Wicker Man opened at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England on 20 March 2018 as the first wooden roller coaster built in the United Kingdom in 22 years. Manufactured by Great Coasters International (GCI) with theming by Skyline Design LLC, the ride cost about £16 million and was built on the former site of the Flume attraction.
The coaster draws on pagan folklore for its theme, and it became known as one of the first wooden roller coasters in the world to combine timber track with real fire effects. Riders pass through the base of a towering wooden effigy three times during the course, encountering flames, smoke-filled tunnels, and video projections.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Alton Towers, Staffordshire, England
- Manufacturer: Great Coasters International (GCI)
- Opened: March 20, 2018
- Height: About 72 feet (22 m)
- Top speed: About 43.6 mph (70.2 km/h)
- Length: About 2,608 feet (795 m)
- Inversions: 0
- Track type: Wooden
The Ride Experience
Wicker Man’s layout is built around its central theming element: a large wooden effigy that riders pass beneath and through three separate times over the course of the ride. Real fire effects, smoke, and scent elements combine with GCI’s smooth wooden-coaster airtime to create a sensory experience that stands apart from typical family wooden coasters.
With a top speed of about 43.6 mph and a track length of roughly 2,608 feet, the ride lasts under two minutes but mixes quick drops and lateral turns typical of GCI’s layouts. Trains run three twelve-car units seating riders two across, giving the ride a steady loading rhythm despite its themed stops.
A Milestone for UK Wooden Coasters
When it opened in 2018, Wicker Man was the first wooden roller coaster built in the UK in 22 years, ending a long drought for the format at British theme parks. Its combination of timber construction and integrated fire effects was billed as a world first for the genre, drawing attention from coaster enthusiasts well beyond Alton Towers’ usual visitor base.
The ride replaced the park’s former Flume water attraction and was designed to fit within Alton Towers’ mix of themed lands, giving the resort a family-friendly wooden coaster alongside more intense steel rides like Nemesis and The Smiler.
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Wicker Man FAQs
Who manufactured Wicker Man?
Wicker Man was built by Great Coasters International (GCI), a manufacturer known for smooth wooden roller coasters, with theming designed by Skyline Design LLC.
Does Wicker Man have any inversions?
No. Wicker Man is a traditional wooden coaster with no inversions, focusing instead on airtime and themed effects.
What makes Wicker Man’s theming unique?
Riders pass through a large wooden effigy structure three times during the ride, encountering real fire effects, smoke, and projections, making it one of the first wooden coasters to combine timber track with fire elements.
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Photo: WL2018 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.