Written by our Hauntic.com contributor, Lauren Campbell
When you think of Thorpe Park, you probably imagine white-knuckle rides like Stealth or The Swarm, and maybe the splash of Tidal Wave on a hot summer’s day. But behind the screams of rollercoaster junkies and the neon lights of thrill rides, there lurks something far darker.
Did you know one of the UK’s most popular theme parks is also home to one of its most chilling ghost stories? That’s right — hidden in the grounds of Thorpe Park is a legend of a headless monk said to haunt a path once known as Monk’s Walk. And it’s no ordinary tale. This one was enough to spook builders, baffle experts, and even force the park to relocate an entire ride.
Thorpe Park’s Dark Past: A Ride Disturbed the Dead
Back in 2011, Thorpe Park was preparing to launch a new family attraction, the water ride Storm Surge. The original site chosen for the ride seemed innocent enough — until workers started digging.
The ride was due to be built along Monk’s Walk, a historic footpath believed to link the ruins of Chertsey Abbey to Thorpe Church. That path dates all the way back to around AD 666 (yes, you read that right — 666 😱). Legends already whispered of monks travelling the path centuries ago.
But when construction began, the team discovered stone coffins and what looked like part of an ancient burial ground. That’s when things started to get very, very strange.
Ghostly Encounters at Storm Surge’s Construction Site
Almost immediately, workers began reporting unnerving phenomena:
- The apparition of a headless monk drifting along Monk’s Walk.
- Objects vanishing or moving when no one was nearby.
- Sudden cold spots that chilled workers to the bone.
- A creeping sensation of being watched.
Imagine trying to lay foundations for a water ride with the invisible gaze of something centuries old bearing down on you…
It got so unsettling that Thorpe Park actually brought in a paranormal investigation team. Their findings? Orbs, strange light anomalies on camera, and unsettling results from ouija sessions right where the ride was supposed to go.
Even scarier, a forensic geophysicist used ground-radar and confirmed signs that the site had once been used as a settlement or burial ground. Suddenly the ghost stories didn’t feel like just tales.
Thorpe Park Moves the Ride — But Not the Ghost
The activity was so persistent that park bosses made an extraordinary decision: they moved Storm Surge to a different part of the park.
Think about that for a second. Theme parks spend millions on planning, engineering, and marketing — and yet Thorpe Park agreed it wasn’t worth the risk of building over Monk’s Walk. Too much had been disturbed.
The question is: did the move quiet the monk? Or does he still wander the edge of the park at night, searching for the peace that was stolen when his grave was disturbed?
Thorpe Park: Haunted Beyond the Rides?
Thorpe Park is famous for its rollercoasters, but stories of hauntings linger. Some even claim plague pits and ancient burials have been unearthed during other construction projects. Whether fact or folklore, one thing is clear — Thorpe Park sits on land steeped in dark history.
So next time you’re queuing for Nemesis Inferno or braving Saw: The Ride, take a moment to glance toward the tree-lined edge near Monk’s Walk. If you feel a sudden chill, or the hairs on your neck rise, don’t ignore it. Some guests say that’s when the headless monk is closest.
Final Thoughts: A Theme Park Like No Other
Thorpe Park might be a paradise for thrill-seekers, but it’s also one of the most haunted theme parks in the UK. And unlike the staged scares of Halloween mazes, the legend of the monk isn’t for fun — it’s a lingering, spine-tingling reminder that even in places built for laughter and adrenaline, the past is never truly buried.
So if you’re heading there soon, enjoy the rides… but keep your eyes peeled. Thorpe Park’s biggest fright might not come from a rollercoaster drop — but from the shadow of a monk who lost his head centuries ago.
Thanks for reading! 📖
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— Lauren Campbell, Hauntic.com Contributor 🖤
