Pleasure Beach Blackpool
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| Location | Blackpool, England |
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| Website | http://www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com |
| Owner | Thomspon Family |
| Opened | 1896 |
| Operating season | March-November |
| Area | 42 acres |
| Rides | 57 total
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| Slogan | Britain's Biggest Tourist Attraction |
Pleasure Beach, Blackpool (formerly "Blackpool Pleasure Beach") is a family owned amusement park in the town of Blackpool in Lancashire, England
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[edit] History
The park was founded in 1896 by Alderman William George Bean, who said his intent was to create "...an American Style Amusement Park, the fundamental principle of which is to make adults feel like children again and to inspire gaiety of a primarily innocent character."
The park was then managed by Bean's brother in law Leonard Thompson until the 1970s and then by Leonard's son Mr. William Geoffrey Thompson until his death in 2004. It is now managed by his daughter Amanda Thompson who is also the Managing Director of Stageworks Worldwide Productions who produce the shows at the park.
[edit] The Current Park
Pleasure Beach, Blackpool has a mixture of traditional wooden rides, modern steel roller-coasters, small family rides, highly-advanced thrill rides and generations-old rides still in original working order. Some regular visitors believe that the Pleasure Beach has been neglected over the past few years, although the park is currently re-branding with new rides and shows. Another major attraction is the ice shows, including 'Eclipse' and 'Hot Ice', and a casino.
The Pleasure Beach is currently undergoing a major refurbishment with new paths and coatings, new paint jobs for the rides, and a complete park re-branding. Following the loss of the famous 'Happy-Sun' logo or 'Mr Fun Shine' as it was known around the park, MD Amanda Thompson promised that the relatively small amusement park would undergo major development.
[edit] Visitor Numbers
Pleasure Beach, Blackpool attracts about 6 million visitors a year.
[edit] Tickets
Entrance to the park is free. Rides are paid for individually using tickets which are on sale throughout the park. Alternatively, unlimited ride wristbands are available at a price of approximately £30 per wristband, but the price varies depending on promotion and time of year, and can be as little as £10 per person. A separate section of the park, Beaver Creek, offers a separate wristband for younger guests.
[edit] Attractions
[edit] Roller Coasters
- Avalanche - A bobsled roller coaster
- Big Dipper - A traditional wooden roller coaster
- Grand National - A wooden racing roller coaster
- Infusion - A Vekoma Suspended Looping Coaster and the first ride of its kind in the world to be completely over water.
- Irn Bru Revolution - An Arrow Dynamics shuttle roller coaster
- Morgan's Circus Clown Coaster
- Pepsi Max Big One - An Arrow Dynamics hyper-coaster with a highest point 235 feet above sea level. (215 feet from floor)
- Rollercoaster - A traditional wooden roller coaster, notable for operating with minimal restraints
- Space Invader 2 - An indoor roller coaster
- Steeplechase - A three-tracked racing steel roller coaster.
- Wild Mouse - A wooden Wild Mouse roller coaster
- Zipper Dipper - A small wooden roller coas minecar themed indoor coaster.
[edit] Spinning/Tower rides
- Bling
- Ice Blast - A S&S Power Space Shot, originally known as PlayStation: The Ride.
- Impossible (Previously 1001 Troubles and The Haunted Swing)
- Trauma Towers' Baronial Dining Hall (after the Trauma Towers walk through attraction)
[edit] Water Rides
- Beaver Creek - (log flume)
- River Caves - Dark ride
- Swamp Buggies
- Valhalla
[edit] General Attractions
- Alice's Wonderland - Dark ride
- 4D cinema
- Convoy Ride
- Derby Racer - One of three in the world, the ride is similar to a carousel
- Dodgems - Bumper cars
- Ellie's Caterpillar
- Flying Machines
- Gallopers (carousel)
- Go Karts
- Ghost Train - The original Ghost Train was opened in 1930, before being replaced by the ride currently in use today.
- Griffin's Magic Dragons
- Helicopters
- Impossible
- Lunar Carousel
- Magic Mountain - Dark ride
- Mini Dodgems
- Mini Scooters
- Monorail
- Motor Boat Ride
- Noah's Ark - A walk through funhouse attraction, one of only 2 left in the world.
- Pirate Ride
- Pleasure Beach Express - A miniature railroad
- Superbowl
- Swamp Buggies
- Tetley Teacup Ride
- Thor's Turnpike
- Trauma Towers - A walk through haunted funhouse attaction, hotel themed.
- Veteran Carousel
[edit] Former Rides
- Big Apple - Removed 2004 [1]
- Cyclone - Removed 1987
- Log Flume - Operated from 1967 to September 3, 2006[1]
- Scenic Railway - Removed 1933
- Tokaydo Express - Removed 1997 due to death on ride
- Velvet Coaster - Removed 1932. Components of this ride were re-used in the construction of the Rollercoaster
- Vikingar - A shoot the chutes water ride - Closed in 2003 and later demolished
- Virginia Reel - Removed 1982
- Space Tower - Removed in 1993 to BPB's sister park Frontierland Morcambe (now closed) - Ride still stands but does not operate.
- Fun House - Destroyed by fire in November 1991
- Tom Sawyer Raft Ride - Removed early 1990s due to construction of the Pepsi Max Big One.
- The Monster - Removed in 1996 and later replaced with the Ice Blast, which was then known as PlayStation: The Ride
- The Whip - Closed in 2004 although its supports still stand and has yet to be demolished
- Cableway - Operated between 1960 and 2000 and taken down due to high wind speeds
- Spin Doctor - Taken down in December of 2006.
- Alpine Dodgems - Taken down early 2007.
- Black Hole - Removed 2005 to make way for 4D cinema.
- Millenium Bug - Replaced by simulator when it moved to the now defunct Pleasureland , Southport.
There are literally dozens of rides (maybe even hundreds) that have come and gone from the Pleasure Beach over its colourful history - particularly in its early days.
[edit] Other Attractions
- Pasaje Del Terror
- Horror Crypt
- 4D Cinema
- Bowladrome
- Ripley's Believe It Or Not!
- Ice rink
- Arcades
[edit] Shows
- Hot Ice
- Forbidden
- Eclipse
[edit] Food and Drink
- Big Blue Hotel Restaurant-Located inside The Big Blue
- Big Dipper Dogs
- Bourbon Street bar/restaurant - Left side of Ghost Train
- Burger King
- Coasters restaurant
- The Italian Job cafe
- King Cotton bar
- Pies 'n' Fries - Located on Ocean Boulevard
- Pizza Hut - Located on Ocean Boulevard.
- Rib Shack - Right side of the arcade
- Thor's Plaice (With Loki's Bar above it) - Next to Valhalla
There are various other candyfloss , donut, drink, and seafood stalls
[edit] Opening Times
The park's opening hours vary depending on weather conditions and how busy the park is. The park closes for the winter on the Sunday of the first weekend in November and reopens in February the following year.
A small section of the park including the Pepsi Max Big One roller coaster opens for several weekends in November and December.
[edit] Club Pleasure Beach
The Pleasure Beach has its own enthusiast club, called Club Pleasure Beach (formerly called 235 CLUB, named after the height of the Pepsi Max Big One above sea level). It is run as a non profit organization, headed by Barbara Thompson (wife of William Geoffrey Thompson). It was started in 1992 by the park as an initiative to sell advance boarding tickets for the Pepsi Max Big One.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ "Final splash for Blackpool ride", BBC, September 4, 2006.
