Drakon (roller coaster)
| Drakon | |
|---|---|
An overview of Drakon | |
| Paultons Park | |
| Location | Paultons Park |
| Park section | Valgard: Realm of the Vikings |
| Coordinates | 50°56′51″N 1°33′23″W / 50.947416°N 1.556312°W |
| Status | Under construction |
| Opening date | May 16, 2026 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel |
| Manufacturer | Gerstlauer |
| Model | Euro-Fighter |
| Height | 75.5 ft (23.0 m) |
| Inversions | 2 |
| Max vertical angle | 95° |
| Theme | Vikings |
| Drakon at RCDB | |
Drakon is a steel roller coaster under construction at Paultons Park in the New Forest National Park, near the village of Ower in Hampshire, England. Manufactured by Gerstlauer, the ride is a custom model of the company's Euro-Fighter roller coaster design. The attraction is scheduled to open in May 2026 as part of the park's new Viking-themed area, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings.[1]
Drakon will be the first inverting roller coaster at Paultons Park and is promoted as the park's most intense attraction. The coaster features a vertical lift hill, followed by a beyond-vertical first drop, and includes two inversions along its layout.
History
On 17 May 2025, the Daily Mirror published an article confirming that Paultons Park would develop a new Viking-themed area titled Valgard: Realm of the Vikings. The project represents a £12 million investment and is scheduled to open in May 2026. Drakon is set to serve as the featured and most prominent attraction within the area.
The themed land will include several attractions, most notably Drakon, which will become the park's first roller coaster to feature inversions. The announcement marked the first public confirmation of both the new themed area and the major coaster attraction planned as part of the expansion.[2]
Ride experience
After departing the station, the train executes a left-hand turn before ascending a 75.5-foot (23.0 m) vertical chain lift hill. At the summit, it descends a beyond-vertical first drop, leading into a twisted airtime hill, intertwining with Raven. The layout then enters the ride's first inversion, a barrel roll.
Following the inversion, the train passes over a banked airtime hill that transitions from a right to a left bank before entering a right-hand turn. The train then navigates the second inversion, a zero-g stall, in which riders experience a brief period of weightlessness while the train is inverted. After exiting the element, the track banks to the right and enters the final brake run, returning to the station.
Trains
The ride’s trains consist of two rows with four-across seating, accommodating a total of eight riders per train. Each train is equipped with over-the-shoulder restraints.
References
- ^ "Valgard: Realm of the Vikings - New at Paultons Park in 2026". paultonspark.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ^ Sharma, Parul (2025-05-17). "Paultons Park unveils new £12m Viking-themed land with a first for UK parks". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 2026-03-11.