The ride was the only of its type to be built by Vekoma, to a design under license from the USA-based Wisdom Industries. Wisdom Industries built many examples of the ride, and also licensed its design to A.R.M. in the UK and Ferrari in Australia[1]. It was new to Pat Collins of Barry Island Pleasure Park in 1986.[2] It would only remain at the park until the end of the 1987 season.
In 1990 the Gravitron opened at Alton Towers, replacing the Turbo Star in Fantasy World[3]. Only a short spell at the park followed, and (as with many of the other ‘smaller’ rides at the park) it was disposed of around the time Tussauds took over the park.
Flamingo Land was the next stop for the Gravitron, and it operated for a single season in 1992 following its purchase from Alton Towers. For the 1993 season the ride was transferred to brand new sister park Pleasure Island Family Theme Park in Cleethorpes.[4] Again, only a single season of operation followed, and the ride was returned to Flamingo Land, being advertised ‘as new’ for the 1994 season.[5] After yet another single season of operation the Gravitron was again sent to sister park Pleasure Island, however this time the ride would remain at the park until the park’s closure at the end of 2016[6].
