Black Hole (roller coaster): Difference between revisions

Black Hole
Black Hole
Previously known as Black Hole II and New Black Hole
	Tent for Black Hole after the ride was removed
Alton Towers
Location	Alton Towers
Park section	X-Sector
Coordinates	52°59′14″N 1°53′43″W / 52.9873°N 1.8953°W
Status	Removed
Soft opening date	1982; 42 years ago
Opening date	1983; 41 years ago
Closing date	5 March 2005; 19 years ago
Replaced	Dinosaur Land
Replaced by	The Smiler
General statistics
Type	Steel – enclosed
Manufacturer	Anton Schwarzkopf
Designer	Anton Schwarzkopf /; Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH
Model	Jet Star 2
Track layout	custom twister
Lift/launch system	electric spiral lift
Height	13.5 m (44 ft)
Drop	27 ft (8.2 m)
Length	583 m (1,913 ft)
Speed	44 mph (71 km/h)
Inversions	0
Duration	1:50
Max vertical angle	33°
Capacity	900 riders per hour
G-force	2.5
Height restriction	42 in (107 cm)
Trains	2 cars. Riders are arranged 1 across in 3 rows for a total of 6 riders per train.
Built; base area	82.0 ft × 152.6 ft (25.0 m × 46.5 m)
	Black Hole at RCDB

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Revision as of 13:10, 6 January 2022

Black Hole,^[1] briefly known as Black Hole II (1988) and New Black Hole (1989), was an enclosed sit-down steel roller coaster located at the Alton Towers theme park, near Alton in the English shire county of Staffordshire, United Kingdom.^[1] Constructed during 1982, it operated from 1983 until 2005.^[1]^[3] The roller coaster, a dark ride, was contained within a huge blue tent (originally green and yellow) that ensured the ride took place in total darkness.^[1]^[2] The roller coaster itself was a Jet Star 2, designed by Anton Schwarzkopf, and engineered by Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH (Ingenieur Büro Stengel) from Munich, Bavaria, Germany.^[1]^[2] During the time that Black Hole operated, the park also operated a similar outdoor Jet Star 3 coaster, the Beast.

History

Taking the place of the former 'Dinosaur Land' attraction, which had then been moved into storage, the modular steel track for Black Hole was constructed during 1982, within Fantasy World. Built within a base area of 82.0 by 152.6 feet (25.0 by 46.5 metres),^[1] it was opened for the 1983 season, and was themed around space.

In 1985, the bottom of the first drop was modified slightly to make the ride run more smoothly. Lights were also added to the lift, so that riders were able to brace themselves for the first drop. For the 1988 season, Black Hole was dismantled and transported to Europe, where it had an overhaul by BHS (later becoming Maurer Söhne) of Peißenberg in Germany, to accommodate dual-car trains.^[1] The reconstructed roller coaster reopened, and was briefly named 'Black Hole II', then 'New Black Hole' in 1989,^[1] before reverting to its original name.

The opening of Oblivion in 1998 brought the redevelopment of Fantasy World as X-Sector. Black Hole was integrated into the new themed area with another refurbishment. The colour scheme of the original tent was changed from yellow and green to deep blue, with a new entrance in the style of X-Sector. Inside, Black Hole received a redesigned queue layout, and the architecture of the station was restlyled with a Jules Verne theme.

In later years, the Black Hole became costly to maintain, and the park decided to close the attraction in 2005. The roller coaster track was dismantled and sold in 2007. At the time, there were no confirmed plans to redevelop the empty tent, so it remained unused for several years.

During a one-off question-and-answer session in 2010, held to celebrate the opening of TH13TEEN, it was confirmed by John Wardley and then-marketing director Morwenna Angove that preparation for a new roller coaster in 2013 had started, and that the former Black Hole area was a potential site. A planning application proposing a new roller coaster on the Black Hole site was submitted in early 2012, and approved by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council. The large tent which housed the now former Black Hoke was finally dismantled in April 2012, to make way for The Smiler, marking the end of its stay at the park after almost 28 years.

Scare mazes

During the park's annual Halloween Scarefest event in October 2011, the Black Hole building was used to house two temporary scare maze attractions. This was the first time the structure had been put to public use since the attraction's closure in March 2005.

Relocation

After a renovation from Gerstlauer, the former Black Hole ride was transported to Sweden, and reopened as Rocket at Furuvik Zoo^[1] on 21 May 2011.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s "Black Hole - Alton Towers". RCDB.com. Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Black Hole - Alton Towers". www.ThemeParkJunkies.co.uk. Theme Park Junkies. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007.
^ ^a ^b "End of era for Alton Towers ride". News.BBC.co.uk. Staffordshire, England: BBC News - British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 March 2005. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

External links

Media related to Black Hole (Alton Towers) at Wikimedia Commons

Black Hole — at Alton Towers Almanac
Black Hole — at TowersNerd, via Archive.org
Black Hole — at TowersTimes.co.uk, via Archive.org
Rocket — at Furuvik Zoo

[RCDB-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s "Black Hole - Alton Towers". RCDB.com. Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

[TPJ-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Black Hole - Alton Towers". www.ThemeParkJunkies.co.uk. Theme Park Junkies. Archived from the original on 5 September 2007.

[BBC-3] "End of era for Alton Towers ride". News.BBC.co.uk. Staffordshire, England: BBC News - British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 March 2005. Retrieved 6 January 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|Removed steel enclosed roller coaster}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
-{{Use British English|date=January 2015}}
+{{More citations needed|date=January 2022}}
-{{refimprove|date=January 2022}}
 {{Infobox roller coaster
 |name         = Black Hole
-|previousnames= Black Hole II ''and'' New Black Hole
+|previousnames= Black Hole II ''and'' New Black Hole<ref name=RCDB/>
 |image        = File:Black Hole (Alton Towers) after removal.jpg
 |caption      = Tent for Black Hole after the ride was removed
@@ Line 12: / Line 11: @@
 |coordinates  = {{Coord|type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
 |status       = Removed
-|opened       = {{Start date and age|1982}}<ref name=TPJ/>
+|soft_opened  = {{Start date and age|1982|df=y}}<ref name=TPJ/>
-|closed       = {{End date and age|2005}}<ref name=TPJ/>
+|opened       = {{Start date and age|1983|df=y}}<ref name=RCDB/>
+|closed       = {{End date and age|2005|03|05|df=y}}<ref name=RCDB/><ref name=TPJ/><ref name=BBC/>
+|cost         =
+|previousattraction= Dinosaur Land
 |replacement  = [[The Smiler (roller coaster)|The Smiler]]
 |type         = Steel
 |type2        = enclosed
 |manufacturer = Anton Schwarzkopf
-|designer     = Anton Schwarzkopf /<br>[[Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH]]<ref name=TPJ/>
+|designer     = Anton Schwarzkopf<ref name=RCDB/> /<br>[[Ingenieur Büro Stengel GmbH]]<ref name=TPJ/>
-|model        = [[Jet Star 2 (Lagoon)|Jet Star 2]]<ref name=TPJ/>
+|model        = [[Jet Star 2 (Lagoon)|Jet Star 2]]<ref name=RCDB/><ref name=TPJ/>
 |track        = custom twister
-|lift         = [[electric spiral lift]]<ref name=TPJ/>
+|lift         = [[electric spiral lift]]<ref name=RCDB/><ref name=TPJ/>
 |height_m     = 13.5
 |drop_ft      = 27
 |length_m     = 583<ref name=TPJ/>
-|speed_mph    = 32
+|speed_mph    = 44
-|inversions   = 0
+|inversions   = 0<ref name=RCDB/>
-|duration     = 1:50
+|duration     = 1:50<ref name=RCDB/>
 |angle        = 33
-|capacity     = 900
+|capacity     = 900<ref name=RCDB/>
-|cost         =
 |acceleration =
-|gforce       = 2.9
+|gforce       = 2.5
 |restriction_in= 42
 |trains       = <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
-|carspertrain = <!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
+|carspertrain = 2<!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
-|rowspercar   = 2<!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
+|rowspercar   = 3<!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
 |ridersperrow = 1<!--Must contain only numeric characters.-->
+|custom_label_1= Built<br>base area
+|custom_value_1= {{Convert|82.0|x|152.6|ft|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name=RCDB/>
 |rcdb_number  = 799
 }}
-'''Black Hole''', briefly known as '''Black Hole II''' and '''New Black Hole''', was an [[Enclosed roller coaster|enclosed]] [[steel roller coaster]] at the [[Alton Towers]] theme park in [[Staffordshire]], England.  It operated from 1982 until 2005.  The [[roller coaster]], a [[dark ride]], was located within a huge blue tent (originally green and yellow) that ensured the ride took place in total darkness.<ref name=TPJ>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ThemeParkJunkies.co.uk/index.php?act=parkguide&rgp=1&ride=43&area=31&park=4|title=Black Hole - Alton Towers|website=www.ThemeParkJunkies.co.uk|publisher=Theme Park Junkies|archive-url=https://web.Archive.org/web/20070905153855/http://www.ThemeParkJunkies.co.uk/index.php?act=parkguide&rgp=1&ride=43&area=31&park=4|archive-date=5 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The coaster itself was a [[Jet Star 2 (Lagoon)|Jet Star 2]], designed by [[Anton Schwarzkopf]].<ref name=TPJ/>  During the time that the ride operated, the park also operated a similar outdoor [[Jet Star 3]] coaster, the [[Beast (Alton Towers)|Beast]].
+'''Black Hole''',<ref name=RCDB>{{Cite web|url=https://RCDB.com/799.htm|title=Black Hole - Alton Towers|website=RCDB.com|publisher=[[Roller Coaster DataBase]]|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref> briefly known as '''Black Hole II''' (1988) and '''New Black Hole''' (1989), was an [[Enclosed roller coaster|enclosed]] sit-down [[steel roller coaster]] located at the [[Alton Towers]] theme park, near [[Alton, Staffordshire|Alton]] in the English [[Shire#Shire names in England|shire]] county of [[Staffordshire]], United Kingdom.<ref name=RCDB/>  Constructed during 1982, it operated from 1983 until 2005.<ref name=RCDB/><ref name=BBC>{{Cite web|url=http://News.BBC.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4318727.stm|title=End of era for Alton Towers ride|website=News.BBC.co.uk|location=[[Staffordshire]], England|publisher=[[BBC News]] - [[British Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=7 March 2005|access-date=6 January 2022}}</ref>  The [[roller coaster]], a [[dark ride]], was contained within a huge blue tent (originally green and yellow) that ensured the ride took place in total darkness.<ref name=RCDB/><ref name=TPJ>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ThemeParkJunkies.co.uk/index.php?act=parkguide&rgp=1&ride=43&area=31&park=4|title=Black Hole - Alton Towers|website=www.ThemeParkJunkies.co.uk|publisher=Theme Park Junkies|archive-url=https://web.Archive.org/web/20070905153855/http://www.ThemeParkJunkies.co.uk/index.php?act=parkguide&rgp=1&ride=43&area=31&park=4|archive-date=5 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The roller coaster itself was a [[Jet Star 2 (Lagoon)|Jet Star 2]], designed by [[Anton Schwarzkopf]], and engineered by [[Ing.-Büro Stengel GmbH]] (Ingenieur Büro Stengel) from [[Munich]], [[Bavaria]], Germany.<ref name=RCDB/><ref name=TPJ/>  During the time that Black Hole operated, the park also operated a similar outdoor [[Jet Star 3]] coaster, the [[Beast (Alton Towers)|Beast]].
 ==History==
-Black Hole was constructed within Fantasy World for the 1983 season, taking the place of the 'Dinosaur Land' attraction which was then moved into storage.  It was themed around [[Outer space|space]].
+Taking the place of the former 'Dinosaur Land' attraction, which had then been moved into storage, the modular steel track for Black Hole was constructed during 1982, within [[Alton Towers#X-Sector|Fantasy World]].  Built within a base area of {{Convert|82.0|x|152.6|ft|abbr=off|lk=on}},<ref name=RCDB/> it was opened for the 1983 season, and was themed around [[Outer space|space]].
-In 1985, the bottom of the first drop was modified slightly to make the ride run more smoothly.  Lights were also added to the lift so that riders were able to brace themselves for the first drop.  For the 1988 season, the coaster was dismantled and transported to Europe, where it had an overhaul to accommodate dual-car trains.  The reconstructed coaster reopened, and was briefly named 'Black Hole II', then 'New Black Hole' in 1989, before reverting to its original name.
+In 1985, the bottom of the first drop was modified slightly to make the ride run more smoothly.  Lights were also added to the lift, so that riders were able to brace themselves for the first drop.  For the 1988 season, Black Hole was dismantled and transported to Europe, where it had an overhaul by BHS (later becoming [[Maurer Söhne]]) of [[Peißenberg]] in Germany, to accommodate dual-car trains.<ref name=RCDB/>  The reconstructed roller coaster reopened, and was briefly named 'Black Hole II', then 'New Black Hole' in 1989,<ref name=RCDB/> before reverting to its original name.
-The opening of [[Oblivion (roller coaster)|Oblivion]] in 1998 brought the redevelopment of Fantasy World as ''X-Sector''.  Black Hole was integrated into the new themed area with another refurbishment.  The colour scheme of the original tent was changed from yellow and green to deep blue, with a new entrance in the style of X-Sector.  Inside, the ride received a redesigned queue line, and station with [[Jules Verne]]-style architecture.
+The opening of [[Oblivion (roller coaster)|Oblivion]] in 1998 brought the redevelopment of Fantasy World as [[Alton Towers#X-Sector|X-Sector]].  Black Hole was integrated into the new themed area with another refurbishment.  The colour scheme of the original tent was changed from yellow and green to deep blue, with a new entrance in the style of X-Sector.  Inside, Black Hole received a redesigned queue layout, and the architecture of the station was restlyled with a [[Jules Verne]] theme.
-In later years, the Black Hole became costly to maintain, and the park decided to close the attraction in 2005.  The coaster track was dismantled and sold in 2007.  At the time, there were no confirmed plans to redevelop the empty building, so it remained defunct for several years.
+In later years, the Black Hole became costly to maintain, and the park decided to close the attraction in 2005.  The roller coaster track was dismantled and sold in 2007.  At the time, there were no confirmed plans to redevelop the empty tent, so it remained unused for several years.
-During a one-off Q&A session held to celebrate the opening of [[Thirteen (roller coaster)|TH13TEEN]] in 2010, it was confirmed by [[John Wardley]] and then-marketing director Morwenna Angove that preparation for a new rollercoaster in 2013 had started, and that the former Black Hole area was a potential site.  A [[Planning permission in the United Kingdom|planning application]] proposing a new rollercoaster on the Black Hole site was submitted in early 2012, and approved by [[Staffordshire Moorlands]] council.  The large tent was finally dismantled in April 2012 to make way for [[The Smiler (roller coaster)|The Smiler]], marking the end of its stay at the park after almost 28 years.
+During a one-off question-and-answer session in 2010, held to celebrate the opening of [[Thirteen (roller coaster)|TH13TEEN]], it was confirmed by [[John Wardley]] and then-marketing director Morwenna Angove that preparation for a new roller coaster in 2013 had started, and that the former Black Hole area was a potential site.  A [[Planning permission in the United Kingdom|planning application]] proposing a new roller coaster on the Black Hole site was submitted in early 2012, and approved by [[Staffordshire Moorlands|Staffordshire Moorlands District Council]].  The large tent which housed the now former Black Hoke was finally dismantled in April 2012, to make way for [[The Smiler (roller coaster)|The Smiler]], marking the end of its stay at the park after almost 28 years.
 ==Scare mazes==
@@ Line 57: / Line 60: @@
 ==Relocation==
-After a renovation from [[Gerstlauer]], the ride reopened as [https://web.Archive.org/web/20170102082122/http://www.Furuvik.se/Bad--Tivoli/attraktioner/rocket/ Rocket] at [[Furuviksparken|Furuvik Zoo]] in Sweden on 21 May 2011.
+After a renovation from [[Gerstlauer]], the former Black Hole ride was transported to Sweden, and reopened as [https://web.Archive.org/web/20170102082122/http://www.Furuvik.se/Bad--Tivoli/attraktioner/rocket/ Rocket] at [[Furuviksparken|Furuvik Zoo]]<ref name=RCDB/> on 21 May 2011.
 ==References==
@@ Line 65: / Line 68: @@
 {{Portal|Staffordshire|England}}
 {{Commons category-inline|Black Hole (Alton Towers)}}
-*[http://www.TowersAlmanac.com/areas/rides.php?id=23 Black Hole] — at Towers Almanac
+*[http://www.TowersAlmanac.com/areas/rides.php?id=23 Black Hole] — at Alton Towers Almanac
-*[http://www.TowersNerd.com/history/retired/blackhole/ Black Hole] — at Towers Nerd
+*[https://web.Archive.org/web/20060719232542/http://www.TowersNerd.com/history/retired/blackhole/ Black Hole] — at TowersNerd, via Archive.org
-*[https://web.Archive.org/web/20080310232117/http://www.TowersTimes.co.uk/history/oldrides/bh.htm Black Hole] — at Towers Times
+*[https://web.Archive.org/web/20080310232117/http://www.TowersTimes.co.uk/history/oldrides/bh.htm Black Hole] — at TowersTimes.co.uk, via Archive.org
 *[https://web.Archive.org/web/20170102082122/http://www.Furuvik.se/Bad--Tivoli/attraktioner/rocket/ Rocket] — at Furuvik Zoo
 {{Alton Towers}}
 {{British dark rides}}
+{{Roller coaster types}}
 {{Authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Black Hole (Roller Coaster)}}
-[[Category:Roller coasters in the United Kingdom]]
 [[Category:Alton Towers]]
+[[Category:1983 establishments in England]]
+[[Category:2005 disestablishments in England]]
+[[Category:Roller coasters in the United Kingdom]]

v t e Alton Towers Resort
Alton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, ST10 4DB
Rollercoasters	Runaway Mine Train (1992–) Nemesis Reborn (1994–) Oblivion (1998–) Galactica (2002–2015 as Air) (2016–) Spinball Whizzer (2004–) Rita (2005–) TH13TEEN (2010–) The Smiler (2013–) Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure (2015–) Wicker Man (2018–)
Other rides	The Blade as Pirate Ship (1980–) Congo River Rapids (1986–) Hex – The Legend of the Towers (2000–) Cuckoo Cars Driving School (2006–) Battle Galleons (2008–) Marauder's Mayhem (2008–) Nemesis: Sub-Terra (2012–2015, 2023–) Curse at Alton Manor (2023–)
Former rides	Corkscrew (1980–2008) Doom & Sons (1981–1991) Around The World In 80 Days (1981–1993) The Flume (1981–2015) Beastie (1983–2010) Black Hole (1983–2005) Twirling Toadstool (1984–2016) Enterprise (1984–2022) Beast (1988–1997) Thunder Looper (1990–1996) The Haunted House (1992–2002) Dynamo (1993–2005) Toyland Tours (1994–2005) Boneshaker (1995–2003) Nickelodeon: Outta Control (1997–1998) Ripsaw (1997–2015) Submission (2001–2013) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride (2006–2015) Duel - The Haunted House Strikes Back! (2003–2022)
Theme park areas	Adventure Land CBeebies Land Dark Forest Forbidden Valley Gloomy Wood Katanga Canyon Mutiny Bay The Towers & Gardens The World of David Walliams Towers Street X-Sector
See also	History of Alton Towers Alton Towers Waterpark Merlin Entertainments John Wardley The Grand Knockout Tournament Rollercoaster Restaurant
Category Portal: England Commons Wikivoyge Wikidata

v t e Types of roller coaster
Construction material	Steel Wooden Hybrid
Train configuration	Fourth dimension Bobsled Dive Floorless Flying Inverted Mine train Motorbike Pipeline Powered Side friction Spinning Stand-up Steeplechase Suspended Summer toboggan Virginia Reel Water Wing
Track layout	Boomerang Dual-tracked Figure 8 Launched Out and back Shuttle Terrain Twister Wild mouse