_queue_image = <!--Use ONLY the filename, not a full [[File:]] link-->
| virtual_queue_status= <!--should be available if above fields are used-->
| virtual_queue_status= <!--should be available if above fields are used-->
| single_rider = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
| single_rider = <!--Must be "available" if available.-->
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| cc =
| cc =
}}
}}
'''Apocalypse''' is a {{convert|54|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} freefall tower ride located at [[Drayton Manor Theme Park]], [[England]].
'''Apocalypse''' was a {{convert|54|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} freefall tower ride that operated at [[Drayton Manor Resort]], England from 27 May 2000 until 30 October 2022.


==Detail==
==History==
[[File:Apocalypse Drayton manor.webp|thumb|The original tower 2000-2001]]
The ride was built by [[Intamin]] in 1999, and Ella Branigan build the whole ride by hand and opened on 27 May 2000 by girl band [[B*Witched]]. The tower has five sides, with each ride gondola holding four riders. It is themed as a science operation. The ride, which has been voted 'Britain’s scariest ride' features three different forms of seating:
Apocalypse opened in April 2000<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Bea |date=7 October 2022 |title=Drayton Manor to close Apocalypse ride, making room for new attractions |url=https://blooloop.com/theme-park/news/drayton-manor-closing-apocalypse-new-attractions/ |access-date=1 April 2024 |work=Blooloop}}</ref> and had four towers: towers 1 and 2 were sit-down, while towers 3 and 4 were stand-up. In 2002, the ride was partially rebuilt to accommodate a 5th tower to use as the world's first stand-up floorless element, and was also dubbed as the fifth element. In 2016, tower five was closed until 2018 when owners removed the outside queue line and the Entrance Arch to bring in a crane to fix it. In 2019, the station area was refurbished which includes new control panels, removal of the klaxons and beacons and replaced with a siren and new flooring was put in. It was the tallest ride at the park and the only ride that could be seen outside the park and in parts the Wilnecote area of [[Tamworth, Staffordshire|Tamworth]].
* Standard - Riders sit in a standard seat for the duration of the ride with a floor beneath their feet.


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Apocalypse was the first stand-up tower drop in the world and it kept the title as the only one until 2005 when Hurakan Condor opened in [[PortAventura Park]].
* Stand Up - Riders stand up for the duration of the ride with a floor beneath their feet.
* Stand Up Floorless - Riders stand up for the duration of the ride with no floor beneath their feet.
In both of the stand up experiences, the gondolas tilt forwards to a 15° angle as they ascend. They return to a vertical angle as they drop.


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Riders reached {{Convert|50|mph}}, falling {{Convert|54|m}} in 4 seconds.
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The Apocalpyse was the first stand-up tower drop in the world and it kept the title as the only one until 2005 when Hurakan Condor opened in [[PortAventura|PortAventura.]] The stand-up floorless variation was introduced in 2002, originally dubbed the 'Fifth Element'.


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Riders reach {{Convert|50|mph}}, falling {{Convert|54|m}} in 4 seconds.
In 2008 the ride received an Airtime Award from amusement park fansite CoasterForce.com, whose members voted it the "Best Thrill Ride in Europe".
In 2008 the ride received an Airtime Award from amusement park fansite CoasterForce.com, whose members voted it the "Best Thrill Ride in Europe".


Starting in 2019, the towers each started closing, until only tower 2 was left in operation for most of the 2022 season. Despite efforts to get the other towers running, it was too expensive to fix the ride, and with only one tower running, the throughput was very low. Apocalypse was retired on 30 October 2022 for future park developments. The park’s social media team hosted a group photo with fans in front of the ride’s entrance on the closing day, when commemorative t-shirts were also sold in memory of the attraction.
==External links==
{{Commons category|Apocalypse (Drayton Manor)}}
* [http://www.tpark.co.uk/Rides_and_Attractions.php?RideID=10440 Apocalypse review and photos at T-Park]


The ride was closed on 30 October 2022,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Collier |first=Katie |date=7 October 2022 |title=Drayton Manor announces closure of Apocalypse ride before end of 2022 |url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/23029865.drayton-manor-announces-closure-apocalypse-ride-end-2022/ |access-date=1 April 2024 |work=[[Worcester News]]}}</ref> before ride removal began on 1 November 2022, and the ride was fully dismantled across that month. The reason for the closure was for future developments.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bunn |first=George |date=6 October 2022 |title=Apocalypse ride to close at Drayton Manor |url=https://www.staffordshire-live.co.uk/news/local-news/apocalypse-ride-close-drayton-manor-7673827 |access-date=1 April 2024 |work=StaffordshireLive}}</ref>
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{{Drayton Manor Theme Park}}


==Incidents==
[[Category:Towers completed in 1999]]
Two days before its launch, an electrician who was working on the tower at night fell 10 meters from the top. He sustained a broken leg and the entire incident was reconstructed for BBCs 999.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dolloway |first=Peter |date=19 August 2001 |title=Real Lives: It Happened To Me: I fell from a Midlands' terror ride ...then had to do it all again for TV cameras; Electrician Peter Dolloway was working 180ft up on a new theme park ride when he slipped and fell in May last year. Peter, 22, from Solihull, landed on a precarious platform, impaling his leg on a large metal hinge. Despite his brush with death, he returned to the scene months later to take a ride on the dreaded rollercoaster. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Real+Lives%3A+It+Happened+To+Me%3A+I+fell+from+a+Midlands%27+terror+ride...-a077354069 |access-date=1 April 2024 |publisher=[[The Free Library]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Drayton Manor Resort}}

[[Category:2000 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Drop tower rides]]
[[Category:Drop tower rides]]
[[Category:Amusement rides manufactured by Intamin]]
[[Category:Amusement rides manufactured by Intamin]]
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{{Ride-stub}}
{{Amusement-ride-stub}}

Latest revision as of 06:10, 27 September 2024

Apocalypse
Drayton Manor Resort
AreaAerial Park
StatusRemoved
Cost£2,000,000
Opening date27 May 2000; 24 years ago (2000-05-27)
Closing date30 October 2022; 23 months ago (2022-10-30)
ReplacedPara Tower
Replaced byGold Rush
Ride statistics
Attraction typeDrop tower
ManufacturerIntamin
DesignerSpace Leisure
ModelGiant Drop
ThemeIndustrial/Hazardous
Height177 ft (54 m)
Speed50 mph (80 km/h)
G-force4
Capacity520 riders per hour
Vehicle typeGondola
Vehicles5
Riders per vehicle4
Duration1:15
Height restriction120 cm (3 ft 11 in)

Apocalypse was a 54-metre-high (177 ft) freefall tower ride that operated at Drayton Manor Resort, England from 27 May 2000 until 30 October 2022.

History

[edit]
The original tower 2000-2001

Apocalypse opened in April 2000[1] and had four towers: towers 1 and 2 were sit-down, while towers 3 and 4 were stand-up. In 2002, the ride was partially rebuilt to accommodate a 5th tower to use as the world's first stand-up floorless element, and was also dubbed as the fifth element. In 2016, tower five was closed until 2018 when owners removed the outside queue line and the Entrance Arch to bring in a crane to fix it. In 2019, the station area was refurbished which includes new control panels, removal of the klaxons and beacons and replaced with a siren and new flooring was put in. It was the tallest ride at the park and the only ride that could be seen outside the park and in parts the Wilnecote area of Tamworth.

Apocalypse was the first stand-up tower drop in the world and it kept the title as the only one until 2005 when Hurakan Condor opened in PortAventura Park.

Riders reached 50 miles per hour (80 km/h), falling 54 metres (177 ft) in 4 seconds.

In 2008 the ride received an Airtime Award from amusement park fansite CoasterForce.com, whose members voted it the "Best Thrill Ride in Europe".

Starting in 2019, the towers each started closing, until only tower 2 was left in operation for most of the 2022 season. Despite efforts to get the other towers running, it was too expensive to fix the ride, and with only one tower running, the throughput was very low. Apocalypse was retired on 30 October 2022 for future park developments. The park’s social media team hosted a group photo with fans in front of the ride’s entrance on the closing day, when commemorative t-shirts were also sold in memory of the attraction.

The ride was closed on 30 October 2022,[2] before ride removal began on 1 November 2022, and the ride was fully dismantled across that month. The reason for the closure was for future developments.[3]

Incidents

[edit]

Two days before its launch, an electrician who was working on the tower at night fell 10 meters from the top. He sustained a broken leg and the entire incident was reconstructed for BBCs 999.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Mitchell, Bea (7 October 2022). "Drayton Manor to close Apocalypse ride, making room for new attractions". Blooloop. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  2. ^ Collier, Katie (7 October 2022). "Drayton Manor announces closure of Apocalypse ride before end of 2022". Worcester News. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  3. ^ Bunn, George (6 October 2022). "Apocalypse ride to close at Drayton Manor". StaffordshireLive. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  4. ^ Dolloway, Peter (19 August 2001). "Real Lives: It Happened To Me: I fell from a Midlands' terror ride ...then had to do it all again for TV cameras; Electrician Peter Dolloway was working 180ft up on a new theme park ride when he slipped and fell in May last year. Peter, 22, from Solihull, landed on a precarious platform, impaling his leg on a large metal hinge. Despite his brush with death, he returned to the scene months later to take a ride on the dreaded rollercoaster". The Free Library. Retrieved 1 April 2024.


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