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American Adventure Theme Park

Amusement park in UK
American Adventure in 1996
American Adventure Theme Park
Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, UK
Status
Opened
1985
Closed
2006
History
American Adventure Theme Park
2003 - 2006
American Adventure
2000 - 2002
American Adventure World
1998 - 1999
American Adventure
1987 - 1997
Britannia Park
1985


American Adventure Theme Park was an American-themed theme park located in Derbyshire, England, UK.

History

It was originally opened by the British Coal Board as "Britannia Park" in 1985, however the park only lasted 20 weeks due to financial problems.[1] The park was reopened as American Adventure, a Wild West theme park by Park Hall Leisure (then owners of Camelot Theme Park) in June 1987.[2] Park Hall Leisure itself was a subsidiary of Granada.[3][4]

In 1997 the park was sold to a new company called Ventureworld, headed by former Trentham Estate and Alton Towers boss John Broome. This resulted in a name change to "American Adventure World" for the park. After only a couple of seasons John Broome left the park, and it was sold to Leisure Parcs, with the park's name reverting to "American Adventure". Attendance figures dropped sharply during the early 2000s, and very little investment was made into the park. The final season for the park was 2006, which was by now concentrating on smaller children, with old thrill rides such as "The Missile" roller coaster and Nightmare Niagra left standing but not operating. The closure was due to low visitor numbers.

In January 2007, it was announced that the park would not be reopening.[5]

The area where the park stood has since been redeveloped as housing and a care home.[6]

Past coasters

Class Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Powered Buffalo Ride Zamperla Sit-Down June 1987 2006 Relocated to Twinlakes Park
Roller Mini Mine Rush Zamperla Kiddie April 8, 2006 2006 Relocated to Flamingo Land
Roller Missile Vekoma Shuttle July 4, 1989 2004 Relocated to Pleasurewood Hills
Powered Runaway Train Big Country Motioneering Sit-Down June 1987 2006 Travelling UK
Roller Twin Looper Soquet Sit-Down 1995 2006 Relocated to Śląskie Wesołe Miasteczko

Closed attractions

Name Manufacturer Type Opened Closed Fate
Asteroid Sam Ward Round-Up 1992 1992 Travelling UK
Balloon Ride Zamperla Balloon Race 1988 2006 Relocated to Billing Aquadrome
Boston Tea Party SDC Trabant/Satellite 1987 1988 Relocated to West Midland Safari Park
Bronco Buggies Zamperla Jump Around 2005 2006 Relocated to West Midland Safari Park
Canyon Trip Vekoma Canyon Trip 1991 1993 Relocated to Camelot Theme Park
Carousel I.E. Park Junior Carousel 2000s 2006 Relocated to West Midland Safari Park
Carousel Round-Up Zamperla Junior Carousel 1987 1990s Relocated to Camelot Theme Park
Century 2000 J. Bakker Denies Ramba Zamba 1985 1985 Relocated to Barry Island Pleasure Park
Custer's Carousel Chance Rides Carousel Unknown 2006 Relocated to Flambards Theme Park
Cyber Storm C&S Dodgems 1997 2006 Relocated to Flamingo Land
Dive Bomber Lusse Roll-O-Plane 1991 1994 Sold to John H. Rundle
Dodgems Unknown Dodgems 1985 1985 Unknown
Dream Dancer R.J. Lakin Waltzer 1991 1997 Relocated to Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach
Fire Brigade Zamperla Fire Brigade 2005 2006 Relocated to West Midland Safari Park
Flying Island Vekoma Flying Island 1998 1999 Exported
G-Force HUSS Ben Hur 1989 1991/2 Sold
Giant Slide Harry Steer Engineering Giant Slide 1985 1985 Reused at park
Helter Skelter Supercar Helter Skelter 1988 2006 Travelling UK
High Sierra Zamperla Ferris Wheel 1987 2006 Relocated to Billing Aquadrome
Hully Gully A.R.M. Trabant/Satellite 1985 1985 Exported Australia
Junior Clipper Modern Products Junior Pirate Ship 1987 2006 Relocated to Robin Hoods Wheelgate Park
Miniature Railroad Severn Lamb Miniature Railway 1985 1985 SBNO (later reused)
Nightmare Niagra Big Country Motioneering Log Flume 1987 2003 SBNO (later scrapped)
Rio Grande Train Zamperla Junior Railway 1987 2006 Relocated to Flambards Theme Park
Rockin' Tug Zamperla Rockin' Tug 2006 2006 Relocated to Flambards Theme Park
Rocky Mountain Rapids Big Country Motioneering River Rapids 1988 2006 Scrapped
Round-Up Hrubetz Round-Up 1985 1985 Sold
Santa-Fe Railroad Severn Lamb Miniature Railway 1987 2006 Relocated to Twinlakes Park
Skycoaster Sky Fun 1 Inc. Skycoaster 1997 2006 Sold
Snake Island Zapfun Tube Slide 1987 2006 Unknown
Starbase Slide Harry Steer Engineering Giant Slide 1987 2003 Scrapped
Tennessee Tentacles Soriani & Moser Polyp 1987 2006 Relocated to Haghtanak Park
Yankee Clipper Zamperla Pirate Ship 1987 2006 Relocated to Twinlakes Park

References

  1. http://www.heanorhistory.org.uk/britanniapark.htm
  2. https://www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk/news/ventureworld-s-american-dream-is-now-finally-over-1-719209
  3. "Theme-park role for Bovis". Manchester Evening News. 1989-01-17. p. 18. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  4. "Courting financiers to join the very latest roller-coaster ride". The Guardian. 1987-12-31. p. 23. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  5. "Theme park will close its doors". BBC News. 2007-01-04. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  6. "American Adventure: 'Our housing estate used to be a theme park'". BBC News. 2025-02-01. Retrieved 2025-02-27.

External links