Ride openings are always special and the Aviktas launch today was no different. It has been eight long years since Icon debuted and it is fair to say that fans were ready for a new thrilling attraction,
With ten roller coasters, the park chose to introduce a different type of thrill ride. They settled on an Intamin Gyro Swing, a monstrous swinging pendulum with a spinning gondola, to be built on the former site of the Bowl-a-Drome arcade.
The first such ride debuted back in 2001 at Lotte World, South Korea. Since then, a number have been built, with Maelstrom at Drayton Manor the only example in the UK.
Although similar to the Staffordshire ride, Aviktas dwarfs its predecessor, reaching heights of 138 feet at an angle of 120 degrees, Capacity is also assured with a 40-seat gondola.
The ride’s location is bold, sitting parallel to the ‘River Caves ramp’, next to the FY4 Food Court and Fountains. Although the Big One has towered above this site since 1994, Aviktas actually surpasses the track height of the roller coaster in this area.
A long and detailed marketing campaign has accompanied the launch of the ride, with videos, preview events and a Fan Club evening providing insight into the ride and the lore around it.
Opening in a blaze of publicity on 21 May 2026, the ride has attained universal acclaim, a hugely thrilling and iconic ride that feels fresh and unique, whilst entirely at home at the Pleasure Beach.
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort said of the launch: “Pleasure Beach has always had a reputation for going big and pushing boundaries – Aviktas is no exception. Its sheer size and presence speaks for itself, there is simply nothing like it in the UK. We wanted to build something that sets us apart from anywhere else and gives our guests a genuine must-visit reason to come to the park. This project is another reminder of our commitment to making Pleasure Beach one of the world’s greatest theme parks.”
And so, as this epic project comes to an end. The conclusion is pretty simple, it is, hands down (or hands up!), the finest flat ride in the land.
