| Dragon Falls |
|---|
 |
|
|
| General Statistics |
|---|
| Type |
Log flume |
|---|
| Manufacturer |
Mack Rides |
|---|
| Designer |
John Wardley |
|---|
| Length |
21 m (69 ft) |
|---|
| Speed |
26 mph (42 km/h) |
|---|
| Capacity |
2000 riders per hour |
|---|
| Duration |
240cm |
|---|
| Height restriction |
120 cm (3 ft 11 in) |
|---|
Dragon Falls is a log flume ride at the theme park Chessington World of Adventures Resort[1] in Chessington, London, England. Designed by John Wardley and opened in 1987, it is located in the Mystic East area of the park. The ride was refurbished for the 2013 season and was to have new scenery installed for 2014, however this was later postponed.[2]
History
The ride was named Dragon River[3] upon opening in 1987, and was changed to Dragon Falls for the 1999 season.[4][5] The ride was manufactured by Mack Rides.[6] The ride is currently sponsored by Juicy Drop Pop with the slogan "Dare to soak with Juicy Drop Pop."[7]
Description
Path
The top of the main falls
It is a water ride and features two drops, one that leads into the mouth of a dragon and another, taller one between two large 'stone' faces designed to resemble Angkor Wat. The ride's station is modelled after a pagoda and is decorated extensively inside. Although regarded as a 'log flume', the boats are not themed as logs (as in Loggers Leap at nearby Thorpe Park), but rather as nondescript wooden boats with inline seating. The ride starts off by traveling out of the loading station and down a peaceful stream, passing bridges and points where the water is rough. Then you travel up a lift hill and down the first drop, which is small, yet has quite a splashdown and into a dragon's mouth. The inside is un-themed, and after traveling along it, you come out into the open, round a lake and then climb up to the top of the lift hill, where you can see over the park. You then splashdown but before you get in to the station an elephant squirts you with water, getting you very wet. Then you travel back into the loading station.
Themes
The ride is themed extensively through the land, and features a giant fibreglass Buddha, based on the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in (according to a plaque placed alongside it in the park), amongst other objects.
In 2013 most of the theming for the ride has been removed due to the £5m upgrade Chessington is receiving, it will receive new theming in 2014. Chessington have created a competition which involves you drawing your vision of the ride in 2014 and you could see your vision come to life.
Height requirements
The ride opened in 1987 and has a height requirement of 1.2m to ride (anyone less than 1.3 metres in height must be accompanied by a person aged 16 or over). This was updated early in the 2011 season from the previous 0.9m restriction with Chessington citing this was as part of a regular review process.
Gallery
| Shot of the ride from above |
|
See also
References
External links
|
|---|
| | Rides | | |
|---|
| | Attractions | |
|---|
| | Themed areas |
- Market Square
- Mexicana
- Pirates' Cove
- Mystic East
- Transylvania
- Forbidden Kingdom
- Land of the Dragons
- Wild Asia (was Beanoland 2000-2010)
- Africa
- ZUFARI
|
|---|
| | Related | |
|---|
| |
|
|
|---|
| | Designed rides | |
|---|
| | Related | |
|---|
|
-
 Category:Rides designed by John Wardley
-
 Commons
|
|
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
