Flying Camels was a Jets ride built by Italian manufacturer I.E. Park that was previously located at Lightwater Valley in North Stainley, North Yorkshire, England, UK.
History
The ride was originally built and first operated at Magic Harbor in Surfside Beach, South Carolina, USA as Flying Elephants. It opened at an unknown date. It would operate at the park over various owners over the years, including Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the UK.[1]
When Blackpool Pleasure Beach closed the park after 1986 or later due to uncertainties with its lease, eventually later resorting to selling off its lease in 1993, Flying Elephants was one of the few rides that were removed by them and was transferred to one of their other parks in the UK. The ride reopened at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, UK around 1990 or earlier, retaining the Flying Elephants name and colour scheme from Magic Harbor.[2][3][4][5]
The ride continued to operate at the park until it was removed after the 1998 season as part of a refresh of the Beaver Creek children's area. It was subsequently replaced by Bradley Beaver's Pirate Ship Ride.
In 1999, the ride was then sent to sister park Pleasureland Southport in Southport, Merseyside, England, UK. It reopened there as Flying Camels, with the elephant ride vehicles replaced with camel-shaped ride vehicles to reflect its new location and to be in-keeping with the park's desert theme.
It would continue to operate until Pleasureland Southport was closed by its owner, Blackpool Pleasure Beach on 5 September 2006.
After the park's closure in 2006, Flying Camels was then immediately put up for sale thereafter, awaiting a buyer.
Later that month, the ride was purchased by Lightwater Valley in North Stainley, North Yorkshire, England, UK. It reopened there in 2007, retaining its Flying Camels name and theme from Pleasureland Southport. It would operate there until it was removed at the end of the 2016 season.[6]
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