Amusement Today

<p>Sorry, your browser does not support iframes.</p>

Weather Conditions
Type in your zip code for your local forecast

World’s first heritage amusement park planned

Andrew Mellor Amusement Today

Plans for the recreation of a permanent, traditional seaside amusement park on the site of the former Dreamland Amusement Park in Margate, Kent, U.K., are currently taking significant steps towards reality.

RENDERING COURTESY DREAMLAND TRUST Plans are in the pipeline for the world’s first heritage amusement park in the U.K. It would include the rebuilding of historic Scenic Railway coaster.

The Dreamland Trust, which administers the Save Dreamland Campaign, plans to establish the world’s first heritage amusement park on the site, recreating the type of park that could be found up and down the coast of Britain during most of the last century. Architects Levitt Bernstein, in conjunction with international theme park designer Jean-Marc Toussaint, have created the masterplan for the proposed £12 million (U.S. $18.2 million) attraction, which will be built around the Grade II-listed Scenic Railway ride, the oldest roller coaster in the country.

The redeveloped park will include some of the last surviving examples of popular amusement rides, several of which have already been acquired, and the current plans show a site of approximately nine acres, incorporating the well-known cinema building which adjoined the original park, cafés, restaurants, shops and parking.

The development will be carried out in two phases, the first of which will begin in January 2010 with a view to completion in mid 2011. Work will include the restoration of the façade of the cinema, restaurant and lower ground floor, the rebuilding of the Scenic Railway and the refurbishment and installation of a number of rides rescued from across the U.K. Phase two is due to start in January 2012 and will feature a major performance and entertainment venue and exhibition space.

Much support for the project has been forthcoming from local groups and authorities and grant funding has been applied for to progress the plans. Chair of the Dreamland Trust, Nick Laister, said: “We were successful in winning a DCMS (the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport) ‘Sea Change’ grant last year and, with additional funding from Dreamland’s owners, Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, and the Margate Renewal Partnership, we have been able to appoint specialist advisers who are starting to bring our plans to reality.

“Dreamland will recreate a large, thrilling, permanent seaside amusement park of the sort that could be found around the coast of Britain throughout most of the last century, but has now largely disappeared.” Additional grant funding has also now been applied for.

Conny-Land set to open new ABC water ride

A new interactive boat ride from Swiss company ABC Rides is due to open at Conny-Land in Switzerland this month.

The new attraction, Voodoo Island, will be accommodated in the south west area of the park, behind the chateau/ park theatre, and will be 250 meters (820 feet) in length and feature six, four-seater boats incorporating a water canon for each rider. Suitable for all the family, it will have an hourly capacity of approximately 650 and represents an investment of CHF2.2 million (U.S. $2 million) for the park. Decoration and theming of the ride was carried out by Neverland Themepark Projects in Belgium. Conny-Land

In addition to the new water ride, Conny-Land has also been awaiting the arrival of a Pax Design-built Cobra roller coaster which was originally due to open at the park in 2007. According to park director Roby Gasser, the first four truck loads of parts arrived in February this year with others following, and now around two thirds of the coaster is builtup. However, further delays are now being experienced with the remaining items required to complete the ride.

“The Russian manufacturer Pax Design was supposed to deliver the ride two years ago,” commented Gasser, “and set three new build-up times since then but it is still not finished. We still do not know when it will open, which is a big disappointment for us but more so for our customers. It also makes us look like we do not have the money to finish the project.”

When it is eventually completed, the Cobra will cover a ground area of 132 meters by 12 meters (433 ft. by 39 ft.) and will feature a track of 250 meters (820 ft.). It will take riders up to a maximum height of 36 meters (118 ft.) in an 18-seater train and will ride approximately 720 people per hour.

Conny-Land

PHOTOS COURTESY CONNY-LAND
Top photo: A model of the new Voodoo Island water ride due to open this month at Conny-Land. Above: The Cobra coaster will become one of the main features at the Switzerland park.

BRIEF

Prime Play opens first, largest Foam Factory in Middle East

Family entertainment reaches a new high in Bahrain as the Kingdom welcomes its latest entertainment center. The Bahrain City Center shopping mall features Magic Planet, an indoor amusement park featuring several international awardwinning rides and games including the first and largest Foam Factory.

The Foam Factory by Prime Play is a proven state of the art attraction that is designed to allow families to play together. The unique, custom-designed Interactive BallPlay system combines interaction with innovation, featuring many interactive components, multi-level platforms, foam ball geysers, moving targets, blasters, tunnels and slides. Participants can propel, throw, raise, vacuum and dump 50,000 foam balls throughout the attraction providing hours of entertainment for families, groups and special events. The Foam Factory is a durable attraction that stands up to the high traffic of entertainment facilities that have a “shoes on” environment.

Prime Play continues to be the worldwide leading manufacturer of creative play systems with installations in over 60 countries