Alton Towers (UK: /ˈɒltən/ OL-tən) (also known as Alton Towers Resort) is a historic estate, popular theme park and resort complex in Staffordshire, England, near the village of Alton. The park is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group and incorporates a theme park, water park, mini golf and hotel complex.
Originally a stately home of the Earls of Shrewsbury, the Alton Towers grounds were first opened to the public in the late 19th Century. In the 1950s-70s, several new attractions were added, such as a scenic railway and cable car. It started to be developed as a theme park from 1980 with the installation of several rides and the adoption of a pay-once ticket structure. In 1990, the park was purchased by The Tussauds Group, which was merged into Merlin Entertainments in 2007. The park now has many attractions such as Congo River Rapids, Nemesis Reborn, The Smiler and Wicker Man.