The History of Alton Towers and the Corkscrew | Expedition Alton Towers
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มี.ค. 2019
- Join us on the first Episode of Expedition Alton Towers as we look at the history of the park and the opening of its first roller coaster Corkscrew. This vekoma ride changed the fate of the park to become the best theme park in the UK that we know today.
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Credits -
Video Credits -
Special Thank you to
Alton Towers Memories
In The Loop - • Alton Towers Tour & Re...
FotoWhizzOnline - • Beyond The Steel - Alt...
GingerBeardMark - • The Chained Oak / HEX ...
Long Live Humanity - • An English Village Fet...
Glenn Awesome - • Alton Towers fireworks...
SwiftSnakeProductions - • Video
blodwin62 - • Alton Towers Model Rai...
Alton Towers Memories - • Alton Towers mid 1970s...
Daniel Broad - • 1984 - Alton Towers 1
UK1980s - • Alton Towers Corkscrew...
Themeparkfanatic - • Python at Busch Garden...
coastercrutchfield - • Corkscrew Front Row (H...
pepernootje - • Tornado, Walibi
UKRetroChannel - • I Love 1980 - Alton To...
ATJakee - • Festival Park Alton To...
mickpell - • Me and Caroline on Cor...
PMorgster - • Corkscrew's Final Shut...
rcmaster207 - • Big Loop Offride - Hei...
Intended for education purposes - บันเทิง
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I was at the park on the last public day the corkscrew was running. We rode the corkscrew at the end of the day and we were the last off the ride before it close to the public. It’s my one claim to fame!
Cool what year was this
Used Air Pod 2008 was its last year at the park although it’s famous double corkscrew can still be seen at the entrance of the park
Omg I can’t believe that I was there too
OMG ME TO
* applause *
The Corkscrew was the beginning of Alton Towers as a theme park. I love still being able to see it at the entrance and it's a great tribute to the park's history.
The runaway train is amazing, absolutely MADE by the hilarious staff commentary! First time I went the lad kept saying "choo choo" in such a dead pan way, me and my mates just kept riding it for that alone.
Cathy Swinton They still do it today! But he said it in a more “Seducing” voice, and he kept doing it
@@yeetabixtv7318 same lol
Haha I've had that happen a few times too. It's funny lol. But the ride itself is pretty good.
Our family still says CHOO CHOO OH YEAH CHOO CHOO in general conversation
I live 10 minutes from Alton Towers and worked there 2 years ago and I can safely say that a lot of the local area wouldn't be as good as it is if Alton Towers was not their, they do a lot for the local community and employ thousands of people
*there
@@Hellwyck Don't take this the wrong way, shut up.
Don't think the lady & gentleman that have been the neighbour's to the park since the 60s, so b4 all the rides, think so. How many court cases has there been now?
Not being rude but nowhere is within 10 minutes of Alton towers
@skinjim123 Cheadles pretty close as well
ITS FINALLY HAPPENING!!!!!!!!! (The next one should be on th13teen, since it would make a nice transition)
Actually, I thought a video on oblivion would be cool
The GoodApple7 Show They have a video about Oblivion! ☺️ I don’t know when it came out but it definitely exists now lol 😋
It was quite sad when Corkscrew shut down, I remember it being quite a violent but exciting coaster, played a big part in growing the park. Shame it was replaced by Thirteen.
G Citser when it comes down to thirteen or corkscrew. Corkscrew should’ve stayed. Thirteen is one of the worst coasters in my opinion.
I think thirteen is much better corkscrew was my least favourite coaster
Th13teen isn't a bad ride nessecarily, but it's not the best ride ever
I think 13 is pretty boring and dissapointing
13 was made for kids so it makes sense and corkscrew had to leave as it was to old
I love Alton towers for its backstory. I love the rides because they have a story behind them. It’s awesome. The fact that it’s in a forest is helpful to give off that eerie theme.
So excited to see the rest of the Alton Tower series!! Really enjoyed this one keep up the good work!
3:23 "Please...Ah f***"
This was the first rollercoaster I ever went on as a kid. I remember being terrified but after it had finished I probably re-rode it 4-5 times hahahaha. Was a sad day when I found out it had closed
Yeah, same for me! At least, the first roller coaster I ever went on that went upside-down! I used to love "The Beast" as well, until that closed in 1997.
That's neat that they kept the corkscrews! I'm so glad Disney doesn't retire their rides like this. I'd be devastated if they ever closed Big Thunder!
Greg's Game Room I don’t think they would do that, they would probably just expand the park, they probably have the budget for it.
@@darkstar5081 and the land for it
They well they didn’t think that about the people mover
alton can't really expand since it's in the countryside, so things gotta go
Wow! That advert (with the sickenly joyous music) stated £2.50 entrance fee..!? That price has escalated slightly since the early 80's... 🤣
Can't stop whistling the song.
Well you got to include inflation but it's still a good price
@@richardschlange9629 I doubt 35 years ago £58 was £2.50
@@gavinwest655 your paying £58 to get into alton towers? Also 2.50 isn't 58 pounds but it wasnt the equivalent of today's £2.50
@@richardschlange9629 I'm talking about the ticket prices if you go there and pay on the day I went there a week ago I know you can get £20 off if you book online but in those days you couldn't book online
This looks really good! One reason I love your channel is because of the focus on UK attractions. You don't really get that on other channels.
Nemesis: Corkscrew... That name brings back some memories.
Oblivion: As much as Nemesis likes to claim that he's the one who inspired all the other rides, that distinction belongs to Corkscrew.
Air: I believe that was the first ride in the UK with a double inversion. Doesn't seem impressive now, but it amazed a lot of people when it came out.
Rita: Corkscrew was my dude! I remember my first day at the Towers, he was the first person to welcome me. You have no idea how nice he was!
Th13teen: I really shouldn't have killed Corkscrew. He meant a lot to the rest of the coasters, and the parkgoers as well.
Smiler: Ok, yeah, I have way more inversions than he did. But I am so thankful that he was around. Because without Corkscrew, there would be no Smiler.
Wicker Man: I never got to know Corkscrew, but if I did meet him, I'd tell him that he's alright.
a really nice comment.
You forgot Runaway Mine Train, Beastie, The Beast, The Alton Mouse, 4 Man Bob loads more.
Nemesis is nostalgic, Oblivion is telling the truth, Air is honoring Corkscrew, Rita misses Corkscrew, Th13teen is regretful, Smiler honors Corkscrew as well, and Wicker Man would’ve wanted to meet Corkscrew.
✨wholesome✨
This made my day imagine if they were all friends, then one say going to work like "Hey Where's corkscrew"
Love your videos man, please keep making them (especially the UK ones 😉) lotta time for this channel already !!! ❤️
I like how you used "In the hall of the mountain King" in the intro, just like their commercials. It comes to show the detail you put into your videos!
Thats the alton towers theme song...
Shame that the Corkscrew got removed as it really was the most iconic Roller Coaster at the time for Alton Towers. Much like Shock Wave is for Drayton Manor.
Saying that, the two that replaced it (13 and Rita) are good replacements. Plus Smiler and Nemesis would have made it too tame by today's standards.
Rimmer it was closed because ridership was declining and it was getting very rough.
It was getting horrendously rough sadly
If it was getting rough, that's a shame. Perhaps considered not very daring or exciting to go on these days. In my childhood I remember the Corkscrew being quite new. There was a lot of talk in school whether you'd been on it. Everyone gathered around it plucking up courage to go on. Or standing in awe. I guess it wouldn't seem the same but it is the nostalgia.
Probably they could had replaced the track like they did on eftelings "Phyton" it was getting rough too, Efteling didn't want to remove their first iconic coaster, they replaced the complete track and now it's smooth like a new one.
Rita didnt replace it
I feel like everyone’s always dissing 13 but personally, I love it😂
I think nostalgia goggles and the overhype advertisement lead to way way too high expectations. I too love 13, its so smooth and has a awesome atmosphere and gimmick I would take that over having my ears bashed in for 30 seconds (all I remember feeling from original. . . Not a fond memory.) from the corkscrew enyday.
I think cuz the actual ride isn't thrilling, the track drop can only be so thrilling when you know what's gonna happen. And I think cuz corkscrew had such an impact whereas 13 didn't. If you'd take the track drop away from the ride, it would be like a vekoma junior coaster/family coaster.
I HATE it.
I personally love it but it doesn’t give me the thrill the rest of the rides do but I still love it
It may not be the most thrilling ride there, but its bonkers brilliant to me
Great video! I never got to ride the corkscrew, but it’s awesome seeing it’s history. ❤️
I love knowing the history of parks like Alton Towers can't wait to see more :)
i live in derbyshire about under 1 hour away from alton towers, it’s so easy to get to and it’s my absolute fave theme park, the songs, rides, people, just the happiness of it, i’ve stayed in both hotels and they are incredible
That is really cool that they added the corkscrew's to the front entrance gate since the park that we know today got it's start from it being built.
A picture of the corkscrew was used for the prodigy’s LP - Everybody’s in the Place (Fairground Mix)
12" single, not an LP.
A full history of Alton Towers? Good job
Brilliant little documentary! I grew up in Surrey so we never ventured up to Alton Towers, and by the time I made my first visit, the Corkscrew was history!
I really like how Alton Towers used the corkscrew to tip their hat to the people who made it happen. Love your videos btw!
Love this series and what a great way to kick it off!!! Love the history behind this place and now I really really wanna visit there!!!
Well you need to find a reason to go to England then! :P
Expedition Theme Park ooooh I feel like I have a friend who I could maybe go with to show me the ropes hmmmmmm 🧐😜
I remember riding this over and over about 15 times at the end of the day in '93 , it was then still the No1 most famous rollercoaster in Britain (until the next year stolen by Nemesis and the Big One) and was so smooth and comfortable to ride with the old cars. Happy memories!
I absolutely LOVE the fact that they kept a bit of the Corkscrew.....and then painted it purple! What an AMAZING gesture!
Loved this video. I really enjoy watching about the British theme parks on this channel. I spotted the Air theme too, very nice touch.
I’m excited to see a video about Air as it is my favourite coaster and it has evolved a lot since it was first in the park.
I have not tried it yet in its new VR state though
Yeah air is one of my fav also! Good spot 😃
Wow, that opening commercial with the 80’s Country/Dolly Parton-like theme song!! Fantastic
edvaira6891 if you like that then check out this one: th-cam.com/video/kl-nmphus8o/w-d-xo.html
I loved the Corkscrew, first rollercoaster that I went inverted on! Followed by nemesis of course!
It's pretty amazing that they put part of the track at the entrance. I was one of the last people to ride it, 2 days before it closed
Also, I always wanted to know the history behind the haunted house, between nemesis and Katanga canyon
I have so much time for your channel! I love your focus on the UK attractions :) keeps smashing it dude.
Thank you!
Only rode the corkscrew a couple of times towards the end of its life. Only real memory I have of it, is it being really really rough.
Great video buddy 👍🏻😃👌🏻
Would absolutely love for you to do a look back at Air, and how they've (in my opinion) ruined what it was all about with the newest refurb
Its so amazing seeing the transformation from gardens to a full theme park. Nice one!
7:42 I've Been On The Corkscrew Roller Coaster At Alton Towers Theme Park In Stratfordshire Near The City Of Birmingham In England In The United Kingdom Back In October 2007 And It Was Super Awesome. Thanks A Lot Mate. X
I'm a viewer from the states and it's great to know about this freaky place, and get hyped to hopefully go someday!!!
TwinTime Productions its worth a visit alone if you enjoy adrenaline rushes and it has a great selection of rides queues are a pain in the ass though but not a big issue really it's more popular than Drayton Manor or Thorpe Park I have been to all 3 as I live in the UK it has a really nice history as well as other attractions food is a swing and a miss and overpriced usually but there's something for everyone there I hope you do enjoy your visit when you fly over and just want to also say hi and welcome to the UK hope you enjoy your stay over here with us :)
If I ever get to the UK, I HAVE to visit Alton Towers
Corkscrew was my first ever looping roller coaster as a kid and I still have fond memories of it. The day I cam back to Alton Towers and realised it was no longer there and replaced with Thirteen really saddened me. Though I'm really glad the corkscrew elements are still on display at the front of the park so that my memories aren't fully gone yet.
15 times in a row at the end of the day back in the 80's 👳 corkscrew is legendary .
So grateful and blessed to have this wonderful park only an hour from my house!
Also a famous photo of the corkscrew loops that was taken of the coaster on opening day was used by the eurodance band The Prodigy in the mid 90s for one of their most popular albums as the official cover image! :)
And I’m lucky enough to work there! Thank you for this video! The corkscrew was one of the first ever coasters I went on & I still get all nostalgic over it whenever I’m working in that area.
Dude can you do Thorpe Park next? Thx!
Happy 40th Birthday Alton Towers.
1980 - 2020. 40 Years. X
I still miss the corkscrew, there was something about it that made it quite special, and it wasn’t really a terrible ride, I always enjoyed riding it. Also it holds a special memory for me as it was the first rollercoaster my cousin went on with me aged 10, she was scared witless going on her first big rollercoaster but she fought her fear and actually loved it, she even went on it again, good stuff.
One small interesting fact, Alton kept the ride as long as possible because they found it fun it was pissing off the local council because the ride actually breached the tree height limit but was installed before the rule was imposed on the park which meant the council couldn’t touch it with a barge pole, to be fair to Alton, they did do a few things to cut down on noise and even painted the top of the ride green to blend in with the trees
Please do a video on the original haunted house
I will
@@ExpeditionThemePark Thanks
Corkscrew was the first every rollercoaster I went on back in the early 90s.
Got quite rickety and gave me a headache in its latter days but will always remember it and love it!
Great memories. I remember going to Alton towers for the first time in 1983. My beloved nan took me and my sister on a coach trip arranged by her work. The corkscrew was like nothing we had ever seen before. I thought only America had things like this!!!!. As the years went on I visit the park as often as possible with my mates. We saw loads of fantastic rides added but for me the corkscrew was always my favourite. Great to see the inversions at the entrance as a reminder of a truly iconic attraction. Thanks for the video👍👍👍
Iconic coaster, probably the most famous in the UK.
Oh and it worked in the rain
This is an interesting and long history compared with most North American theme parks which were likely all built on former farmland.
Really enjoy your videos about Alton towers brings back so many great memories going there as a child
I've Used To Love The Corkscrew Rollercoaster At Alton Towers When I Was A Kid. Thanks Mate. X
Corkscrew was my first ever coaster experience back in the late 80's, I absolutely loved it so much that when I went back for the opening of Nemesis in 94 it was actually Corkscrew I went to first. Pleased that they kept the actual corkscrew element of the ride after it closed, a nice nod to the parks evolution from garden to theme park
Props on the interesting and in-depth info on the park's history. The nerd in me really appreciates that kind of stuff.
82 was the first time I was there. Been many times since. Awesome history. Thank you.
YES YES JUST YES
I WANT MORE I CAN NOT HANDLE EXPEDITION THEMEPARK WITHDRAWAL
great work mate this content is excellent
I'd love to see katanga canyon with the history of that area with john wardleys influence
I will do it
Can't wait to see what this video holds in store!!
I know it had a lot of hate, but I loved the Corkscrew
It was rough but I dont think anybody "hated" Corkscrew. Maybe one or two enthusiasts online, out of the millions of riders that rode it every year. It was just time for it to go.
Even though I know most of this stuff, it's really refreshing to see your style oh it, bless up
Looking forward to the rest of the series, 😀
Never thought I'd hear the Air queue music over scenes from WW2
Rode the Corkscrew a few weeks after it opened. I was 18. Towards the end of the day we went back and there was no queue so I think we rode it another seven times in succession. It was this that started my love of coasters, a love which coincidentally ended around the time the Corkscrew was decommissioned.
I like that they put th he corkscrew track at the front of the park. Great way to remember history of the ride.
I touched that tree in real life when I went, and apparently I’m “cursed”
I can proudly say I rode this! Was a rough old beast though!
It is great they kept the corkscrew section preserved in the front of the park. I love history and it’s nice to see it being honored.
This was soooooo goooood!!!! That opening though!!! Had goosebumps 🖤
The last time I went to Alton Towers was in the final year this ride was operating. And wow. How time flies. I can't believe it was 11 years ago. I was thinking it was about 2012ish!
Corkscrew closed in 2008 not 2012
I eat my tea watching as if it's telly. I love your content, It's personally the style of content that is my fave. Your production quality should be admired also. Thank you :)
Thank you so much!
I love that they put the double loop at the park entrance. Also, nice music in this ep
Great video, really interesting to learn more about the towers and corkscrew.👍🏻
Thank you
Great content as always!
Me and two of my sisters are going to alton towers in a few weeks, they haven’t been since somewhere between the opening of air and closure of corkscrew, it’s going to be interesting to see them return to the park after near enough 15 years of absence
Wow, I rode the Corkscrew with my school mates in 1980 and it blew my mind. It was something well beyond the fairground attractions I'd experienced and began a love affair with Alton Towers that I still have today, a fantastic Theme Park.
It is interesting to learn the history of my home park
Fantastic job as always. It's definitely going to be interesting to see more of Alton Towers, especially as an American who has never been there. The Barney ad was a nice touch at the end (at least, in my opinion).
Adventure Island , Southend. My first ever experience of a sea side theme park back in the late 60's & a life long favorite !
I would love to see the history behind The Beast or The Mouse. Love your videos :)
This was really interesting! I never knew it had so much history behind it.
Great job! I’ve never even been to Alton Towers before but your video made me nostalgic for the old days of the park. Lol
So glad I got to ride this one before it was dismantled. :)
Excellent as always Sam!
So excited for Expedition Alton Towers! And I saw a bit of Toyland Tours in that opening. Future video perhaps? 🤔
Liked before watching.....I just know it will be a good one!!!!
Love the intro. Cedar point has a very similar ride of the same name that is still up and running. If cedar point ever decides to replace it I have a dream that they keep the layout but re-track it to be a flying coaster like Superman.
Thanks for doing more UK theme park videos , as I’m based in the UK these are a brilliant watch :) cheers
Thanks for watching! :)
2020 squad. Im a new subscriber, so happy to find your content!
Amazing! I love your videos that hold information about alton towers! I live in the UK and have been on the corkscrew! Can you also keep up The Smiler videos? I love them a lot.
Alton Towers has always been on my "bucket list" of amusement parks to visit. I love the rich history you presented about this great amusement center. Yes! Even steel coasters need TLC to remain smooth just as their wooden counter parts. Vekoma became a "force" to be reckoned with (Arrow now defunct) Vekoma found in the Disney parks. Great video as always!
Love your work!!!! 👍👌👌👌
Really interesting to see the history of Alton Towers.
Would love a video or two on some stuff from Chessington World of Adventures (like The Vampire, for example)
Was a 80s kid and my antie worked at Alton towers and lived in a little town called Cheadle a few miles away and we went with free tickets for a out 3 yrs in the late 80s and Alton was so magical to me and will always live in my memories 😁. My antie lost her glasses on the the 1st loop 😂.
Amazing video!
I'm loving the Alton Towers series a hell of a lot
These vids are amazing, i've binge watched so many of them already!
Would you be able to do a history of Watermouth Castle one? That place was so bizarre and I would love to know what their intentions were when they made it!
In 1983 the Spanish City amusement park in Whitley Bay (NE England) near where I live also got a Vekoma double loop corkscrew with Bayencurve. It was dismantled a few years later and went to live in Flamingo Land in North Yorkshire. I did not know it was the same coaster and rode it in both locations. It was again dismantled and apparently still operates at Luna Park in Cap d'Agde in the south of France so if anyone fancies reliving the Alton Towers corkscrew experience then get yourself off to France!