Context

Marley's Western Red Cedar shakes were specified for the huts on Alton Towers Resort’s latest attraction, Wicker Man, which opened in April 2018.

Wicker Man is the UK’s first new wooden rollercoaster to be built in over 20 years, and the first ever to combine fire and wood. Costing over £16 million to build, it offers riders a truly immersive experience, with a fiery twist.

Products supplied

As part of the project, Marley supplied 327 bundles of its Blue Label Western Red Cedar Shakes, which were used to create over 800m2 of roofing as part of the Wicker Man attraction.

The ride features a number of huts located around its wooden track, all of which used Marley's Western Red Cedar shakes in order to continue the woodland theming.

Alton Towers specified Marley's shakes for the huts due to their robust finish and the reassurance provided by the Certi-Grade accreditation, as certified by the Cedar Shingle and Shake Bureau (CSSB). The shakes also require low maintenance and blend into the wider surroundings, so were deemed an ideal choice.

Key benefits

  • Low carbon footprint - Western Red Cedar shakes have one of the lowest carbon footprints of any widely used building product.
  • Fire resistance - the shakes were treated with FRT Exterior to give them a fire classification to BS 476-3, which is the same as a clay tile.
  • Ease of transportation and installation - the shakes were light to transport and quick to install, which minimised the wider impact on the theme park and ensured the project deadline was met.

Testimonial

Neil Walker, the project manager at Merlin Entertainment, said: “The task of building a rollercoaster which combines fire and wood required careful planning in order to bring our vision to life. However, for us, it’s not just about creating the ride itself but also theming its surroundings to deliver a truly immersive experience to our guests.

“The structures including the ride station, pre-show theatre and retail unit are a key part of the ride, so it was crucial to us that they were in keeping with the rest of the ride. It was tricky to find a product that worked aesthetically and would also be enduring. We were thrilled to find a local supplier who could deliver just what we needed.”