Thousands of thrillseekers flocked to Alton Towers for one last chance to brave the Nemesis rollercoaster, which closed on Sunday. Fans gathered at the resort to experience the twists and turns of the famous ride for the final time, until it reopens again in 2024 after a transformation.
Following a fireworks display which marked the last day of the season, spotlights searched the skies of the front lawn to create the illusion of a helicopter landing. A Phalanx spokesperson, appearing on a giant screen, announced that its “most experienced team” was in charge of the operation and urged park-goers to say their final goodbyes to the famous ride.
The Phalanx is the 'secret organisation' tasked with keeping Nemesis pinned beneath its steel structure under control. Mysterious figures in hazmat suits were seen marching in formation towards Nemesis, with some collecting samples and covering parts of the site in biohazard tape, and white chemical investigation tents were hastily erected around the ride’s entrance. The dramatic performance spanned across the Forbidden Valley where Nemesis is situated.
Once the queue had emptied, the last of group riders - known to the Phalanx as the ‘final test specimens’ - took their seats on the ride, to claim their money-can’t-buy experience which they won through a competition, which received more than 15,000 entries from fans wanting to be part of the action.
Dressed in boiler suits, they were escorted by the hazmat-clad team as they walked through the site and also received a guard of honour as they took their seats, along with Nemesis’s creator John Wardley.
One of the last riders, Ben Clarke said: “What an amazing experience. Nemesis is an incredible rollercoaster and I’m so happy I got to ride it one final time before it's given a revamp.”
Superfan Ben rides Nemesis on average 700 times a year. He proposed to his fiancee on the ride in March 2022. They’ve even got matching Nemesis tattoos.
He added: “It truly means the world to be part of history on our favourite coaster. The theming, the near misses and intensity all add up to it being the world’s greatest coaster. I will miss Nemesis more than anything.
“Especially my favourite seat - row 8 back right - that seat really is something else. I honestly don’t know what we’re going to do next year without it.
“Few rides provide so many thrills. I can’t wait for it to return.”
Nemesis devotees have keenly followed developments since news of the closure last month. Details of its transformation remain under wraps.
Kate McBirnie, Head of Guest Excellence at the Alton Towers Resort, said: “It was wonderful so many people came for Nemesis’s big send off.
“The legendary rollercoaster has been thrilling fans and visitors since 1994 so it’s understandable so many wanted to take one final ride before it undergoes its exciting revamp.
“We can’t reveal too much at the moment but more details will be revealed ahead of its spectacular return in 2024."
Nemesis cost £10m and was crowned Europe’s first inverted rollercoaster when it opened in 1994. Riders experience 3.5 G-force as they race past the rocks and rivers of the theme park’s Forbidden Valley at speeds of up to 50mph.
It carries dangling thrillseekers along numerous twists and turns and four inversions and has attracted people from across the globe to the Staffordshire theme park.
