Feel the force of the wind as you swing through the sky...
Feel the force of the wind as you swing through the sky...
| Theme Park | Drayton Manor |
|---|---|
| Park Area | Adventure Cove |
| Type | Flat Ride |
| Audience | Thrillseekers |
| Opened | 2002 |
| Manufacturer | Intamin |
| Model | Gyro Swing |
| Height | 74 ft |
| Capacity | 32 guests per ride |
Maelstrom
Maelstrom is Drayton Manor's 22 metre tall giant swinging pendulum ride.
Riders sit in one of 32 outward facing seats arranged in a circle, attached to a large pendulum arm. As the ride starts, the circle begins to rotate as the pendulum swings back and forth, gaining height and swinging riders high into the air before plunging them back towards the ground and then up again.
Maelstrom is easily spotted in its location opposite the entrance to Thomas Land. Surrounding the ride are suitably storm-damaged themed scenery items including a battered surf shack and bent signposts.
Maelstrom is one of Drayton Manor's most thrilling flat rides, and provides fantastic feelings alternating between weightlessness at the top of the swing and large positive G-forces as visitors are pulled back towards ground level. It has decent capacity, although because it is so popular it can still attract sizable queues on busy days. Watch out especially at fireworks events, as people tend to make Maelstrom their last ride of the night before the display begins since it is relatively close to the lakeside viewing spots.
Maelstrom
Swinging high
Arms up
Legs dangling
Gyro swing
Maelstrom seen from the old Robinsons Land
The swing from across the lake
Vertical
Top of the swing
Maelstrom on a sunny day
The surf shack themed control cabin
Whirlpool ahead
Diving down
Maelstrom swings out
