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Tidal Wave (Thorpe Park)
Encyclopedia
Tidal Wave is a giant water ride located at Thorpe Park
in England
. It was opened in 2000 and was Tussauds
' first major investment in the park.
When the ride was constructed in 2000 it was the tallest water ride in Europe and retained the title until 2002, when Hydro at Oakwood Theme Park
was opened. From 2006 to 2009, the ride was sponsored by Original Source
, and from 2010 by Dr. Pepper.
fishing village which has been hit by a tidal wave
, named "Amity Cove". The surrounding area has a high level of detail to carry this theme. The ride's queueline is host to a number of partially ruined buildings, including a bathroom with a leaking shower, a toilet and a house with a boat stuck in its roof. The station is built at an angle to give the impression that the building has been damaged by the wave. The area's New England setting is only rough, as Storm Surge is set in Virginia
, and LC12
will be set in Florida
.
Upon leaving the ride, guests are led through a building, named "Pier 13", situated directly in front of the splash pool and above the track. As the boat hits the water, the wave travels straight towards this building and often continues on to the pathway behind. Two windows of the Pier 13 building have no perspex, presenting another opportunity for riders to get wet.
Around the splash pool are several effects, such as a damaged gas tank which fires a large flame approximately every 10 minutes, a giant water tower which periodically releases a torrent of water, and the sound of an organ coming from the spire of a supposedly submerged church. As of 2006, the gas tank no longer operates because the cylinders that were used to fuel the flame were removed to make way for the construction of Stealth. The other effects are also currently nonoperational and have been out of order for several years.
Amity Cove also features a comical, fake radio station, named WWTP radio, that plays on a loop through speakers in the area. The radio show is hosted by the fictional character "'Big Bob' Jones" and plays music from the era, for example Elvis Presley
and The Beach Boys
. The show also features comical news reports, parodic advertisements and fictional competitions.
kisok is also located at Tidal Wave's exit. In addition, the area houses a fish and chip shop, known as 'Amity Fish & Chips'.
There are also two shops in Amity Cove, Thorpe Park's largest shop (called Thorpe Mega Store) and in 2007 a new shop called Amity Shop and Drop opposite the 4D cinema. There is also a Tickets and Information kiosk next to Tidal Wave's entrance selling Fastrack and Bounce Back tickets.
There is also a KFC
in the area, which fits into the theme as it looks like a 1960s American diner. Inside, there are broken mirrors on the walls and the ceiling appears to be damaged by the tidal wave.
The restaurant has a life-sized shark piece of theming that appears to have been slammed into the side of the building.
A Burger King
is also located within the area, and is themed, in a very similar fashion to the KFC, as a 1960s diner.
was the signature attraction in Thorpe Park when it opened and when the Flying Fish was relocated in 2007 it was also fitted to the Amity Cove theme. In 2008, Time Voyagers, a new 4D film opened, extending Amity Cove towards a fish and chip restaurant. Also in Amity Cove, there is a large showground called 'The Arena'. This is the park's main live events location and also houses the Se7en horror maze during Fright Nights. Another Fright Nights maze, called 'The Curse', is themed to a cursed ship that has washed ashore on Amity Beach, this is located on Neptune's Beach. In 2011, Storm Surge, a spinning rapids ride opened opposite Tidal Wave. When Storm Surge opened, it enveloped X:\No Way Out into Amity Cove, although it still remains with the same theme. In 2012, the park will open a new rollercoaster, currently known as 'Project LC12
'. It is likely to relate to the Amity Cove theme as the real LC12, in Florida
, USA, was used mainly during the 50s and 60s, the same era that Amity Cove is set in, as well as the disaster theme planned for the ride.
Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park is a theme park located in Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK. It was built in 1979 on the site of a gravel pit which was partially flooded, the intention of creating a water based theme for the park. The park's first large roller coaster, Colossus, was added in 2002...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was opened in 2000 and was Tussauds
The Tussauds Group
The Tussauds Group is now part of Merlin Entertainments, the world's second largest leisure group, second only to Disney. It is based in Poole, Dorset from where it manages a portfolio of brands and over 50 attractions including the famous Madame Tussauds waxworks, Legoland Parks, Sealife Centres,...
' first major investment in the park.
When the ride was constructed in 2000 it was the tallest water ride in Europe and retained the title until 2002, when Hydro at Oakwood Theme Park
Oakwood Theme Park
Oakwood Theme Park is a theme park in Pembrokeshire, Wales which attracts over 400,000 visitors each year....
was opened. From 2006 to 2009, the ride was sponsored by Original Source
PZ Cussons
PZ Cussons is a major manufacturer of personal healthcare products, and consumer goods. It operates worldwide, especially in Africa and Commonwealth nations...
, and from 2010 by Dr. Pepper.
Theme
The ride is set in a 1960s New EnglandNew England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
fishing village which has been hit by a tidal wave
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
, named "Amity Cove". The surrounding area has a high level of detail to carry this theme. The ride's queueline is host to a number of partially ruined buildings, including a bathroom with a leaking shower, a toilet and a house with a boat stuck in its roof. The station is built at an angle to give the impression that the building has been damaged by the wave. The area's New England setting is only rough, as Storm Surge is set in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, and LC12
LC12
The Swarm is the name of a steel Wing Rider roller coaster under construction at Thorpe Park in the United Kingdom. The ride was codenamed LC12 in the early process of its planning and construction. The Swarm will be the world's second Wing Rider design by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer...
will be set in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Upon leaving the ride, guests are led through a building, named "Pier 13", situated directly in front of the splash pool and above the track. As the boat hits the water, the wave travels straight towards this building and often continues on to the pathway behind. Two windows of the Pier 13 building have no perspex, presenting another opportunity for riders to get wet.
Around the splash pool are several effects, such as a damaged gas tank which fires a large flame approximately every 10 minutes, a giant water tower which periodically releases a torrent of water, and the sound of an organ coming from the spire of a supposedly submerged church. As of 2006, the gas tank no longer operates because the cylinders that were used to fuel the flame were removed to make way for the construction of Stealth. The other effects are also currently nonoperational and have been out of order for several years.
Amity Cove also features a comical, fake radio station, named WWTP radio, that plays on a loop through speakers in the area. The radio show is hosted by the fictional character "'Big Bob' Jones" and plays music from the era, for example Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
. The show also features comical news reports, parodic advertisements and fictional competitions.
Shops
The area also features a few food outlets - a doughnut shop called Amity Naughty Bites and a kebab shop called 'The Amity Kebab Co.' (the Tidal Wave photo unit is located directly above the kebab shop). A small Ben & Jerry'sBen & Jerry's
Ben & Jerry's is an American ice cream company, a division of the British-Dutch Unilever conglomerate, that manufactures ice cream, frozen yogurt, sorbet, and ice cream novelty products, manufactured by Ben & Jerry's Homemade Holdings, Inc., headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont, United...
kisok is also located at Tidal Wave's exit. In addition, the area houses a fish and chip shop, known as 'Amity Fish & Chips'.
There are also two shops in Amity Cove, Thorpe Park's largest shop (called Thorpe Mega Store) and in 2007 a new shop called Amity Shop and Drop opposite the 4D cinema. There is also a Tickets and Information kiosk next to Tidal Wave's entrance selling Fastrack and Bounce Back tickets.
There is also a KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
in the area, which fits into the theme as it looks like a 1960s American diner. Inside, there are broken mirrors on the walls and the ceiling appears to be damaged by the tidal wave.
The restaurant has a life-sized shark piece of theming that appears to have been slammed into the side of the building.
A Burger King
Burger King
Burger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
is also located within the area, and is themed, in a very similar fashion to the KFC, as a 1960s diner.
Other rides
When Tidal Wave opened, it was the only ride in Amity Cove and remained this way until 2004. In anticipation for Stealth, the Amity Cove area was extended towards the Teacups (a traditional fairground 'teacups' ride). The Teacups were re-themed, with cracks painted onto the cups and the ride was renamed "Storm In A Teacup". StealthStealth
Stealth may refer to:*Stealth technology, technology used to conceal ships, aircraft, and missiles*Stealth aircraft, aircraft which use stealth technology*Stealth ground vehicle, ground vehicles which use stealth technology...
was the signature attraction in Thorpe Park when it opened and when the Flying Fish was relocated in 2007 it was also fitted to the Amity Cove theme. In 2008, Time Voyagers, a new 4D film opened, extending Amity Cove towards a fish and chip restaurant. Also in Amity Cove, there is a large showground called 'The Arena'. This is the park's main live events location and also houses the Se7en horror maze during Fright Nights. Another Fright Nights maze, called 'The Curse', is themed to a cursed ship that has washed ashore on Amity Beach, this is located on Neptune's Beach. In 2011, Storm Surge, a spinning rapids ride opened opposite Tidal Wave. When Storm Surge opened, it enveloped X:\No Way Out into Amity Cove, although it still remains with the same theme. In 2012, the park will open a new rollercoaster, currently known as 'Project LC12
LC12
The Swarm is the name of a steel Wing Rider roller coaster under construction at Thorpe Park in the United Kingdom. The ride was codenamed LC12 in the early process of its planning and construction. The Swarm will be the world's second Wing Rider design by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer...
'. It is likely to relate to the Amity Cove theme as the real LC12, in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA, was used mainly during the 50s and 60s, the same era that Amity Cove is set in, as well as the disaster theme planned for the ride.