Dragon Falls
Encyclopedia
Dragon Falls is a ride at the theme park Chessington World of Adventures
in Chessington
, London
, England
. It is located in the Mystic East area of the park. It is a water ride and features two drops, one that leads into the mouth of a dragon
and another, taller one between two large 'stone' faces designed to resemble Angkor Wat
. The ride's station is modelled after a pagoda
and is decorated extensively inside. Although regarded as a 'log flume', the boats are not themed as logs (as in Loggers Leap
at nearby Thorpe Park
), but rather as nondescript wooden boats with inline seating. The ride starts off by traveling out of the loading station and down a peaceful stream, passing bridges and points where the water is rough. Then you travel up a lift hill and down the first drop, which is small, yet has quite a splashdown and into a dragon's mouth. The inside is un-themed, and after traveling along it, you come out into the open, round a lake and then climb up to the top of the lift hill, where you can see over the park. You then splashdown but before you get in to the station an elephant squirts you with water, getting you very wet. Then you travel back into the loading station.
The ride is themed extensively through the land, and features a giant fibreglass Buddha, based on the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in
(according to a plaque placed alongside it in the park), amongst other objects. The ride opened in 1987 and has a height requirement of 1.2m to ride (anyone less than 1.3 metres in height must be accompanied by a person aged 16 or over). This was updated early in the 2011 season from the previous 0.9m restriction with Chessington citing this was as part of a regular review process. The ride is currently sponsored by Juicy Drop Pop
with the slogan "Dare to soak with Juicy Drop Pop
.
The ride was manufactured by Mack Rides
. Express Pass tickets may be purchased for this ride.
The ride was named Dragon River upon opening in 1987, and was changed to Dragon Falls for the 1999 season.
Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park and zoo in South West London, England. It lies south of Central London. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed alongside it, opening in 1987...
in Chessington
Chessington
Chessington is a town in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London, England. The Hogsmill river runs through it. Neighbouring settlements include: Tolworth, Ewell, Surbiton, Claygate, Epsom, Oxshott, Leatherhead, Esher, Kingston upon Thames and Worcester Park.-History:Its name...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located in the Mystic East area of the park. It is a water ride and features two drops, one that leads into the mouth of a dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
and another, taller one between two large 'stone' faces designed to resemble Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built for the king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation – first Hindu,...
. The ride's station is modelled after a pagoda
Pagoda
A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in Nepal, India, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other parts of Asia. Some pagodas are used as Taoist houses of worship. Most pagodas were built to have a religious function, most commonly Buddhist,...
and is decorated extensively inside. Although regarded as a 'log flume', the boats are not themed as logs (as in Loggers Leap
Loggers Leap
Loggers Leap is a log flume ride in Thorpe Park, UK. It was the tallest log flume ride in the UK when it opened, and although the park does not advertise the fact, it regained that record in 2005 with the removal of "Nightmare Niagara" from the now-defunct American Adventure theme park near...
at nearby Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park
Thorpe Park is a theme park located in Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK. It was built in 1979 on the site of a gravel pit which was partially flooded, the intention of creating a water based theme for the park. The park's first large roller coaster, Colossus, was added in 2002...
), but rather as nondescript wooden boats with inline seating. The ride starts off by traveling out of the loading station and down a peaceful stream, passing bridges and points where the water is rough. Then you travel up a lift hill and down the first drop, which is small, yet has quite a splashdown and into a dragon's mouth. The inside is un-themed, and after traveling along it, you come out into the open, round a lake and then climb up to the top of the lift hill, where you can see over the park. You then splashdown but before you get in to the station an elephant squirts you with water, getting you very wet. Then you travel back into the loading station.
The ride is themed extensively through the land, and features a giant fibreglass Buddha, based on the Great Buddha of Kōtoku-in
Kotoku-in
is a Buddhist temple of the Jōdo-shū sect in the city of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.The temple is renowned for its , a monumental outdoor bronze statue of Amida Buddha which is one of the most famous icons of Japan.- The Great Buddha :...
(according to a plaque placed alongside it in the park), amongst other objects. The ride opened in 1987 and has a height requirement of 1.2m to ride (anyone less than 1.3 metres in height must be accompanied by a person aged 16 or over). This was updated early in the 2011 season from the previous 0.9m restriction with Chessington citing this was as part of a regular review process. The ride is currently sponsored by Juicy Drop Pop
Juicy Drop Pop
Juicy Drop Pop is a brand of lollipops in a variety of fruit flavors, manufactured by Topps and comes in original and sour varieties.The attraction Dragon Falls at Chessington World of Adventures is currently sponsored by this company with the slogan "Dare to soak with Juicy Drop Pop.- External...
with the slogan "Dare to soak with Juicy Drop Pop
Juicy Drop Pop
Juicy Drop Pop is a brand of lollipops in a variety of fruit flavors, manufactured by Topps and comes in original and sour varieties.The attraction Dragon Falls at Chessington World of Adventures is currently sponsored by this company with the slogan "Dare to soak with Juicy Drop Pop.- External...
.
The ride was manufactured by Mack Rides
MACK Rides
Mack Rides is a German company that designs and constructs roller coasters. The family that owns the company also owns Europa Park.-History:The creation of the Mack company goes back to 1780, by Paul Mack, when he started building carriages. The Mack company started to design roller coasters in 1920....
. Express Pass tickets may be purchased for this ride.
The ride was named Dragon River upon opening in 1987, and was changed to Dragon Falls for the 1999 season.
External links
- Dragon Falls at Theme Park Insider
- Dragon Falls at Theme Park Junkies
- Dragon Falls at ThemeParks-UK