THORPE PARK’S Fright Nights is back and even bigger for Halloween 2013, presented, for the first time, with Lionsgate UK. Running on selected dates in October and November, the horror movie takeover combines live-action mazes based on some of the world’s most iconic horror films, with the chance to ride exhilarating rollercoasters in the dark.

Visitors will be able to experience immersive, scareactor-led horror attractions based on You’re Next, the upcoming must see horror movie, cult classic The Blair Witch Project; the dark My Bloody Valentine 3D, the twisted The Cabin in the Woods and not forgetting the menacing SAW, already the inspiration for the world’s most terrifying rollercoaster and live action horror maze at the Park.

PLUS face the Nation’s Thrill Capital’s thrilling rides in the dark including THE SWARM, the UK’s first winged rollercoaster, which guests can now brave backwards, Stealth, one of Europe’s fastest and tallest rollercoasters, Colossus, a ten loop rollercoaster and Nemesis Inferno, a feet-free, legs-dangling coaster experience, as well as SAW – The Ride, all in the dead of night and all included in the Park entry price.

And, for the first time, guests will be able to ‘stay and scream’, in THORPE PARK’s new onsite accommodation, The Crash Pad, which opened this Spring.

NB: THORPE PARK Fright Nights may be too intense for young children and is not recommended for anyone under the age of 13.  

FACT BOX/ GETTING THERE

Dates: 5-6, 11-13, 18-20 October, 25 October – 3 November 2013

Park opening times: 10am – 10pm, Fright Nights attractions open at 3pm

Prices: Adult ticket priced from £29.99 when booked online before the end of September, price in October is £34.99 when booked 2 or more days in advance online

The Crash Pad is priced from £64 pp including two day Park ticket and breakfast

Pre-booking strongly advised

For more information and to book, visit THORPEPARK.com

Nearest station: Staines (30mins from Waterloo)

THORPE PARK, Staines Road, Chertsey, Surrey, KT16 8PN

-ends-

For further information please contact Claudia or Karen at freerange on 0207 402 9966 or Claudia@freerange.eu or contact the THORPE PARK Press Office on +44 (0) 207 402 9966 or +44 (0) 1932 577131 / press.office@thorpe-park.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

As the nation’s Thrill Capital, THORPE PARK is the ‘must do’ destination for adrenaline seekers with over 25 rides and attractions all within 20 miles of Central London. With a core audience of 16 to 34 year olds and ‘up-for-it’ families, THORPE PARK is constantly pushing the boundaries with new rides. With rollercoasters such as THE SWARM (2012), the UK’s first winged rollercoaster, SAW – The Ride (2009), the world’s first horror movie themed rollercoaster, Stealth (2006), one of Europe’s fastest and tallest rollercoasters and Colossus (2002), the world’s first ten inversion rollercoaster, as well as attractions such as Rush (2005), the world’s largest Speed Swing and Slammer (2005), Europe’s first Sky Swat, the Park has been leading the way in the UK when it comes to extreme theme park thrills.

· THORPE PARK is open for the full season from 14 March to 4 November 2013.

· Visit THORPEPARK.com for more information

· Advance online booking rates from £31.92

· For year-round group savings and benefits, including free group leader tickets, go to Merlin Groups (merlingroups.com). Group sizes start at just7 people and bookings can be made online or by calling 0871 663 1673 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras).

· Height restrictions apply on certain rides.

· Fastrack tickets and special offers are available online when booking in advance on www.thorpepark.com.

· Please note that THORPE PARK is spelt in capitals.

· Download the THORPE PARK Official iPhone and iPod Touch App for FREE from the App Store.  http://www.thorpepark.com/plan-your-visit/thorpe-park-official-app.aspx

· Follow THORPE PARK on Facebook, www.facebook.com/thorpepark, Twitter, www.twitter.com/THORPEPARK and YouTube www.youtube.com/wwwTHORPEPARKcom.

· For press information visit www.thorpepark.com/press and for high resolution images of THORPE PARK that are available to download free of charge visit www.thorpepark.com/imagebank.

MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates 98 attractions, eight hotels/three holiday villages in 22 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 54 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 21,000 employees. Among Merlin’s attractions are  - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, THORPE PARK, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Siam Ocean World and Busan Aquarium.  All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

Lionsgate U.K. is the diversified U.K.-based filmed entertainment arm of Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF), the leading independent filmed entertainment studio. The company (formerly Redbus Film Distributors) was acquired by Lionsgate in October 2005 and has since established a reputation in the U.K. as a leading producer and distributor and acquirer of commercially successful and critically acclaimed product, recently releasing Steven Soderbergh’s “MAGIC MIKE”, Simon West’s “THE EXPENDABLES 2” and Mike Newell’s “GREAT EXPECTATIONS” as well as the box office smash hit THE HUNGER GAMES earlier in 2012. Upcoming releases include “THE LAST STAND” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, “THE PAPERBOY” starring Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron, “OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN” starring Gerard Buter, Morgan Freeman and Aaron Eckhart, “FILTH” starring James McAvoy and Jamie Bell, and “THE RAILWAY MAN”, starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman .Its prestigious and prolific library of nearly 13,000 motion picture titles and television episodes – including Mad Men, Nurse Jackie and Weeds – is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company’s core businesses – film production and distribution, TV programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. The Lionsgate U.K. brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe. www.lionsgatefilms.co.uk