<Tr> <Th> Roller coasters </Th> <Td> 9 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Water rides </Th> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <P> Alton Towers Resort, often shortened to Alton Towers, is a theme park resort located in Staffordshire, England, near the village of Alton . The resort, which is operated by Merlin Entertainments Group, incorporates a water park and hotel complex . The location debuted in 1860 featuring flower shows and garden tours, but was later transformed into a theme park in 1980 . Now, it is the largest theme park in the UK and the second most visited after Legoland Windsor . </P> <P> The park operates six major roller coasters--Nemesis, Oblivion, Rita, Thirteen, The Smiler, and Galactica--as well as other attractions . The first hotel accommodation opened in 1996 as the Alton Towers Hotel . The Alton Towers Waterpark and a Caribbean - themed Splash Landings Hotel were added in 2003 . The Enchanted Village opened in 2015, and a new hotel based on the CBeebies brand opened in July 2017 . The complex also includes conference facilities, crazy golf and a high ropes course . </P>

How long has alton towers been a theme park
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