Throughout the 1997 season, the entire Fantasy World area was closed off to the public – except Black Hole – in order for construction to begin on a new ride revealed to the public only under the codename "SW4", which stood for "Secret Weapon 4".[1] Signage posted on a fence surrounding the area stated, "world first ride opens [in] March 1998". Details about the attraction, including its name Oblivion, were not revealed until March 1998. It was marketed as "the world's first vertical drop ride", featuring a drop angle of 87.5 degrees.[2][3] Oblivion was given a secret military theme, which was previously used for the park's earlier SW1 and SW2 coaster projects.[1]
Oblivion's opening was accompanied by a large promotional campaign, including appearances on Blue Peter, news channels and Corn Flakes cereal box packets.[1][7] Prior to its opening, memorabilia including its own brand of deodorant was available to purchase.[1]
The surrounding Fantasy World area was also redesigned as "X Sector".[1] The only retained attraction in the former area was the Black Hole roller coaster, which was externally redesigned to suit the new theme.[8] Alton Towers moved and rethemed two existing rides from other areas of the park to open with X-Sector, Energizer and Enterprise.[9][10]
For a brief period in April 2011, the ride was sponsored by Fanta. However, much of the branding was removed after only a few months "following numerous complaints about the obtrusive nature of the brand".[11]
On 8 May 2012, a reportedly suicidal 20-year-old man climbed over tall safety fencing and managed to access the underground ride area.[12] He reportedly entered via the tunnel exit portal and walked underground, emerging on a ledge around the entrance portal.[12] Neither he nor any guests on the ride were harmed.[13] He was arrested for a public order offence and the ride returned to normal operation the following day.[12]
Ride experience
A picture of Oblivion's drop taken from the guest observation area.
The ride's queue and station feature screens displaying pre-ride videos. These include the Lord of Darkness character, played by actor Renny Krupinski, presenting the four stages of physical effects, psychological effects, doubts, and chaos which he suggests passengers experience before riding Oblivion.[14][6][15]
Oblivion features seven single-car trains which each accommodate sixteen passengers in two rows of eight,[5] allowing for a theoretical capacity of 1,820 riders per hour.[6]
After dispatching from the station, the train ascends a 18-metre (60ft)chain lift hill at a 45-degree angle, then levels out and turns towards the drop. The car reaches the drop and pauses facing over the edge for a moment. The car is then released, dropping 55 metres (180ft) drop at an 87.5 degree angle into an underground tunnel, where the ride reaches a top speed of 109 kilometres per hour (68mph) and riders experience 4.5 g's.[5][6] Upon exiting the tunnel, a high-banked turn takes riders around into the brake run.[10][16] There are two on-ride photos; one at the start of the drop and the other at the end of the high-banked turn.[7]
Legacy
Oblivion is classified as the first Dive Coaster, a model from Bolliger & Mabillard with a vertical angle of 87.5 degrees.[5] The second Dive Coaster, Diving Machine G5, opened at Janfusun Fancyworld in 2000 with an 87.5 degree angle, a 179ft drop, and a g-force of 5.0; it also featured a mirror of the layout of Oblivion.[17] Five years later, SheiKra opened at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay as the first Dive Coaster with a 90 degree vertical drop and a splashdown element.[18][19] In 2015, a ride named Oblivion: The Black Hole opened at Gardaland, becoming the first vertical drop roller coaster in Italy.[20]
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Fastrack available
Single rider line available
