Ripsaw (Alton Towers)

Ripsaw was a Top Spin ride at Alton Towers in Staffordshire, England. It opened in 1997 and closed at the end of 2015.^[1][2]

Ripsaw
Alton Towers
Area	Forbidden Valley
Coordinates	52°59′26″N 1°53′33″W
Status	Removed
Opening date	15 March 1997
Closing date	8 November 2015
Replaced by	Forbidden Sweep (2016 only) Funk'N'Fly (2021 – 2023) Toxicator (2025 — present)
Ride statistics
Attraction type	Top Spin
Manufacturer	Huss Rides
Model	Top Spin
Height restriction	55 in (140 cm)
Restraint style	Over the shoulders

History

The ride opened on 15 March, 1997 alongside The Blade (originally the pirate ship), which replaced Thunder Looper - a Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop. The theming installed on and around the ride resembled that of heavy duty machinery, with the main centerpiece of a ride being a large twist drill bit located above the riders.^[1]

Ripsaw was permanently closed in the 2015 season. Where it was temporarily replaced by Forbidden Sweep, a small carnival game, for the 2016 season and then in 2020 replaced by Funk ‘n’ Fly.^[3] where the ride was on loan from the showman David Irvin before being returned to the fair circuit and another ride of the same model rented and operated under the same name Funk ‘n’ Fly closed at the end of the 2023 season and returned to the fair circuit

In February 2024, Alton Towers submitted a planning application for a new 60 ft (18 m) tall flat ride on the site formerly occupied by Ripsaw.^[4] This prompted speculation from enthusiasts about this new ride being a revival of Ripsaw, later revealed to be Toxicator.^[5] Planning permission was approved in April 2024,^[6] and construction began in May 2024.^[7] The ride officially opened on 15 March 2025.

Ride experience

Riders sat in a 20-seat, two-tier gondola attached to a pair of counterweighted rotating arms. The gondola was able to freely pivot or be held by pneumatic brakes at controlled times during the ride cycle. Riders were also suspended above rising jets of water, similar to Rameses Revenge at Chessington World of Adventures Resort. The ride was located in the Forbidden Valley area of the park opposite Nemesis. ^[8]