Loggers Leap

Loggers Leap
A log just after leaving the station
Thorpe Park Resort
Area Old Town
Coordinates 51°24′08″N 0°30′47″W / 51.402173°N 0.51297°W / 51.402173; -0.51297Coordinates: 51°24′08″N 0°30′47″W / 51.402173°N 0.51297°W / 51.402173; -0.51297
Status Closed
Cost £6 Million
Opening date 1989 (1989)
Closing date 2015 (2015)
General statistics
Type Log flume
Manufacturer Mack Rides
Lift system chain lift
Height 16 m (52 ft)
Length 521 m (1,709 ft)
Speed 32 km/h (20 mph)
Capacity 1200 riders per hour
Duration 3 mins
G-force 1.75
Boats Riders are arranged in two rows (of 2 and 3 respectively) which totals 5 riders per boat.
Height Restriction 1m & 1 - 1.3m must be accompanied by an adult(18+)
Virtual queue
Fastrack available

Loggers Leap (also referred to as Logger's Leap) is a log flume ride in Thorpe Park, UK. It was the tallest log flume ride in the UK when it opened, a record it regained in 2005 with the removal of "Nightmare Niagara" from the now-defunct American Adventure theme park near Derby. The ride has been closed since the end of the 2015 season.

History

Logger's Leap, opened in 1989, was manufactured by Mack and was the first major attraction in the now renamed 'Old Town'. The ride is themed around logging in the Canadian countryside and had a soundtrack of 'dancy' country and western music including 5,6,7,8 by Steps, Cotton-Eyed Joe by Rednex, Southern Nights by Glen Campbell and 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton which plays outside the ride, in the outside queueing area and in the ride station itself.

The ride was well known for being featured in photographs of the Royal family with Princess Diana in 1993. A dedication plaque was erected next to the attraction following her death.

Logger's Leap riders also hear a range of messages recorded by an enthusiastic announcer, including one declaring Logger's Leap to be "the wildest ride in the wilderness", a feature which was added in 2004.

Thorpe Park confirmed via social media that Loggers Leap would not open for the 2016 season, stating that it was under redevelopment. The ride did not reopen for the 2017 and 2018 seasons either, with no visible works having taken place other than the grass outside the station being cut in early April. Thorpe Park has hinted that the ride may return in the future as it is considered a favourite among the administration team - however it has been noted that they may introduce a new ride in its place with the same name. As of August 2017, flowers, logs and a Loggers Leap boat can be seen outside the station, as a tribute to Princess Diana, who famously rode Loggers Leap with her sons.[1]

Ride experience

Riders queue up in one of five queues at the front of the station, four for ordinary guests and one for Fastrack guests who have paid extra. Each Logger's Leap boat holds up to five people - two in the front and three in the back - meaning during busy periods small groups may be asked by a ride attendant to share boats to speed up the queue. Boats do not stop in the station unless there is an emergency and guests must take their belongings with them, apart from cuddly toys won in the park or photographs from other rides.

Once the boat has left the station it drops down a small hill and turns around a sharp right corner before making its way into a dark tunnel. The boat then rises up a hill before descending the first drop in complete darkness. The boat exits the tunnel at the back of the park amongst woodland, where it crosses the main lake and makes its way to the second life hill. This hill, the biggest of the ride, features a steep drop with a double dip. The boat descends the drop into a splashdown, then meanders back to the station. Once in the station, guests are helped out of their boat by an attendant and leave through the photo shop.

In 2013, the tunnel enclosing the first lift hill and drop was removed due to poor structural maintenance over time.

References

  1. ↑ Thorpe Park Mania (2017-08-26). "Princess Diana memorial plaque relocated into a newly planted out Loggers Leap boat in Old Town". @ThorpeParkMania. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
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