A lot can be said for a dark ride. They can come in any shapes and sizes, be it water, tracked, or flat ride. The most common is the coaster, and with a heavy tear in 2005 we said goodbye to One of Alton's classic rides. Through the history of Alton, Black Hole has outlived a lot. It became an under-rated gem in its final years. It took the back seat to Nemesis, Oblivion, Air and Corkscrew. Yet even on its last day in 2005, on a winter weekend it managed to get a half hour queue. And this was how it always was. Black Hole's death was imminent from the start of 2004. A small rumor can affect vision of a ride.

My first ride with Black Hole was in 2004, in a major trip. Using a fastrack ticket we queued a maximum of 5 minutes. I was suprised by its intensity. For such an un-spoken ride it blew me away. I didn't notice the roughness, just the glideness and enjoyability of the ride. My final encounter was on the 5th March 2005, the Goodbye Black Hole event. It was a proud moment for AT but also a sad one. For the engineers, the workers, everyone who has been involved with the Black Hole since 1984, this was it. Black Holes time had come.

The 12 final riders were decided by 6 names chosen out of a hat. They could take a friend with them. Luckily for me, two of my friends names were selected and I managed to become part of history, one of the last 12 riders on the Black Hole. It was a momentus day. As the final hour came about, the 12 riders were called together and chose there seats, for what would be the last ever Public ride on Black Hole. While seated, we all got photographed, and asked if we wanted to be in the dark with the effects on. And with a round of applause, the train was dispatched. The final ride on Black Hole had started. I almost feel a sense of grief, that this final car would seat the last 12 riders. As we were motorized up we took a look around. Took in what for 20 years people had ridden. No one thinks about the past anymore, its always about what future rides parks can come up. The ride itself was perfect for its time. It was old, it was crude by todays standards but it gave a brillliant ride.

Thank you Black Hole for a wonderful 20 years of service, you delivered what you promised.

Lauzi: Grammar edited slightly

Arrh the black hole it was an amazing ride! It wasnt the scariest and most popular ride but look at the response it has here, we all loved it! Obviously it cant be changed now but I hope they decide to build another "dark" ride in its place. There is something rather strange about not being able to look down that is scarier than bein on oblivion and being able to see the drop! I loved everything about it, from the little stars when you were waiting for a cart to the sound of it climbing the track, even to the last bit where they put the brakes on and you got winded like a punch in the stomach by the bar! It was amazing!
Black hole I'll miss ya!

It was a fun ride that will be missed but considering the age and the condition of the ride, it had to go. i enjoyed it but it was barely keeping together and im sure it wasnt far away from falling down.

I will miss you dearly

Black Hole R.I.P

A lot of tears will be shed for the loss of such a great fun thrill ride! I loved everything about it! Gettin older though made it slightly more difficult to get 2 people in the car when they changed the seat belts to bars that scrape and crush your knees!

I loved the feeling when you're goin up and round and round and the strobe light gets sent down so you actually realise how high up you really are which makes it more scary, 'cos you dont have a clue where you're going, then a sudden thrill of delight enters you as you hear the 'sit back hold tight' and see the funny mans face before you get sent soaring down a drop and straight round a tight bend! It was quite a fierce ride and not knowing which way your gonna turn next added to the excitment!

I didn't even know it had closed down until I went this april, I can understand that the track was in need of some refurbishment but judging from the length of times I've queued for it, it was a very popular ride and looking at all these reviews it will be sadly missed by many!

Lauzi: Edited drastically due to txt language. Please try to cut down on this, especially in reviews.

The Black Hole! Well, what a ride it was! Sure it didn't have the intimidation of Oblivion, the smoothness of Air or the super speed of Nemesis, but the Black Hole was classic Schwarzkopf, rough, agile & fun.

My first encounter was in October 2003. Despite the fact that it's usually quiet, the queues were stretching back halfway around the queue, just showing despite being 15 years old it still pulled the crowds. Or was it the fact it had a poor throughoutput?

Once inside, the queue was stuffy, miserable & uncomfortable. But as you entered the station, a mixture of gold Jules Verne style space rocket interiors & stars. As we waited, every so often there was the grinding noise of the trains flying through.

We boarded the train & we sat in a strange way. One behind the other, the front person having a comfy lap bar whilst the back person having just handrails to hold on to. Without warning, you left the station & engaged on the spiral lift.

The lift was taken at a slow speed, but it felt quicker with white stars & multi coloured flashes whizzing past you. Eventually, you reached the top & turned 180 degrees left with a high-pitched humming signalling the start of the ride.

The first drop is very steep & extremely fast before taking a very tight left turn into a medium paced circle around the spiral lift, followed by another high speed drop into an upward spiral through some water mist.

We enter a downward spiral around the lift hill whilst whizzing past the photo point & a sign saying 'HOLD TIGHT, BRAKES' in X Sector style writing. I braced the final turn which was very fast before we stopped very sharply, but not as sharp as to break my ribs.

Exiting the ride feels very strange because the light feels blinding & you'd lost track of which way was up, down, left & right. Black Hole was one of Alton's best classic rides!

9.5/10- I'll miss you, Black Hole :cry