Icon is a steel launched roller coaster at Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. Built by Mack Rides and opened on 25 May 2018, the £16.25 million attraction became the first multi-launch roller coaster in the United Kingdom and the first new coaster at the park in 24 years.
Using two linear synchronous motor (LSM) launches, Icon propels riders to 52.8 mph (85 km/h) across 3,750 ft of track while cresting 88.5 ft in the air and pulling forces up to 4.3 g. The ride’s layout winds through and around other park attractions, interacting with them 15 times during its roughly 2-minute-41-second runtime.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool, England
- Manufacturer: Mack Rides
- Opened: 25 May 2018
- Height: 88.5 ft (27 m)
- Top Speed: 52.8 mph (85 km/h)
- Length: 3,750 ft (1,140 m)
- Inversions: 1
- G-Force: 4.3
The Ride Experience
Icon launches from a standstill to 52.8 mph twice using magnetic LSM technology, sending trains through a sequence of elements that includes an In-Line Twist and a Jr. Immelmann. A tunnel section adds a moment of darkness mid-ride, while banked turns reach up to 120 degrees. Three trains operate simultaneously, each carrying up to 16 riders arranged two-across in four cars.
The coaster’s path deliberately threads between neighbouring rides and structures across the resort, creating 15 close-proximity interactions that heighten the sense of speed and immersion. The ride concludes after about two minutes and forty-one seconds, covering every corner of the park’s footprint at ground level and above.
UK First and Later Upgrades
When Icon debuted in May 2018, it carried the distinction of being the first multi-launch roller coaster ever built in the United Kingdom, breaking a 24-year stretch without a new coaster opening at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. The £16.25 million investment signalled a major renewal phase for the historic resort.
In a subsequent upgrade, the rearmost car of one train was converted into a free-spinning unit branded Ensō — named after the Japanese symbol for a circular form — available to riders for an additional fee. The addition made Icon the first coaster in Europe to offer an optional spinning-seat experience on a launched coaster of this type.
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Icon FAQs
Where is Icon located?
Icon is located at Pleasure Beach Resort (commonly known as Blackpool Pleasure Beach) in Blackpool, Lancashire, England.
Who manufactured Icon?
Icon was designed and built by Mack Rides GmbH & Co KG, a German roller coaster manufacturer based in Waldkirch.
What made Icon a landmark when it opened?
Icon was the first multi-launch roller coaster in the United Kingdom when it opened in May 2018, and it ended a 24-year gap since Blackpool Pleasure Beach had last added a new coaster.
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Photo: BlackpoolJ91 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.