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'Fearless participants' try out Derren Brown's reimagined ghost train at Thorpe Park
POSTED 16 Mar 2017 . BY Tom Anstey
The tests gave participants a preview of what's to come for the terrifying new version of the ride Credit: Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park has released new test footage for its reimagined version of Derren Brown’s Ghost Train, demonstrating the park’s promise to “up the fear” with the hair-raising content.
Captured with the approval of the participants, the footage shows Derren Brown’s team experimenting on a series of ‘fearless’ participants, chosen due to perceived ability to withstand shocks and fear. The trial resulted in some fearful reactions, including curling into a ball, spilling water on themselves and screaming loudly.
“It’s was a world-first ride – something really innovative, said Dominic Jones, divisional director of Thorpe Park, speaking to Attractions Management during the trials.
“This is the future of theme parks, especially if you think of all the different elements to it. We got a lot of feedback from our customers saying they wanted more fear, for it to be scarier, so we gave Derren Brown that problem. I can’t give too much away as he’s very secretive, as are we, but we’ve spent the whole winter working on how we can up the fear for Derren Brown’s Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon.”
The ride is undergoing a grand transformation as the park prepares to reopen for the season on 23 March. Changes have been made to add a sense of realism to the experience, which will follow similar themes but tell a new version of the story.
“It’s a whole new destination,” said Jones. “There will be elements that our guests will expect but there’ll also be lots of changes. The premise of the ride is still Derren Brown’s Ghost Train and he’s absolutely making it the scariest ghost train ever. There’ll still be the technology, the VR, the effects, the movement, live actors – all those things we did last year – but with the ante upped and some nice scares added in.
“Derren is so clever in what he does and how he works. With this ride you question reality itself because it does play with your mind. When you get off Rise of the Demon, you’ll think to yourself ‘what actually happened?’ It’s brilliant.”
Attractions Management’s Tom Anstey and Alice Davis were among the first outside of Derren Brown and Thorpe Park’s team to preview the ride, which reopens on 31 March. For more on their experience, see the upcoming edition of AM2, available 22 March.
Merlin's Dominic Jones joins Thorpe Park as divisional director POSTED 11 Jan 2017. BY Tom Anstey Thorpe Park has named Dominic Jones as its new divisional director, with Merlin’s former
head of Midway Attractions in Europe now responsible for continuing to develop and grow
the popular UK theme park.
Exclusive: Merlin creative director reveals new details about Derren Brown attraction coming to Thorpe Park in 2016 POSTED 18 Jan 2016. BY Tom Anstey Paul Moreton, global creative director for Merlin Magic Making at Merlin Entertainments
has exclusively revealed to Attractions Management new details about Derren
Brown’s new ride at Thorpe Park, which will use a number of modern and traditional
techniques to create an experience right from the mind of the master illusionist.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
'Fearless participants' try out Derren Brown's reimagined ghost train at Thorpe Park
POSTED 16 Mar 2017 . BY Tom Anstey
The tests gave participants a preview of what's to come for the terrifying new version of the ride Credit: Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park has released new test footage for its reimagined version of Derren Brown’s Ghost Train, demonstrating the park’s promise to “up the fear” with the hair-raising content.
Captured with the approval of the participants, the footage shows Derren Brown’s team experimenting on a series of ‘fearless’ participants, chosen due to perceived ability to withstand shocks and fear. The trial resulted in some fearful reactions, including curling into a ball, spilling water on themselves and screaming loudly.
“It’s was a world-first ride – something really innovative, said Dominic Jones, divisional director of Thorpe Park, speaking to Attractions Management during the trials.
“This is the future of theme parks, especially if you think of all the different elements to it. We got a lot of feedback from our customers saying they wanted more fear, for it to be scarier, so we gave Derren Brown that problem. I can’t give too much away as he’s very secretive, as are we, but we’ve spent the whole winter working on how we can up the fear for Derren Brown’s Ghost Train: Rise of the Demon.”
The ride is undergoing a grand transformation as the park prepares to reopen for the season on 23 March. Changes have been made to add a sense of realism to the experience, which will follow similar themes but tell a new version of the story.
“It’s a whole new destination,” said Jones. “There will be elements that our guests will expect but there’ll also be lots of changes. The premise of the ride is still Derren Brown’s Ghost Train and he’s absolutely making it the scariest ghost train ever. There’ll still be the technology, the VR, the effects, the movement, live actors – all those things we did last year – but with the ante upped and some nice scares added in.
“Derren is so clever in what he does and how he works. With this ride you question reality itself because it does play with your mind. When you get off Rise of the Demon, you’ll think to yourself ‘what actually happened?’ It’s brilliant.”
Attractions Management’s Tom Anstey and Alice Davis were among the first outside of Derren Brown and Thorpe Park’s team to preview the ride, which reopens on 31 March. For more on their experience, see the upcoming edition of AM2, available 22 March.
Merlin's Dominic Jones joins Thorpe Park as divisional director POSTED 11 Jan 2017. BY Tom Anstey Thorpe Park has named Dominic Jones as its new divisional director, with Merlin’s former
head of Midway Attractions in Europe now responsible for continuing to develop and grow
the popular UK theme park.
Exclusive: Merlin creative director reveals new details about Derren Brown attraction coming to Thorpe Park in 2016 POSTED 18 Jan 2016. BY Tom Anstey Paul Moreton, global creative director for Merlin Magic Making at Merlin Entertainments
has exclusively revealed to Attractions Management new details about Derren
Brown’s new ride at Thorpe Park, which will use a number of modern and traditional
techniques to create an experience right from the mind of the master illusionist.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) will mark its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
