The Walking Dead: The Ride coming to Thorpe Park this spring

The Walking Dead season 8B key art - AMC
The Walking Dead season 8B key art - AMC /
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Imagine a full sensory roller coaster dedicated to The Walking Dead. Come spring it’s going to be a reality at England’s Thorpe Park.

The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead have already gotten the walk-through haunted house treatment courtesy, but now the thrill of the undead is coming to a roller coaster in England.

This spring Thorpe Park’s former roller coaster X: No Way Out roller coaster will reopen as The Walking Dead: The Ride. The new version of the indoor roller coaster will bring the sights, sounds, feelings and even smell of the world of The Walking Dead to life in a sensory-immersive experience.

John Burton, the man behind the ride at Thorpe Park, watched every episode of the show – sometimes more than once – to prepare for this ride. He also watched AMC’s training videos shown to extras who bring Walkers to life on the show to find inspiration.

His goal was to capture the feel of life at the Alexandria Safe Zone, including the Watch Tower, in such a way that riders will feel like they’re in the middle of the action. Even the line for the ride will feature actors dressed as Walkers. “The experience does not stop when you get off the ride. The whole experience from the point when you join the queue is going to be immense.”

He also notes that the darkness of the indoor coaster will add to the overall ambiance of the experience: “We are combining physical and digital effects because it is going to be dark, so we are going to make the most of that. The darkness acted as a canvas for us. We have incorporated the latest in special effects, lighting, smells and even touch elements to create a terrifyingly unique atmosphere.”

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With so much to look forward to with the new ride, we can’t wait to hear what riders think when it opens!