Holy poltergeist! Paranormal events at theme park force relocation of ride

Holy poltergeist! Paranormal events at theme park force relocation of ride
February 8, 2011
By Jayne Clark
USA TODAY

A British theme park has relocated a new attraction after workers reported having some white-knuckle experiences of the sort not typically induced by thrill rides.

London's Daily Mail reports that workers at Thorpe Park saw what appeared to be a headless monk, felt sudden cold sensations and had the creepy feeling someone was looking over their shoulders during the construction of the ride.

As a result, management of the Surrey park -- one of Britain's largest -- decided to give up the ghost, so to speak, and relocate the 64-foot-tall Storm Surge water ride to another spot. (Originally, it was to be in an area called Monk's Walk, a footpath that connects an ancient abbey with a church. Coincidence? We think not!)

A paranormal detective agency was called in and determined that an ancient burial ground might have been disturbed by the ride's construction.

Mike Vallis, divisional director of Thorpe Park, told the Daily Mail, "It became apparent that something strange was going on when teams started clearing Storm Surge's initial site. Staff reports of eerie goings-on shot up and the only physical change in the park, at that time, was the beginning of ground preparation work for the new ride. As employees were getting freaked out, we decided to call on an expertâ€¦"

Of course, this is the same theme park that a year ago solicited contributions of "smelly pee" with which to create a "signature stench" for a new horror attraction called SAW Alive, the Independent reported.

Contestants vying for about $800 in cash competed to produce the strongest-smelling urine, to be used to heighten the sensory experience in the horror attraction.

A headless monk hanging out at the theme park might be disturbing, but smelly pee contests? Now that's really scar