originally posted on 5/7/2021 11:24:01 PM
Storm Chaser.
Photo: Courtesy Paultons Park. View full-sized image.
Since its opening in 1983, Paultons Park (Romsey, England) has followed the natural steps of starting as a small park and growing into a beloved destination with a lot to offer. Since the ACE U.K.! Tour in 2015, the park has added three additional roller coasters. The latest opened on April 12, 2021.
Storm Chaser is a Mack Rides spinning coaster. This headlining attraction is the anchor to a £12-million investment into an expansion called Tornado Springs. According to the park, eight new rides and experiences are a part of the new land, which covers four acres.
Mack Rides has offered different variations of spinning coasters, from the controlled spin on Europa-Park’s (Rust, Germany) iconic Euro-Mir to Knott’s Berry Farm’s (Buena Park, California) Sierra Sidewinder, which is free-spinning. In 2018, the Xtreme Spinning Coaster model debuted with a huge flash at Silver Dollar City (Branson, Missouri). Time Traveler introduced spinning coasters with inversions. The Paultons Park installation will be the U.K.’s first free-spinning roller coaster from the renowned company.
Storm Chaser.
Photo: Courtesy Paultons Park. View full-sized image.
Like the other five roller coasters at Paultons Park, Storm Chaser does not feature any inversions. The park’s focus has always been families, not daredevil thrill seekers. The delightfully charming Peppa Pig World area is a testament to that. Other new rides include a Zamperla gyro swing, a Trekking Tractors ride, Windmill Towers drop ride and Buffalo Falls waterslides. Additional experiences include Al’s Auto Academy in which 30 youngsters can drive classic 1950s American stylized electric cars around a garage-themed driving school. Parking Lot Tots and Junkyard Junction are play areas with each playground catering to different age ranges.
Windmill Towers, one of the new rides in Tornado Springs.
Photo: Courtesy Paultons Park. View full-sized image.
The theming and storyline of Tornado Springs is a Midwest desert resort town in the American heyday of the 1950s. The design of the new land was facilitated by the partnership with MK Themed Attractions. In addition to the new rides, the area also features the obligatory gift shop (where kids can purchase their own driver’s license) and a Route 83 Diner.
The Rio Grande Train takes riders through Tornado Springs.
Photo: Courtesy Paultons Park. View full-sized image.
Storm Chaser, adorned in bright yellow, stands 65 feet tall. While the exact length of the ride is unknown, it is not a noticeably long ride. The layout is strikingly similar to its Knott’s cousin — which comes in at less than 1,500 feet — and like its Californian forebearer, the ride really picks up speed as it roars close to the ground. The environment and landscaping surrounding the ride are very well done, with a barn serving as the theme to the coaster’s station.
“Our continual investment into the park’s attractions and facilities is a pledge to ensure that we continue to offer the very best in family entertainment for many years to come,” said Operations Director James Mancey.
That dedication shows. Between beautiful gardens, whimsical theming and a range of coasters that are thrilling for young visitors (but much more than just “kiddie”), Paultons Park continues to find the right mix.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
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