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 | Operating |
| Opening date | May 16, 2026 |
| General statistics | |
| Type | Steel – Euro-Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Gerstlauer |
| Model | Euro-Fighter Custom |
Lift/launch system | Chain lift hill |
| Height | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Length | 390 m (1,280 ft) |
| Speed | 72 km/h (45 mph) |
| Inversions | 2 |
Max vertical angle | 97° |
| Theme | Vikings |
| Drakon at RCDB | |
Drakon is a steel roller coaster 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 opened on 16 May 2026 as part of the park's new Viking-themed area, Valgard: Realm of the Vikings.[1]
Drakon is 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.[2]
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 for a cost of £12 million.[3] Drakon was announced to serve as the most prominent attraction within the area, and became the park's first roller coaster to feature inversions upon opening on 16 May 2026.[2]
Track was completed on 6 November 2026.[4] The ride's trains arrived on 27 February 2026 before the ride completed its first test cycle on 2 March 2026.[5][6]
Characteristics
Ride experience
After departing the station, the train executes a left-hand turn before ascending a 23 metres (75 ft) vertical chain lift hill. At the summit, it descends a beyond-vertical (~97°)[7] first drop, leading into a twisted airtime hill, intertwining with Raven. The layout then enters the ride's first inversion, a step-up under flip.
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.[8]
Trains
The ride's three trains consist of two rows with four-across seating, accommodating a total of eight riders per train.[7] 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.
- 1 2 "Drakon Rollercoaster in Valgard | Paultons Park". paultonspark.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Paultons Park Installs Final Track on New 2026 Rollercoaster Drakon | Valgard: Realm of the Vikings | Paultons Park | November 2025". www.themeparkguide.co.uk. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ UK Theme Parks (2026-02-27). Drakon Trains arrive at Paultons Park!. Retrieved 2026-08-22 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Drakon's FIRST Flight!. Retrieved 2026-08-22 – via www.youtube.com.
- 1 2 "Euro-Fighter". www.gerstlauer-rides.de (in German). In references. Retrieved 2026-08-22.
- ↑ Theme Park Worldwide (2026-05-16). Drakon 4K On Ride POV - Paultons Park. Retrieved 2026-08-22 – via YouTube.