Today is the day that the brand new £8.72M ride AVIKTAS has landed at Pleasure Beach Resort as construction is underway on this exciting new 2026 addition for the park.
The UK’s tallest gyroswing has officially arrived from Intamin as this 138 feet tall monster will soon be put together on site ready to open next year.
Fans of Pleasure Beach have been eagerly awaiting the new ride – which will be the tallest of its kind in the UK – since it was announced by bosses earlier this year.
The ride’s sheer height (almost double the size of Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom ride, which takes a similar format on a smaller scale) will drastically change the way Blackpool’s famous coastline will look.
An opening date is yet to be revealed, but the ride will make its debut in the 2026 season.
Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said:
“This record-breaking attraction will transform both our skyline and the thrill-factor for 2026. Seeing its arrival has been a real moment of pride for everyone here at Pleasure Beach; we see the arrival of Aviktas as a statement of our commitment to creating unforgettable experiences, and keeping Blackpool at the heart of UK tourism.”
Last month, Pleasure Beach hit another milestone in the construction of Aviktas as piling work completed.
Piling is the process of driving structural piles into the ground to create a strong foundation to build on, and it’s a major portion of the groundwork for the new ride.
Before that, more than 200 letters (some which came from as far as Ireland, Scotland and even Germany) were buried underneath the spot where Aviktas will stand. One of our very own letters is buried in that capsule. A little piece of Lift Hills and Thrills buried underneath the ride.
Pleasure Beach asked fans to send in their messages, which were added to a time capsule alongside memorabilia including ride parts, a document detailing what the world is like in 2025, a USB containing photos of staff, and blueprints for Aviktas.
The recent Journey to Hell event also had the River Caves shed some light (quite literally in UV) on some Easter Eggs for the upcoming ride.
I can’t wait for this to open next year, Pleasure Beach have had such a good season in my eyes and they’re heading in such a fun and exciting direction!
Long may it continue.
