The Curse at Alton Manor

The Curse at Alton Manor
An entrance sign which states "Alton Manor". In the background is the ride exterior.
The entrance sign for The Curse at Alton Manor
Alton Towers Resort
AreaGloomy Wood
StatusOperating
Opening date18 March 2023
ReplacedDuel – The Haunted House Strikes Back!
Ride statistics
Attraction typeDark ride, haunted attraction
ManufacturerMack Rides
DesignerMerlin Magic Making
ThemeHaunted
Capacity1,920 riders per hour
Vehicle typeCar
Vehicles35
Riders per vehicle6
Rows2
Riders per row3
Duration6 minutes 15 seconds
Fastrack, Ride Access Pass available
Must transfer from wheelchair
Assistive listening available

The Curse at Alton Manor is a dark ride at the Alton Towers theme park near the village of Alton in Staffordshire, England, opened on 18 March 2023.[1] There is a minimum height restriction of 0.9 metres. Guests under 1.1 metres must be accompanied by an adult.[2][3]

The ride originally opened in 1992 as The Haunted House, before a retheme as Duel – The Haunted House Strikes Back! with the addition of interactive laser shooting in 2003. The same ride system and building was re-used for The Curse at Alton Manor with a new theme and scenes.[2][4][5]

Development

The Duel closed notice

After an initial teaser, Duel closed on 6 September 2022 and its replacement was announced as The Curse at Alton Manor the following January.[6][7][8] Later details revealed that the ride's new premise would revolve around a character named Emily Alton, based on the little Victorian ghost girl that inhabited a dollhouse in the queue area of both the Haunted House and Duel.[9][10][11] A main theme of the ride is that her spirit seeks revenge for being left alone and neglected in the house.[9] The ride and surrounding grounds include several easter eggs, such as gravestones memorialising former rides.[12][13][14]

As part of the renovation, the laser guns and targets were removed and the ride vehicles restored to six seats. The attraction officially opened to the public on 18 March 2023.[2][15] It includes performers and props around the house, as well as the ride inside.[4]

References

  1. ^Weird, Project. "Alton Towers' The Curse At Alton Manor Ride Promises To Make Visitors Vanish Into Thin Air". Higgypop Paranormal. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  2. ^ abc"Curse at Alton Manor on DRdb". Dark Ride Database. DRdb. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  3. ^Review: The Curse at Alton Manor, Alton Towers. RideRater. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  4. ^ abLoops&Lapbars (5 April 2023). "The Curse at Alton Manor – A Review". Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  5. ^Mitchell, Bea. "'The Curse at Alton Manor': Alton Towers shares first look at new spooky dark ride". blooloop.com. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  6. ^"Property Repossessed at Alton Towers Resort". Alton Towers Resort. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  7. ^"Alton Towers announces retheme for Duel: 'The Curse at Alton Manor'". Dark Ride Database. DRdb. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  8. ^The Curse at Alton Manor: Ride name revealed. RideRater. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  9. ^ ab"Alton Towers: Ultimate Guide to the Incredible Theme Park". www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  10. ^Demonic ghost child of Emily Alton appears as resort reveals details of new ride. WalesOnline. 15 February 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  11. ^"The Curse at Alton Manor | blooloop". blooloop.com. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  12. ^Cookson, Lea (13 March 2023). "Inside Images: The Curse at Alton Manor". Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  13. ^"The Curse at Alton Manor 2023". themeparkguide.co.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  14. ^Evans, Sean (19 March 2023). "The Curse At Alton Manor Ride Review: Dark Gothic Fun". Back to the Movies. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  15. ^Corrie favourite Alison King joins Waterloo Road's Adam Thomas and Strictly and Hollyoaks stars for 'haunting' night out. Manchester Evening News. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.

52°59′20″N1°53′04″W / 52.98897°N 1.884314°W / 52.98897; -1.884314

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