Devon’s first rollercoaster re-opens on Saturday at 10am ready for February half term.  The rollercoaster, which was a runaway mine train ride has been reinvented as Maximus, a Roman themed rollercoaster with an added tunnel section. 

Claudius Maximus will be joined by competition winners and Crealy’s board of young directors, the Crealy Creators to officially open Maximus the rollercoaster.

The Isca Contubernium portray the Legionary Soldiers of the 2nd Augusta Legion during its occupation of the Roman Military Fortress at Isca, now Exeter, during the third quarter of the 1st century AD. 

The £150,000 improvements to the rollercoaster have included covering the highest section of track, and a complete re-theme of the surrounding structure. The construction work has been completed by Devon-based company, Michael Thorne Contractors. The Roman theming was designed by premier attraction themers Space Leisure UK, who have worked with some of the UK's largest visitor attractions.
 
Crealy's rollercoaster was originally opened by Phillip Schofield and has become one of the county's most iconic rides, along with Crealy's other main rides the Swinging Queen Bess Pirate Ship and Tidal Wave Log Flume.
 
Angela Wright, MBE, founder and Managing Director of the award-winning visitor attraction said, "We are so excited that Claudius Maximus will be here on Saturday to open our rollercoaster! As an Isca Roman Legionary Soldier, he is perfect. Our visitors are going to love meeting a real-life Roman soldier.

“Updating the coaster as Maximus is Crealy paying homage to the legendary park of 2,000 years ago when Romans lived in Isca, as Exeter was known then.  Maximus the rollercoaster with its new tunnel section will be a whole new riding experience for our guests, many of whom already love the rollercoaster here at Crealy. We always invest heavily in new rides and improving current ones, and next year is no exception. Along with the improvements to the rollercoaster we are also investing in two new attractions, which will be announced in the next couple of weeks."

Maximus is the first of Crealy’s 2010 attractions to open this year. Crealy is investing £1.6million in attractions over the next 12 months, including the Wilderness trail with treehouses and White Fallow deer, and the Vortex a triple tube watercoaster.
 
Crealy is open daily during February half term and Thursdays to Sundays during termtime.

For further information and to save money online visit www.crealy.co.uk or call 01395 233200

Please mention thebestof Exeter when talking to Crealy.