Excitement has reached new heights at Pleasure Beach Resort this week as the park’s much-anticipated new ride, Aviktas, officially arrived on site. The £8.72 million attraction has been eagerly awaited by fans since it was announced earlier this year, and today marks the start of its dramatic construction phase.

Standing at 138 feet tall, Aviktas will be the tallest ride of its kind in the UK, a huge spinning pendulum that will take 40 riders soaring 120 degrees into the sky, delivering jaw-dropping views across the Blackpool coastline.

The structure’s towering presence will not only redefine the Pleasure Beach skyline but will also become one of the most striking new landmarks along the seafront, nearly double the size of Drayton Manor’s Maelstrom, which features a similar but smaller ride experience.

While an opening date hasn’t yet been confirmed, Aviktas is scheduled to make its official debut during the 2026 season, marking a new era for the park.

Pleasure Beach Resort CEO Amanda Thompson OBE 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.”

Building the Future – One Pile at a Time

The arrival of Aviktas follows another major milestone for the project: the completion of piling work, an essential process that strengthens the ground to support the ride’s massive structure.

But the story of Aviktas isn’t just one of engineering, it’s also packed with emotion and community spirit. Earlier this year, the park invited fans to send in letters and messages to be buried beneath the ride site in a time capsule. Over 200 letters were received, coming from as far as Ireland, Scotland, and Germany.

The capsule also includes a collection of memorabilia, original ride parts, blueprints, a USB filled with staff photos, and a document capturing what life is like in 2025, a heartfelt tribute to the people and stories that make Pleasure Beach so special. In fact we were lucky enough that our very own letter was selected to be included in the capsule and can be seen in the offical park imagery below.

Teasing Aviktas: The Easter Eggs Begin

Eagle-eyed fans may have already spotted nods to the new ride at the park’s Halloween event, Journey to Hell. Hidden “Easter eggs” referencing Aviktas were placed within the event’s Abyss scare zone, giving enthusiasts a playful preview of what’s to come.

Season Closing Celebration

There’s still a little time left to experience the magic before the park closes for winter. Pleasure Beach Resort remains open weekends through November, wrapping up the 2025 season with a spectacular end-of-season fireworks display at 5pm on Saturday, November 29 where we’ll be excitedly in attendance wrapping up our 2025 theme park season.

As always, the park recommends booking online for the best savings and availability at www.pleasurebeachresort.com