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Blackpool Pleasure Beach changed enormously in 1994 with the launch of the Pepsi Max Big One the tallest roller coaster ever built, at the time. Three years later, Playstation (later Ice Blast) rose over 200ft at the North end of the park, next to some land that had remained largely vacant since the loss of the Fun House in 1991.
On this site, Geoffrey Thompson was to construct the world’s biggest dark ride, taking some inspiration from Maelstom at Disney World’s EPCOT Centre.
During construction, the new attraction was dubbed ‘Project 2000’, its enormous building began to rise. Partially hidden behind construction walls, guests were able to peer into the huge construction site care of the park’s Monorail, Cableway and of course, the new Playstation ride.
As with any project, the Pleasure Beach hype machine would go into overdrive, however, the sheer scale of the undertaking and the mystery surrounding the construction got people talking. Here we share some photos of the ride we now know as Valhalla, beginning to take shape.
