Pleasure Island Family Theme Park
 | |
| Slogan |
Previous: "Discover the Magic" "Don't you wish you were here?" Current: "Find yourself in a world of adventure" |
|---|---|
| Location | Cleethorpes, North-East Lincolnshire, England |
| Coordinates | 53°32′36.26″N 0°00′29.48″W / 53.5434056°N 0.0081889°WCoordinates: 53°32′36.26″N 0°00′29.48″W / 53.5434056°N 0.0081889°W |
| Owner | DewarSavile Enterprises Limited (Melanie Wood) |
| General Manager | Neil Ireland |
| Opened | 27 May 1993 |
| Closed | 29 October 2016 |
| Rides | |
| Total | 46/47 attractions |
| Roller coasters | 3 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Website | Pleasure island |
| Previously owned by Flamingo Land Ltd | |
Pleasure Island Family Theme Park was a theme park in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, England. It was commonly known as Pleasure Island. The park opened on 27 May 1993. It was originally a subsidiary of Flamingo Land Ltd. Pleasure Island became independent of Flamingo Land in May 2010 and was owned and operated by DewarSavile Enterprises Ltd until closing at the end of the 2016 season. Only McCormack's Family Bar continued in business, reopening in 2017.
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History
Pleasure Island Family Theme Park stood on the site of the former Cleethorpes Zoo. Owned and operated by Associated Pleasure Parks, the zoo had such attractions as seals, penguins, raccoons, pelicans, chimpanzees, a whale, African elephant, tiger and an orangutan.[1][2] The zoo subsequently closed in 1977. The site was sold to Pleasureworld, a division of RKF Entertainment, who announced that a new theme park would be built, as a sister park to the Pleasurewood Hills park near Lowestoft and bearing the same name. Construction began on the new theme park in the 1980s.
RKF Entertainment went into receivership during the early 1990s and construction of the park was halted. The site was sold to Robert Gibb, the managing director of Flamingo Land in Malton, North Yorkshire. When the opportunity to purchase the Cleethorpes site became available, Gibb decided to continue with the redevelopment of the site as a theme park, which became today's Pleasure Island. Construction of the park was completed by Gibb in 1992 and Pleasure Island Family Theme Park was opened on 27 May 1993. Robert Gibb's son, Gordon Gibb, later became the chief executive of the company and directly runs Flamingo Land, while his sister Vicky Gibb, and subsequently other sister Melanie Wood (formerly Gibb), took the responsibility for the management of Pleasure Island.
In 2010, Melanie Wood completed her desire to take ownership of the park, separate from the family company.[3] Pleasure Island was operated by Dewarsavile Enterprises Ltd, directed by Wood. This marked the end of Pleasure Island and Flamingo Land's association.
In 2013, a farm and petting zoo including tractor ride was added, replacing the electric monorail.
As a result of the most recent ownership transfer, on 14 April 2010, the Grimsby Telegraph website broke news that the park had closed. Staff had turned up for work and were given letters informing them of termination to their employment. Visitors were turned away at the gate.[4] Later stories suggested that the closure was caused by a breakdown in negotiations about the park's ownership. While negotiations took place to separate Pleasure Island from its sister park Flamingo Land, managing director of Pleasure Island Melanie Wood took control.[5] The park reopened under its new ownership on 1 May 2010.
Pleasure Island Family Theme Park closed permanently at the end of the 2016 season, with only McCormack's restaurant set to reopen in 2017.[6][7][8] The contents, including a 1904 carousel, were put up for auction.[9]
Areas
The theme park was split into 6 areas:
- Africa – themed around Africa, the largest area of Pleasure island and containing one white-knuckle ride
- Kiddies Kingdom – rides for especially young children
- Morocco – themed around Morocco, with three white-knuckle rides: the Alakazam, Hydromax and the Hyper Blaster
- Old England – themed around England, it contained the park entrance and was the smallest area of Pleasure Island
- Spain – themed around Spain and nearly as small as Old England, containing one ride and other attractions
- White Knuckle Valley – three white-knuckle rides: the Boomerang (a Vekoma Boomerang rollercoaster), the Pendulus and the Terror Rack
Height restrictions
The minimum heights are colour-coded as follows:
| Height (Meters) | Height (Colour) |
|---|---|
| 1.4 | Red |
| 1.3 | Purple |
| 1.2 | Blue -- |
| 1.1 | Green |
| 1.0 | Yellow |
| 0.9 | |
| 0.8 | |
| 0.7 | |
| 0.6 | |
| 0.5 | |
| Children Only | Pink - |
| Anyone | White |
-Children below the age of 7 years. --Although 1.2m like green, an adult was required on the ride with someone 1.2m.
Rides
Roller Coasters
| Roller Coaster | Height | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boomerang | Purple | 1993-2016 | A standard Vekoma Boomerang taken forward and back through a vertical loop and a cobra roll. The flagship rollercoaster has been fully refurbished and as of 8 August 2018 the Boomerang is officially now open at Fantawild Asian Legend theme park in Nenning, China a new theme park and will operate under the name ASEAN Express |
| Mini Mine Train | Yellow | 1993-2016 | A standard 208m Vekoma Junior coaster themed to an African mine train. completes the circuit twice through drops and helixs. This attraction has been dismantled and has followed its sibling attraction Boomerang back to the Netherlands in order to find a new lease of life eventually at a park in Indonesia |
| GoGator | Pink | 1993-2016 | A mini coaster themed around Dragons. |
Thrill Rides
| Ride | Height | Year | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alakazam | Purple | 2002-16 | A HUSS Flyaway variant of Enterprise. This ride has reopened at a theme park called Fantasialand in Santiago, Chile. |
| Hydromax | Purple | 2006-16 | A Spin Doctor Ride (Booster). Purchased directly from the manufacturer in Italy. It has now been removed from the site and is awaiting a new buyer whilst in storage. |
| Hyperblaster | Red | 2000-16 | A S&S Shot Tower at 90 ft. It has now been removed from the site and is awaiting a new buyer whilst in storage. |
| Obliterator | Red | 2008-16 | Previously at Flamingo Land, where it was known as Circulator. An Evolution Model. This ride has been sold to another Park in the Czech Republic. |
| Pendulus | Red | 2003-16 | A HUSS Frisbee Ride themed around a clock. This ride has been sold to Flambards theme park in Helston, Cornwall as Sky Force. |
| Terror Rack | Red | 1998-2016 | A Fabbri version of A HUSS Top spin ride overall lasts longer and is 'up-side-down' longer than other rides like Ripsaw, Alton Towers. Has been removed from the site, its future is unknown. |
| Voltar | Blue | 2015-16 | A Vekoma Double Swinging Inverter Ride relocated from Flamingo Land, it used to be called Sky Flyer. Has been removed from the site. |
Family Rides
| Ride | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Furry Friends and Tractor Ride | White | A farmyard animals attraction featuring a re-painted monorail ride with tractor themed trains. |
| Flying Chairs | Yellow | A traditional Swing ride This ride has been removed from the park and is now a UK travelling ride with Taylors of Edinburgh. |
| Shreiksville | 7+ | A scary ghost ride |
| Century 2000 | Green | has been removed from the site, its future is unknown. |
| Galleon | Blue | A classic Pirate Ship ride. The Galleon has now been relocated from Pleasure Island to Gullivers Land. |
| Dodgems | Red | A classic Bumper Cars attraction. Removed from the site, its future is unknown. |
| Whirly Twirly Walzers | Yellow | A Tilt a Whirl attraction with seashell type cars. As of 2017, this ride was re-located to Funland and rethemed and renamed as "Neptune's Fury". |
| Paratrooper | Yellow | Hrubetz Paratrooper attraction. This ride was re-located to Funland in 2017 but only lasted a few months before being removed and placed in storage. |
| Carousel | Yellow | A traditional Carousel horse ride. This ride still remains onsite and is still awaiting a new buyer. |
| Astra Slide | Yellow | |
| Razzle Dazzle | Green | A spinning top going to different heights during the ride. Is now operating as a travelling ride. |
| Lake Boats | Green | A free-roam Pedalo boat ride that's situated in a large lake at the centre of the park. |
| Annabel Train | White | 2 ft (610 mm) train ride around amusements. This ride has been removed from Pleasure Island and is now been sent abroad for refurbishment before heading to another theme park. |
| Gravitron | Blue | A spaceship ride manufactured by Wisdom rides, was located at Pleasure Island after a short stint at Alton Towers, since Pleasure Island closed this ride is now located at Barry Island Pleasure Park. |
Kiddie Rides
| Ride | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Tommy Tinkaboo Boat Ride | Pink | Indoors water-boat ride tailored towards young children that takes riders on a tour of the Tommy Tinkaboo candy factory, full of animatronic characters and music similar to Bubbleworks at Chessington World Of Adventures And Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Ride at Alton Towers This ride has been sold off as separate parts/items during the auction. |
| Frog Hopper | Pink | A miniature, frog-themed Drop tower ride. Has been removed, location unknown. |
| Mini Dodgems | Pink | A Bumper Cars ride tailored for young children. Relocated along with the Galleon to Gullivers Land. |
| Kiddies Cave | - | |
| Kiddies Roundabouts | White- Yellow |
Water Rides
| Ride | Height | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Falls of Fear | Blue | A water slide in which riders ride down in inflatable rafts. |
| Aquasphere | White | Closed in 2014 to make way for Voltar |
Former Rides
- Condor – a HUSS Condor Stood on the site of Kiddies Cove, before being sold at auction
- 1001 Nights – replaced by The Galleon
- Dream Boat – stood where the Hydro Max is now
- Big Splash – a unique water ride replaced by The Falls of Fear
- Crazy Loop – a Pinfari Double-Looping Roller Coaster that also previously operated at Flamingo Land under the same name. It is now located in Brean Leisure Park as 'Shockwave'
- 4 Man Bob – a small Schwarzkopf Bobsleigh Roller Coaster which was replaced by 'Crazy Loop'
- Pony Rodeo – a small monorail like rollercoaster themed around riding a horse
Shows
- Masai Warriors Show – introduced during ownership by Flamingo Land as a copy of their 'Bongo Warriors Show' (Africa)
- Bird Show – parrots, barn owls and red legged seriema performing tricks (Spain)
- Sea Lion Show – sea lions performing tricks (Morocco)
- Tommy Tinkaboo Musical Extravaganza (Morocco)
- The Basil Brush Laughter Show (Africa)
- High School Summer – set as the movie High School Musical 1 + 2 (Morocco)
- Rock-afire Explosion - Animatronic show featuring Billy Bob and his singing bear band (Morocco)
Restaurants and eateries
- Food Court (Spain)
- McCormack's Family Bar – a family themed restaurant and bar selling traditional British pub meals (Old England)
- Lakeside – drinks and snack sales
- Tommy's Kiosk and Cafe – drinks and snack sales
- Fatimas Fish & Chips – fish and chip shop.
- Sinbads Ice Cream Parlour – iced cream and drinks sales
- Carousel – snack bar in the Carousel building.
Shops
- Tinkaboo Sweet Shop (Spain)
- Gift Shop (Old England)
- Shrieksville Shop of Horrors (Africa)
Others
- Ali Baba's Arcade – arcade with toilets next to the Gravitron and Spain area (Morocco)
- Kiddies' Cove – children's play area with swings and benches, next to the Sealion Show and Century 2000
References
- ↑ Cleethorpes Marineland & Zoo
- ↑ Photo of Cleethorpes Zoo, Pelicans c1965 – Francis Frith
- ↑ BBC News – Reopening secures Cleethorpes theme park jobs
- ↑ Grimsby news, views & business listings from Grimsby's Community | This is Grimsby
- ↑ Theme park closed as takeover is negotiated | This is Grimsby
- ↑ "Pleasure Island Will Sadly Be Closing At The End Of The 2016 RIP 1993-2016 Season". Pleasure Island. 22 September 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ↑ Craig, Peter (22 September 2016). "Closure of Pleasure Island is 'desperately sad'". Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ↑ "Pleasure Island Family Theme Park closure announced". BBC News. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
- ↑ "Cleethorpes' Pleasure Island theme park rides for sale" (video). BBC News. 6 February 2018.
External links
