Black Hole (roller coaster)

The Black Hole was opened in 1984 as part of the expansion of Alton Towers' amusement area, which was then transitioning from a stately home to a major theme park. It was one of the first indoor roller coasters in the UK, designed to simulate a journey through space. The ride was built by the German manufacturer Anton Schwarzkopf, who was renowned for his portable and custom coasters. The coaster featured a spiral lift hill, a rarity at the time, which took riders up inside a dark tunnel before dropping them into a series of helixes and bunny hops. The ride was enclosed in a large black building, with the interior themed with stars, planets, and other space motifs, illuminated by ultraviolet light to create a cosmic effect. The Black Hole operated for over two decades, becoming a beloved classic among enthusiasts, until it was closed in 2005 to make way for new attractions. It was subsequently dismantled and sold to a theme park in Brazil, where it operated under a different name for a few years before being retired.

Riders boarded a train of six cars, each seating two abreast, and were dispatched into the dark interior. The ride began with a slow ascent on a spiral lift hill, which was unusual for a coaster of that era, as most used a straight chain lift. The darkness and the lack of a visible track added to the disorientation, as riders could not anticipate the drops and turns. After reaching the top, the train plunged into a series of helixes and small airtime hills, all within the enclosed space. The ride was relatively mild by modern standards, but its theming and the sensory experience of being in total darkness made it a memorable attraction. The ride's maximum speed was around 40 mph, and it featured a total track length of approximately 2,600 feet. The indoor setting meant the ride operated regardless of weather, a significant advantage in the UK climate.

The Black Hole's theming was a product of its time, reflecting the space craze of the early 1980s. The exterior of the building was painted black with a large mural of a black hole, stars, and a spaceship. Inside, the queue line was decorated with space-themed posters and models of planets. The ride itself was illuminated by black lights, which made the fluorescent paint on the track and scenery glow. The trains were styled to look like futuristic space pods, with sleek, angular designs. The ride's soundtrack included synthesized space music and sound effects, adding to the atmosphere. The theming was considered innovative for a UK park at the time, as most coasters were outdoor and lacked such elaborate theming.

After the Black Hole closed in 2005, it was sold to the Brazilian park Playcenter, where it operated as 'Space Center' from 2007 until the park closed in 2012. The coaster was then put into storage and has not operated since. The Black Hole is remembered fondly by enthusiasts for its unique indoor experience and its role in the development of Alton Towers as a major theme park. Its closure was part of a broader trend of removing older, less intense rides to make way for newer, more thrilling attractions. The site of the Black Hole at Alton Towers is now occupied by the 'Th13teen' coaster, which also features a dark indoor section, but with a different theme. The Black Hole's legacy lives on in the memories of visitors and in the history of Schwarzkopf coasters, which are highly sought after by collectors.

One lesser-known fact is that the Black Hole was originally intended to be a portable coaster, but Alton Towers commissioned a custom version with a longer track and indoor enclosure. Another is that the ride's spiral lift hill was a signature Schwarzkopf design, used on only a few other coasters worldwide, such as the 'Gebirgsbahn' at Phantasialand. The Black Hole also had a peculiar quirk: the trains were equipped with lap bars that were manually checked by ride operators, as the ride did not have automatic restraint systems. Additionally, the ride's building was repurposed for a short time after closure to host a walkthrough attraction called 'The Haunted House' before being demolished. The coaster's sale to Brazil was facilitated by a British dealer, and it was shipped in pieces, but the reassembly was problematic due to the lack of original blueprints. Finally, the Black Hole was one of the first coasters to use a 'block brake' system, which allowed multiple trains to run simultaneously, increasing capacity.

Spiral lift hill

A lift hill that ascends in a spiral or helix shape, rather than a straight incline, often used to save space or add theming.

Block brake

A section of track with brakes that can stop a train to prevent collisions, allowing multiple trains to operate on the same track.

Airtime

The sensation of weightlessness experienced on a roller coaster during a drop or hill, caused by negative G-forces.