Thrill seekers have been getting their first fix of ‘blasting off to the moon’ onboard the transformed ‘Launch Pad’ at Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool.
Meanwhile, Launch Pad has been re-imagined for a fresh dose of adrenaline and thrills with a complete transformation.
Visitors from far and wide came on its opening weekend to take their seat on the launch ride which shoots riders 20 storeys skywards and reaches speeds of up to 80mph.
It provides a feeling of weightlessness at the top, a thrusting G-force, and a stomach-dropping descent.
Sustainability and Reimagining key to Pleasure Beach
Pleasure Beach CEO, Amanda Thompson OBE, cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony today, saying: “Re-imaginings like this one are fantastic for our industry.
“Not only do they create a new and incredibly powerful ride experience, they’re sustainable, and they allow us to re-invent beloved attractions for generations to come.
“Investing in new rides is important – and we’re so excited for our new Gyro Swing arriving next year – but when you do something like this, a ride becomes new again.
“Launch Pad is an exciting, innovative take on a classic, combining nostalgia with bold new elements that we know fans will love. We’re so excited to finally welcome everyone onboard and see their reactions.”
“Great Moment of Airtime”
Launch Pad at Pleasure Beach has been acknowledged by fans for its fresh experience. Scott Bickerton, who hosts the rollercoaster enthusiasts’ channel, Your Experience Guide, said: “This is a great re-imagining. The ride has got back its ‘oomph’, you can really feel the g-force and there’s a great moment of airtime at the top. It’s amazing to have this ride back.”
And James Atherton and his son, Henry, visited the park and took to the skies: “Launch Pad is back to its best thanks to its great airtime and faster launch. We love it!”
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Launch Pad’s re-imagining is the latest stage of what Pleasure Beach Resort is calling its “period of evolution”.
The project includes the brand new £8.72m Gyro Swing, opening in 2026, as well as an new attraction in the location of the Grand Prix and a reimagining of the iconic River Caves.
Pleasure Beach Resort has confirmed that its re-imaginings are a way of preserving rides while ensuring they remain thrilling, competitive, and in line with evolving trends, and are a priority at Pleasure Beach.
“Europe’s Best Water Ride” Valhalla received a £4m re-imagining in 2023.
New scenes are in place on the Wallace & Gromit’s Thrill-O-Matic ride, to incorporate the new BAFTA-winning film, Vengeance Most Fowl.
Transformation of Launch Pad
Launch Pad’s re-imagining consists of a brand new 210-foot cylinder, revolutionising the ride experience. The cylinder has a pressure of 105 PSI, meaning that each square inch inside the cylinder is experiencing a force of 105 pounds.
At the time of its installation, Karl Murphy, director of engineering explained: “The higher the pressure, the greater the build-up of kinetic energy.
“By increasing the PSI we’ve increased the force, and therefore the acceleration of speed is greater, meaning riders will feel a huge difference and shoot to the sky with more power than ever before.”
The ride also received a complete aesthetic makeover, changing colour from white to vibrant blue and red, as well as receiving new name, branding, soundtrack, launch sequence, seats, and a space exploration theme.
Meanwhile, the majority of the work has been carried out by Pleasure Beach Resort’s in-house team made up of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, painters and artists.
An engineer from S&S, the ride’s manufacturer, also flew over from the United States of America to help oversee the cylinder’s installation.
History of Launch Pad
The ride now known as Launch Pad first opened in 1997 under the name ‘PlayStation: The Ride,’ due to its sponsorship with Sony. It was the first tower ride in the UK and Boyzone came to its unveiling.
Meanwhile, the band, fronted by Ronan Keating, were the first riders alongside 94-year-old Doris Thompson, the late grandmother of current CEO, Amanda Thompson.
The ride received a re-name of ‘Ice Blast’ after a sponsorship change to Tango in 2000, operating under that name until closing for its re-imagining at the end of 2023.
Images: Pleasure Beach
