Loggers Leap

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, and although the park does not advertise the fact, it regained that record in 2005 with the removal of "Nightmare Niagara" from the now-defunct American Adventure theme park near Derby. The ride is currently closed for 2016 and 2017 for refurbishment and will reopen in 2018.

History

Logger's Leap, opened in 1989, was manufactured by Mack and is located in the Old Town area of the park. The ride is themed around logging in the Canadian countryside and, as with others in the Old Town area, had a soundtrack of country and western music including 5,6,7,8 by Steps, Cotton-Eyed Joe by Rednex and 9 to 5 by Dolly Parton which plays outside the ride, in the outside queueing area and in the ride station itself. However, as of late 2011, the soundtrack has been changed to more current songs, featuring Lady Gaga amongst others.

Logger's Leap visitors 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 have recently confirmed via social media that Loggers Leap will cease operation for the 2016 season, due to essential maintenance.

Thorpe Park confirmed via Twitter that Loggers Leap will be closed again during the 2017 season for redevelopment. The ride is now expected to reopen in 2018.

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, past the queuing area and alongside SAW – The Ride, to a tunnel. The boat then rises up a hill in complete darkness before dropping down the smaller of the ride's two hills (beginning 2013, the lift and drop are no longer in the dark, with the tunnel being removed) and eventually exits at the back of the park where it makes its way to the bottom of the second hill and begins to climb. This hill, the biggest of the ride, is split into two drops with a short flat section in the middle and houses the camera used to take pictures of the riders. The boat then makes its way back to the station past two coin-operated water guns. Once in the station guests are helped out of their boat by an attendant, collect any items left behind and leave through the photo shop. For the 2013 season the tunnel covering the first lift hill and drop has now been removed due to health and safety reasons. The tunnel collapsed during the closed season.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Loggers Leap.

• Loggers Leap at Total Thorpe Park
• Loggers Leap at Thorpe Park Insider
• Loggers Leap at Theme Park Junkies
• Loggers Leap at ThemeParks-UK