PARANORMAL ACTIVITY PROMPTS THORPE PARK MANAGEMENT TO CALL IN FORENSIC EXPERTS AT NEW RIDE STORM SURGE
Known for its heart racing, thrill chasing rides, THORPE PARK is well versed at dealing with the screams of terror and torment from its guests. But when employees at the nation’s Thrill Capital started to feel the fear around the development of new ride Storm Surge, management decided to take action with some dramatic conclusions.
During its planning stages, the location of the new water ride due to open in March 2011, was set to be parallel to an area known as Monk’s Walk, an old footpath that has linked the ruins of Chertsey Abbey to Thorpe Church since AD666. Following an increase of employee reported ghostly sightings around the proposed site, including that of a headless monk, senior Park management decided to appease worries by consulting a registered paranormal detection agency with some worrying results.
Mike Vallis, Divisional Director of THORPE PARK comments: “It became apparent that something strange was going on when teams started clearing Storm Surge’s initial site. Staff reports of eerie goings on in the Park shot up and the only physical change in the Park, at that time, was the beginning of ground preparation work for the new ride. As employees were getting freaked out, we decided to call on an expert to see whether there was anything to report but had no idea of the dramatic effects.”
Following a management review of the report produced by South West London Paranormal, and consultation with them in November 2010, it was recommended a deeper investigation be carried out.
Senior Paranormal expert of South West London Paranormal, Jim Arnold comments: “We carry out these kinds of investigations quite regularly, with medium to weak results being reported on a weekly basis. THORPE PARK however was more striking as results were picked up immediately, with orbs, ghostly images in photography and Ouija reaction results being strongest around the site where they were proposing to build Storm Surge. The results were so strong, we felt the only explanation could be that an ancient burial ground or settlement was being disturbed, prompting the extra paranormal activity.”
Being one of the country’s tallest water rides, towering at 64 feet tall, Storm Surge’s foundations would have penetrated over fifteen metres deep disturbing anything in their path – something management were keen to avoid as stone coffins have previously been excavated from areas nearby. Fearing groundwork teams for the new ride may end up disturbing an ancient settlement or burial ground, and keen to hit the Storm Surge opening date of 17th March 2011, management took the unprecedented decision to immediately relocate the ride to another area of the Park and call in a forensic team to investigate.
Forensic Geophysicist and research fellow Peter Masters of Cranfield University has since been called in to analyse the site, using deep ground radar, to decide whether the paranormal claims could be with merit.
Peter Masters comments: “From the preliminary investigations we have picked up signatures similar to that of a burial ground – possibly ancient. Although this could simply be an old building, with THORPE PARK’s history, the investigation is definitely worth continuing.”
The forensic investigation will continue until March 2011, by which point Storm Surge, in its new location, will be open to the public.
As a matter of precaution, THORPE PARK management has also enlisted the help of Reverend Tim Hillier (Rural Dean of Runnymede) and Fr. Damian Miles (Vicar of Thorpe) to bless the areas involved. This includes Storm Surge to ensure customers aren’t scared away by haunting tales of terror or idle paranormal gossip.
Mike Vallis, Divisional Director of THORPE PARK comments: “It has definitely been a rollercoaster few months. It was a huge decision for us to relocate Storm Surge, however the potential of us disturbing anything, be it paranormal or otherwise, is definitely not something we wanted to do. That and the fact that we want to ensure our employees carry 100% peace of mind whilst working.”
