What's new
By:
FORUMS - COASTERFORCE

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Paultons Park | Serpents Curse | Mack Water Coaster | 2027

Took some photos of the site today ☺️

IMG20260526130022.jpg

The station is rising up.
IMG20260526130016.jpg

I dont think i realised how much space they have left to work with at the back, i guess thats where seal falls will go and i think they mentioned a little shop. Still its big enough for something else.
IMG20260526130014.jpg

If edge were to go its a big space, of course once the hotels go in they will need a smaller second gate but they have used there land well with Valgard.
IMG_20260526_181254.jpg
 
Where are they getting the money for all of these investments? Are they bringing money in, or is this just what reinvesting profits actually gets you?
 
Changa said:
Where are they getting the money for all of these investments? Are they bringing money in, or is this just what reinvesting profits actually gets you?
Click to expand...
I get the impression that their investments aren't as expensive as those by Merlin.

Valgard reportedly cost £12 million

Lost Kingdom reportedly cost £9 million.

By comparison, World of Jumanji reportedly cost £17 million, so only £4 million short of both Valgard and Lost Kindom combined (allegedly).

I don't know how they were so cheap, but my guess would be that the ride hardware is cheaper by virtue of being tried and tested models, often clones of existing layouts, and sometimes as bundle deals (Lost Kingdom was 2 Vekoma standard model coasters).

Paultons also typically charge more for a day ticket, so maybe revenue translates to better investments?
 
Last edited:
I’m sure more extravagant choices of ride hardware and use of expensive IPs probably helps, but Merlin also are well known for inflating their advertised budgets by including pretty much every penny spent in what they quote! Paultons, on the other hand, may be more conservative with what they include (for example, they may exclude marketing).
 
^ Yeah I was gonna say, independent parks typically can put way more money back into the park than corporate/chain parks since they don't have large corporate structures that suck up money by default (more money more problems, in terms of cash flow, the money in an independent park doesn't leave the specific park in the same way) nor do they have investors to feed profit to.

As much as Merlin isn't publicly traded anymore they still have giant investment companies like Blackstone (yes, that Blackstone, not to be confused with the other giant BlackRock) who they need to generate profit for and licenses to pay. Merlin has 19 theme parks and 78 miscellaneous attractions like dungeons and sea lifes to manage.
 
If vertical construction on Dragon was anything to go by, this should fly up. Expecting another home run from Paultons. It'll be beautifully presented and have four much needed moments of airtime. Particularly excited for the laterals this thing should generate... lots of curves on this thing.
 
JamesA said:
Does the reported £12 million figure for Valgard include the water coaster? Seems like a bargain if so.
Click to expand...

Unlikely. The cost of the wild swing and eurofighter hardware would be 2/3 of that budget alone. Mack's have famously become more expensive in recent years, so I doubt if you combine the cost of the hardware of all the rides it would fit into that number.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top