Rita at Alton Towers experienced significant closures during the 2025 season due to essential maintenance, specifically regarding issues with its launch mechanism and potential difficulties in sourcing parts. The 20-year-old ride was closed for most of the season, notably for over seven weeks starting in June 2025, before briefly reopening in August.
Absolute scenes at Alton Towers today, after spending a large majority of the 2025 season closed, Rita is open! However the Dark Forest is still not running fully because Thirteen is now not operating.
Why are Alton Towers closed on 7th September 2025?
Alton Towers is closed on Sunday, September 7, 2025, because the entire theme park has been booked out for a large private corporate event, likely a buyout for a major telecommunications company to host an employee event, which is an unusual occurrence during the main season but does happen.
Now reborn, Rita powers through the Dark Forest, helping thrill seekers to escape. If you're brave enough to venture into the sinister woods, be sure to plan your escape from the dark powers that lurk deep in the unknown. Rita is your lifeboat, your only chance to escape the sinister forces of the Dark Forest.
Joanna Collins Stealth is the fastest accelerating coaster in the world right now 😂 Not the highest top speed obviously, but for power of acceleration it's the #1! Stealth! Stealth all the way. I've only been on Rita, and I'll admit I really like it.
Alton Towers' big new ride for 2025 is Toxicator, a record-breaking, elevated topspin thrill ride in the Forbidden Valley, themed around extracting toxins from the Nemesis creature, offering intense spins and flips while suspended above a "toxic pool," and it opened in March 2025. It's the world's first elevated topspin and provides a unique experience for both riders and spectators below.
Rides and attractions at Alton Towers Resort are subject to availability and may close for technical or operational reasons, capacity, inclement weather, special events or to ensure the safety and security of guests or if Merlin reasonably considers the circumstances so require.
Time has been called on Alton Towers' oldest current ride, now known as The Blade, which is closing for good after 44 years. Park bosses said the ride's closure comes at the end of an "unforgettable 2024 season", which also included the return of Nemesis, with its Reborn tag added after an extensive refurbishment.
What happened to the 14-year-old boy that fell off the ride?
The "14-year-old boy who fell from a ride" refers to Tyre Sampson, who died in March 2022 after falling from the Orlando FreeFall ride at ICON Park; recent updates include a $310 million jury award in December 2024 to his parents against the ride's Austrian manufacturer, Funtime, finding negligence, and Florida's Tyre Sampson Act was passed in 2023, mandating seatbelts on tall rides following the tragedy.
After a 2 month closure, Rita finally reopened today at Alton Towers 🏁 This Intamin Accelerator opened 20 years ago back in 2005 as Rita - Queen of Speed!
Finally, after 2 months of downtime, Rita has reopened at Alton Towers today. Rita has spent the majority of the 2025 season closed with various different issues but its back open today. Last operated on the 3rd June, will Rita continue to operate for the rest of the season or will she close again.
Today Alton Towers Resort has today announced that 2025 will see the closure of TWO rides and the confirmed closure of one attraction too. Firstly The Blade - the pirate ship ride that sat in Forbidden Valley (in the space Thunder Looper once stood) since 1997 is leaving the resort.
Alton Towers' big new ride for 2026 is the world's first Bluey-themed junior roller coaster, opening in Spring 2026 in CBeebies Land, offering fun for the whole family, with related meet-and-greets and hotel experiences also available. While the main focus is on Bluey, there are also mentions of other potential developments and continued excitement for existing rides like Oblivion in 2026, as the park invests in new attractions for families and thrill-seekers alike.
There's always something new to enjoy at Alton Towers Resort and 2025 is no exception. This year sees the arrival of Toxicator as the Nemesis story continues in Forbidden Valley, following the opening of Nemesis Reborn in 2024!
Lightning Rod will close for the season on October 30 and reopen in spring 2024. Dollywood will replace its existing launch system with a high-speed chain lift. Once the ride crests the lift hill, the ride experience (including a top speed of 73 mph!) will remain the same.
Rita is the second fastest ride at Alton Towers, the first being Oblivion. Rita is the only one of the 'Big Six' rollercoasters to not have the codename of 'Secret Weapon'.
As the tallest and fastest looping roller coaster in the world, Full Throttle sends you looping 160 feet in the sky. And, it's just not enough to do a loop of this magnitude once, so you're taking it on twice. From a complete stop you'll crank up to 70-mph like it's nothing.
