Moley

I didn't realise knocking down Nemesis was part of this ride's opening.

The only use of 'Fastest Roller Coaster Yet' I could find regarding Rita is a clickbait headline to one newspaper article - in which the headline is explained to be incorrect, going so far as naming the coaster that was currently faster and another still under construction that was going to be faster than both of them. Not sure how your Smiler example proves your point regarding a ride being overblown at the advertising stage, giving that your complaints seem to be with the layout. So this 'long trend' is really just one example nearly 8 years ago - which, as I'm assuming I'm the obnoxious fanboy here, not even I try to defend. The only two slogans that have been used so far with this ride are 'Groundbreaking Development' and 'World Class Experience'. By all means have complaints about those, but I'm not seeing how they fit in with this long trend narrative at this point in time.

Because we saw a unusual design for a lift hill, the ride's budget and the park's use of new 'coaster tech' and wondered if it could be something different? Don't see anyone claiming they know of any secret element, especially given the park's use of 'groundbreaking development' and 'world class experience' rather than the 'world first' or 'record breaking' mottos of recent additions. If speculation is frowned upon then god help the people discussing what Epcot's Guardians of the Galaxy coaster could be.

I'm not sure what you are trying to say here, but it sounds like you're trying to be insulting, and I'd quit while you're ahead. The year TH13TEEN opened is the highest attended in the park's modern history. The only other years to come even close are the year a ride that claims its station is a multi-millennia old alien that has needed to be pinned down by the track opened and another where the queueline videos claim ride cars have gone missing. Clearly it (dishonesty/hype) works with the general public. They have the attendance figures to prove it.

The highest attendance figures since 1994? That is a heck of a lot of 'fanboys'.

A rather unique view of construction has been posted on Facebook and Flickr. The foundation to the right of the station building is that of the shop. Source: Learn To Fly At Tatenhill Airfield

Scarefest 2017 got underway at the weekend and as well as 'The Welcoming' opening, the SW8 site saw a number of developments. The most obvious was that the scaffolding came down around the main theming element, giving us a glimpse of one of the three head chopper moments. In terms of the coaster itself, it seems like track work has begun on the lift hill and the tunnel back into the station building is beginning to take shape. It'll be interesting to see how the site develops over the next few weeks as daylight hours get shorter and the season draws to a close. It would seem that the main theming element is still some time away from being unveiled, at least as a public event, so maybe the hopes that there will be a big reveal at the end of Scarefest or the Firework events are a little ambitious. Personally, I'm expecting a video announcing the name and a reveal of the structure to make its way onto the Resort's social media accounts before the calendar year is through.

As expected the logo that was found as part of the European Trademark application, back in August, is associated with SW8. Both the construction fence signage and the screens around the fence have been updated, in preparation for Scarefest which begins at the weekend. The 'Secret Weapon' branding has been replaced with the logo. Source: Towers Times Edit: TowersStreet have uploaded a video of the screens, including some new music. [fbvideonew] [/fbvideonew]

Glad you enjoyed AT. Unfortunately I'm assuming you timed your visit outside of the ever shrinking window where the Towers are open prior to them being prepared for Terror of the Towers. It is a crime how rundown the Towers were allowed to get for a variety of reasons but there are still one or two restored parts that show off Augustus Pugin's genius. Katanga Canyon is very much a dead end of the park at the moment as the usual pathway between Mutiny Bay and there is currently closed for site access to SW8, hence the attraction free walk. Your views re: Duel are very much shared by those of us lucky enough to have been on it in it's current and previous guise as The Haunted House, the remaining elements of which are still the ride's best features. The park have teased that it's going to be one of the main focal points of this close-season's 'Towers Loving Care' renovation programme, alongside Nemesis' roof completing the station's repaint, so we live in hope! Th13teen definitely divides opinion mostly, as you say, due to the way it was advertised in its first year. Hard to say it wasn't a success mind as it's opening season is still the highest attended in the park's recent history. A pinch of salt combined with its ending and you'll do well to find someone coming off it without a smile on their face. As much as I like when Oblivion is walk-on, for obvious reasons, it does mean you don't have a reason to watch the which are excellent. Flat rides are definitely lacking, with the park having lost Submission and Ripsaw in recent years. I can't see them adding any until visitor numbers are back up, which hopefully SW8 will help with. You've made me want to go again. Unfortunately I'm going to have to wait until next year!

Never thought I'd be excited to see a concrete wall being themed.

The park is closed today as per Merlin's cost-cutting exercise of just not bothering to open on the quietest of quiet days now the schools are back open. The latest has been uploaded, filmed yesterday, with a few shots of interest. There is a rumour that the park had the themeing brought onto the site and assembled on Monday-Tuesday, rather than waiting for today when the park will be empty, because they're filming some sort of promotional material today that will use it in some capacity. A shot at the current highest point of the structure, with the workmen giving a sense of the size of it. Cue David Rose's 'Stripper' again. A view of the top from the other side of the construction site. There does seem to be something resembling piping towards the centre there. A close up of one of the horns on what seems to be the head of this structure. Work continues on the few remaining bents to go into place. In the background work is being done on the concrete wall, so hopefully we're not looking at another concrete pit like SW7 has. Back over towards the station, the pre-show building continues to take shape with the first stage of the roof and walls seemingly in place.

The Skyride is closed today due to work on Secret Weapon 8's construction. Mostly notably additions to the main themeing structure that have been put in place and since covered up again. Source: Towers Street Feel like David Rose's 'The Stripper' should be playing here. Source: Towers Street Source: Towers Street Source: Joshua Eaton

A couple of weeks ago saw the closure of the Courtyard Tavern in Mutiny Bay. In the long term, it is set to get an overhaul and re-open as a smokehouse, probably similar to the one that opened at sister park Chessington World of Adventures last year. In the short term it is home to 'The Welcoming', the newest maze to the Scarefest line-up and tie-in to Secret Weapon 8. As with SW8, the Skyride gives some rather good views of construction. The eagled eyed can just about make out what appear to be either candles of dream catchers in the shape of the runes for 'SW8' on the stage in the corner. Source: Theme Park Guide Back at the SW8 site, work continues... A snapshot of the four elements that are the centre of attention at the moment. Source: Towers Street Source: Towers Street Source: Towers Street

It has been a busy week all things SW8. Firstly Alton Towers released the first episode in a series of videos about their Secret Weapon programme. In this first video, they explain the history of the Secret Weapon attractions and promise a first look behind the scenes at construction of SW8 in the next instalment of the series. The 'runes' and 'Be Chosen' theme continues throughout (note the author of the book that falls) and there are a few nice nods to other rides in there too. The choice of production and the hosts (apparently at least one of them is a YouTuber) does make me realise that I'm no longer in the target audience for these things and feel rather old Eagle-eyed people noticed that the wording of the maze description had also been slightly changed: Then the viewing windows around the construction fence were updated to match the website, runes were scratched around them (again 'Be Chosen') and the video began playing on the screens that had been fitted. Inside the construction fence, work has begun on the yet to be placed concrete foundations as well as on the queue-line, whilst bents continue to be put into place across the site. Finally today it emerged that an European Trademark application covering categories including those associated with theme park attractions has been filed for the name 'WICKER MAN', along with an associated logo. Obviously the rumours have been doing the rounds as long as we've known about SW8 and it certainly matches the look of recent graphics associated with the ride or at the very least the Scarefest maze. The queue-line begins to be put into place Source: Theme Park Worldwide The video now playing on the screens, with 'Be Chosen' in the runes scratched/burned alongside them. Source: Theme Park Worldwide The logo that has been submitted as part of the European Trademark application. While I'm not jumping for joy at the name, I have to admit that the logo is pretty damn great.

NEW FOR SCAREFEST 2017 - The Welcoming: Be Chosen A mysterious group who worship the woods and the animals that live therein like Gods have been disturbed. Every year they host a festival to celebrate their own interpretation of Halloween - the crossing of the worlds of the living and the dead. For the first time they have allowed outsiders to celebrate with them. But what part will you (‘the outsiders’) play in this ritual? Is this really an initiation?.....

Back at the SW8 site, we've two rather intriguing updates in regards to the track and the theming element. Meanwhile the slightly lower profile project taking place in the gardens seems to be at a very advanced stage. The architects responsible for the restoration of the Grade II listed Grand Conservatory posted a photo on their Instagram showing a glimpse of the work that has taken place. I realise this is not an attraction that will ramp up visitor numbers or too much interest on social media but I have a real soft spot for the gardens and feel they're rather underappreciated. While today saw the installation of bents at the centre of the site with some rather hefty banking. Work on the roof of the pre-show building has also begun in the background Source: Theme Park Worldwide Yesterday saw a crane lifting some more elements of the main theming structure into place, whilst also giving a glimpse of the top of whatever the heck it is. Source: TowersTimes Its come quite a way in a very short period of time. Hard to believe it's last restoration work was a 20 years ago. Source: CTD Architects on Instagram.

The Planet Coaster partnership is pretty awesome. Hopefully they're the first of many parks to use it for marketing purposes.

I love the excitement of the riders in that promotional image.

It's national rollercoaster day today, and Alton Towers have released a video showing the history of Secret Weapons at the park, with a little SW8 tease at the end. The SW8 website has also been updated, giving us the first idea on what the ride's theme might be. Let the speculation begin! With the park announcing earlier in the month that there was going to be 4 mazes at this year's Scarefest, but only giving a name/theme to 3 of them, it's pretty safe to suggest that #4 will tie in to this ride in a similar way to The Sanctuary did with The Smiler during the 2012 event. The teaser image for SW8 A closer look at the symbols that feature on the updated SW8 website

You're definitely better off driving to Alton Towers as the transport links are pretty poor. I live in the same county as the resort and it would take me 3 different buses/trains and between 2 and 3 hours to get there. Your best bet is to head to Uttoxeter and the resort is a well signposted 9 miles from there. I'm not sure if it is still the case but sat navs were sending people through Stoke and Cheadle (rather than Uttoxeter) and a route that was a few minutes quicker but almost guaranteed your car's bodywork would have a souvenir of the trip from one of the many extraordinarily narrow roads. Fastracks are a definite wait and see purchase. You might get lucky in regards to the crowds as schools will have reopened by the time you're making the trip and in my experience the first few weekends after the school holidays tend to be on the quieter side as weekends go. In regards to the grounds, they're absolutely worth a portion of your day. Unfortunately the 'Towers' themselves are closed for Scarefest preparations and a couple of the features within the gardens are undergoing restoration but there is still plenty to admire. Now, the Skyride does go over the gardens offering some rather great views so there is that option if you don't fancy the walk around. As for touring the park, I don't think you'll find 5 people who will agree on the same method. Personally I make use of the splitting path at the bottom of Towers Street and go with the smaller crowd at the start of the day. It might be worth posting this on one of the Alton Towers focused forums (i.e. TowersTimes or TowersStreet) as the people on those visit the park considerably more often than myself.

The path that runs alongside the construction fence was closed for a few hours on Monday, allowing the bents for the turn by the large theming feature to go up. Across the site, the tiling on the roof of SW8’s station and maintenance buildings is now almost complete, with the frame for the pre-show building now being constructed. The TVs that were mentioned in the last update have now been switched on, with them currently showing the image seen elsewhere along the fence. I'm assuming Leek Signs, who do the vast majority of outdoor graphics for the Resort, will be on site again in the coming days to install similar framing graphics to those seen around the other windows along the fence. And another from ground level through one of the construction fence's viewing windows Source: UK Theme Parks Another viewing window highlights the scale of the excavation towards the centre of the site and a view of the tiling on the station buildings. Source: UK Theme Parks A view from the River Rapids exit path showing the seemingly finished roof tiling on the station and maintenance buildings, as well as progress with the pre-show building that sits alongside them. Source: Towers Street Source: Towers Street A view of the newest bents from the Skyride Source: Towers Street And another... Source: Towers Street And a third. Source: Towers Street

Some additional windows were cut into SW8's construction fence in the last week, with posts and electrical outlets alongside them. As expected, TV screens have been placed in these windows, interestingly with speakers. Whether we'll be getting a POV like Icon's at Blackpool or something to build the ride's story we'll have to wait and see. Source: Theme Park Worldwide Source: Theme Park Worldwide Source: Theme Park Guide Source: Theme Park Guide Universal Rocks, who did the rock work for Taron at Phantsialand, have also been on park today. Source: Theme Park Guide

Surely not even Universal can give Harry Potter and the Chronic Overuse of Screens another chapter.

Construction over the last week has concentrated mostly on the Mutiny Bay side of the construction site, particularly around the now covered up themeing structure. Photos come courtesy of TowersTimes on Facebook

After having scaffolding built around it in recent days, today the main themeing element on the construction site has been covered up. Source: TowersTimes