Dragon Falls |
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General Statistics |
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Type |
Log flume |
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Manufacturer |
Mack Rides |
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Designer |
John Wardley |
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Length |
21 m (69 ft) |
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Speed |
26 mph (42 km/h) |
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Capacity |
1,400 riders per hour |
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Boats |
32 boats. Riders are arranged 5 across in a single row for a total of 5 riders per boat. |
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Height restriction |
120 cm (3 ft 11 in) |
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Fastrack available |
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] and is currently sponsored by Juicy Drop Pop with the slogan "Dare to drop with Juicy Drop Pop."[7]
Description
Path
The top of the main falls, as the boat travels between the tops of the two stone heads
Dragon Falls is a log flume water ride, and features two drops. The first drop is smaller than the second. Although regarded as a log flume, the boats are not themed as logs (as in Loggers Leap at nearby Thorpe Park), but rather as wooden boats that resemble canoes with inline seating.
The ride's station is modelled after a pagoda and is decorated extensively inside.
The ride begins its journey by passing out of the station, and along a picturesque stream lined with traditional Japanese plants and trees. Bridges are placed above the ride at certain points, allowing people to watch the riders go by. The boats go up the first lift hill, and then race down into an Oriental Dragon sculpture, and after a few minutes travelling along another stream, The path of the ride then takes the boats up a second, taller drop between two large stone faces (which are actually built out of a combination of wood, metal and concrete) designed to resemble Angkor Wat.
As riders return to the station, they encounter an elephant statue which on hotter days, will douse those on board with water, and is voiced by park workers. Additionally, other park guests can pay £1 per 10 shots to soak riders with water guns shortly after the on-ride photo.
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 themeing items.
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 |
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References
External links
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| Roller Coasters | | |
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| Other rides | |
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| Past rides | |
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| Theme Park Areas |
- Market Square
- Mexicana
- Pirates' Cove
- Mystic East
- Transylvania
- Forbidden Kingdom
- Land of the Dragons
- Wild Asia
- Africa
- ZUFARI
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| See Also | |
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| Designed rides | |
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| Related | |
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- Category:Rides designed by John Wardley
- Commons
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