Raptor Attack
Encyclopedia
Raptor Attack is an enclosed
steel
roller coaster
at the Lightwater Valley
theme park
in North Yorkshire
, United Kingdom
.
Wildcat roller coaster. The ride was constructed inside a warehouse-type building which is hidden by trees and embankments. This gives the illusion that the ride is actually underground. At opening, the ride was known as Rat Ride was themed around sewer rats. The entry and exit corridors accurately replicated a real sewer and the ride vehicles were giant rat models. The ride took place in complete darkness making it thrilling as riders could not predict the upcoming direction of travel.
Rat Ride closed in October 2009 at the end of the season. On 3 April 2010, the ride reopened under a new name and theme. The ride is currently operating as Raptor Attack.
An abandoned office features blood-spattered equipment including a monitor which shows footage of a distressed miner. This footage originally had sound, with the miner calling out a warning that there is something moving down there and not to send anyone else down the mine. However the sound was removed partway through the season, as younger children thought that the footage was real and were becoming distressed.
Riders then continue onto the boarding station where four-seater mine trains await. Ride operators are dressed in themed miner clothing with hard hats and fluorescent jackets.
The train leaves the station into an area of total darkness and ascends up a chain-driven climb. A series of drops follows interlinked between sudden appearances of animatronic velociraptor
s and sound effects designed to startle the riders. The roller coaster system and layout remains the same as the original 'Rat Ride' but the appearances of the dinosaurs and the rides revamped theming add refreshing new elements to the ride.
When the car returns to the station and riders disembark, they pass a steel door from behind which something begins to suddenly bang very loudly. This is another feature designed to startle departing riders and is activated via motion sensor.
Riders then continue on through the tunnels, passing a hydraulic piston in a pool of water and human bones. The piston suddenly discharges a blast of air from beneath the water, creating a loud noise and splash designed to startle the exiting riders. A staircase is then ascended, another tunnel passed during which sound effects of dinosaur roars and groans play and the surface is reached.
In the immediate area outside the ride exit is the raptor paintball range and riders leave via a merchandise shop which also sells on-ride photographs.
Enclosed roller coaster
An enclosed roller coaster is a roller coaster built inside a structure intended solely for the ride. This structure often imparts a theme or houses special effects...
steel
Steel roller coaster
A steel roller coaster is a roller coaster that is defined by having a track made of steel. Steel coasters have earned immense popularity in the past 50 years throughout the world...
roller coaster
Roller coaster
The roller coaster is a popular amusement ride developed for amusement parks and modern theme parks. LaMarcus Adna Thompson patented the first coasters on January 20, 1885...
at the Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley is a theme park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. The park is perhaps best known for being the home of Europe’s longest rollercoaster - The Ultimate....
theme park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
History
In 1987 Lightwater Valley constructed an Anton SchwarzkopfAnton Schwarzkopf
Anton Schwarzkopf was a German engineer of amusement rides, and founder of the Schwarzkopf Industries company, which built numerous rides and large roller coasters for both amusement parks and travelling funfairs....
Wildcat roller coaster. The ride was constructed inside a warehouse-type building which is hidden by trees and embankments. This gives the illusion that the ride is actually underground. At opening, the ride was known as Rat Ride was themed around sewer rats. The entry and exit corridors accurately replicated a real sewer and the ride vehicles were giant rat models. The ride took place in complete darkness making it thrilling as riders could not predict the upcoming direction of travel.
Rat Ride closed in October 2009 at the end of the season. On 3 April 2010, the ride reopened under a new name and theme. The ride is currently operating as Raptor Attack.
Ride experience
The ride is now themed on an old abandoned mine shaft and riders queue at the entry point of this shaft. Upon entry, riders walk through a series of tunnels and descend down a spiralling staircase between which water is falling from overhead.An abandoned office features blood-spattered equipment including a monitor which shows footage of a distressed miner. This footage originally had sound, with the miner calling out a warning that there is something moving down there and not to send anyone else down the mine. However the sound was removed partway through the season, as younger children thought that the footage was real and were becoming distressed.
Riders then continue onto the boarding station where four-seater mine trains await. Ride operators are dressed in themed miner clothing with hard hats and fluorescent jackets.
The train leaves the station into an area of total darkness and ascends up a chain-driven climb. A series of drops follows interlinked between sudden appearances of animatronic velociraptor
Velociraptor
Velociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
s and sound effects designed to startle the riders. The roller coaster system and layout remains the same as the original 'Rat Ride' but the appearances of the dinosaurs and the rides revamped theming add refreshing new elements to the ride.
When the car returns to the station and riders disembark, they pass a steel door from behind which something begins to suddenly bang very loudly. This is another feature designed to startle departing riders and is activated via motion sensor.
Riders then continue on through the tunnels, passing a hydraulic piston in a pool of water and human bones. The piston suddenly discharges a blast of air from beneath the water, creating a loud noise and splash designed to startle the exiting riders. A staircase is then ascended, another tunnel passed during which sound effects of dinosaur roars and groans play and the surface is reached.
In the immediate area outside the ride exit is the raptor paintball range and riders leave via a merchandise shop which also sells on-ride photographs.