Drayton Manor Theme Park
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Location | Drayton Bassett, Tamworth, Staffordshire, England |
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Coordinates | 52°36′39″N 1°42′48″W / 52.61083°N 1.71333°WCoordinates: 52°36′39″N 1°42′48″W / 52.61083°N 1.71333°W |
Status | Operating |
Opened | 1 April 1950 |
Owner | Looping Group |
Slogan | Creating Fun Family Memories |
Operating season | Theme Park Main season: March – November Drayton's Magical Christmas: late November to December February Half Term: selected days in February Drayton Manor Zoo Same Times As The Theme Park Drayton Manor Hotel Year-round Conference Centre Year-round |
Area | 180 acres (73 ha) |
Attractions | |
Total | 43 (exc the zoo attractions) |
Roller coasters | 4 |
Water rides | 2 |
Website | draytonmanor |
Drayton Manor Theme Park is a family theme park, zoo and accommodation in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England, UK. It covers 180 acres (73 hectares), of which about 113 acres (46 hectares) are in use, and hosts about 1.5 million people each year. It is the fourth-largest amusement park in the UK by land area at 280 acres (110 hectares). The park is also home to Thomas Land and Drayton Manor Zoo, home to over 100 animals, including Red pandas, Eurasian lynx, Sumatran tigers and a variety of monkeys and gibbons.
On 3 August 2020, Drayton Manor Park was sold[1] to Looping Group,[2] who own two other attractions in the UK, West Midland Safari Park and Pleasurewood Hills.[3]
History[]
The land on which the theme park was built on once belonged to the Peel family. Drayton Manor mansion, built for Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet in 1835, had been reduced to ruins by 1926, with only the clocktower surviving at the park entrance. The British Army requisitioned it as a training post during World War II. After the war, entrepreneurs George and Vera Bryan borrowed £6,000 and bought the land (and the 17 huts that the army had constructed during their stay). In 1950, they opened a small amusement park with just a handful of children's rides. In 1954, Mrs. Molly Badham, who later opened the nearby Twycross Zoo, partnered with the Bryans and opened a zoo to complement the amusement park. The amusement park grew slowly in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, but in the late 1980s, the park began to install bigger and more thrilling rides to attract customers from all over the United Kingdom and to compete with rival theme parks. In 1992 Colin Bryan, George Bryan’s son, became Managing director of the park.
George Bryan is the grandson of the founders of Drayton Manor Park. Along with his brother and cousins, he grew up in the family business, working – albeit unofficially – from the age of 12 or 13. This career began with menial tasks, before progressing to more complex aspects of operations. George Bryan went on to develop expertise throughout the whole business. In 2013 George’s brother, William Bryan, became managing director while George moved out of operations to work at board level
In February 2020, the park suffered flood damage from Storm Dennis.[4] Following this, the park was required to remain shut until July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 3rd August 2020, the park entered administration and was bought by the Looping Group who own various parks, zoos and aquariums around Europe such as Pleasurewood Hills and West Midlands Safari Park. However the Bryan family still play a key part in running the business, with William Bryan’s role being managing director, even though under new ownership.
In December 2020, the park suffered a fire[5] within the Thomas Land area of the park. The blaze started in a toilet block and was deemed accidental by investigators.[6]
In April 2021, the park announced something big was coming and this was called Adventure Cove (a new themed area with new attractions wave swinger and tidal towers), and phase one of the area opened the 30th July 2021 and the New river rapids opened on the 11th August 2021.
At the end of 2021 the park announced something big is soming with the teaser Invading 2022 in a nortic viking style hinting at the fact there may be a new area for 2022
Rides and attractions[]
Thrill Rides[]
# | Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Air Race: Seaside Air Show | 2014 | Zamperla | A Zamperla air race ride, which replaced Black Revolvers. The height limit is 1.2m. |
2 | Shockwave | 1994 | Intamin | A stand-up roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 85 km/h on a 500m long track and reaches a height of "almost" 36m with 4 inversions: a loop, a zero-gravity roll and a double corkscrew. The height limit is 1.4m. After 1994 (when "Stand Up" from Skara Sommerland, Sweden was relocated to La Ronde, Canada as "Cobra") and up to 2014 (after which "Freestyle" opened at Cavallino Matto, Italy, after being relocated there from Canada's Wonderland where it operated as "SkyRider"), it was the only stand-up roller coaster in Europe, but it is still the only one with a zero-gravity roll in the world. It is also the only Intamin stand-up coaster left in operation after Cobra at La Ronde closed in 2016. In 2021 closed season it had a refurbishment which included the repaint of the station building. |
3 | Maelstrom | 2002 | Intamin | A gyro swing ride with 32 outward-facing seats on a circular gondola. The height limit is 1.3m & 2m max. |
4 | Stormforce 10 | 1999 | BEAR GmbH | A 500m long flume ride formerly sponsored by the RNLI and has 3 drops including a 9m backwards drop. The height & age limit is 1.3m/14 Y.O alone, the ride underwent a refit in 2017. |
5 | The Bounty Pirate Ship | 2007 | Intamin | A swinging pirate ship that swings to an angle of 75 degrees. The height limit is 1.2m. The Bounty replaced the old Pirate Ship which operated until 2006. |
6 | Apocalypse | 2000 | Intamin | A stand-up and sit-down drop tower ride with a 54m drop. The height limit is 1.2m for sit-down and 1.4m for stand-up. It was the first stand-up drop tower in the world. |
Family Attractions[]
# | Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Polperro Express Train | 1971/2003 | Severn Lamb | A 2 ft long (610 mm) narrow gauge train ride that goes around the park via the Adventure Cove River Rapids (was Splash Canyon) and Shockwave. The new Polperro Express locomotive (2003) is based on the Severn Lamb Texan model with a face lift to be a more English style loco/train rather than classic western American. |
2 | Carousel | 1958 | Savage | A vintage merry go round ride. The height limit is 1.1m alone. |
3 | Jolly Buccaneer | 1992 | Mack Rides | A spinning boat with a pirate theme. The height limit is 1.2m alone |
4 | Dodgems Ahoy | 1990 | I.E. Park | A dodgems ride with a pirate theme. The height limit is 1.2m & 8 Y.O with an adult and 1.45m & 12 Y.O to drive. The ride undergone a refit in the 2017. |
5 | Buffalo Rollercoaster | 1987 | Zamperla | A powered roller coaster that goes over the lake for added effect. The height limit is 1m alone. |
6 | Flying Dutchman | 1983 | Intamin | A wave swinger ride. The height limit is 1m. |
7 | Accelerator | 2011/2017 | Vekoma | A junior boomerang roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 62 km/h on a 180m long track and reaches a height of 20m. The height limit is 1m and the rider must be over 4 years old. Riders below 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult. |
8 | Drunken Barrels | 2006 | Intamin | A teacup style spinning barrels ride on a circular platform that has an extending arm that lifts the platform up to 45 degrees. The height limit is 1.1m. Drunken Barrels replaced Cyclone a HUSS Enterprise that's now at Thorpe Park under the name 'Zodiac'. |
9 | Sheriff's Showdown | 2000/2018 | I.E. Park | An indoor laser shoot out ride with a wild west theme. The height limit is 1m. It was previously known as "Golden Nuggets: Wild West Shootout" until it was refurbished in 2018, with a new gun system and new themeing elements. |
10 | The Haunting | 1996 | Vekoma | A madhouse ride themed as an old and haunted vicarage. The height limit is 1.2m alone. The attraction had a minor refurbishment with a different story in 2016. |
11 | 4D Cinema | 2009 | Simworx | A 4D[7] cinema which shows a short film. In the 2021 season it will be showing Thomas & Friends 4-D Bubbling Boilers. |
12 | Bryan's Works Museum (The Museum) | 1990 | Unknown | A large collection of penny slot machines. |
13 | Crazy Golf | 1992 | Unknown | A crazy golf course. |
14 | Tiny Tots Play Farm | 2019 | Unknown | Small play park located at the back end of the zoo next to the Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition |
15 | Wave Swinger | 2021 | Zierer | A Zierer Waveswinger, themed as part of Adventure Cove with a minimum height restriction of 1.0m to ride and a height of 1.2m to ride alone the attraction offers double and single seats with a capacity of 40 all together on the attraction at one time. |
16 | Tidal Towers | 2021 | Outdoor Play UK | A themed kid's climbing area with slide towers, forming part of the new for 2021 area 'Adventure Cove'. |
17 | The Adventure Cove River Rapids | 1993/2021 | Intamin | A 455m long river rapids ride. The height limit is 0.9m with an adult and 1.1m alone. Originally known as Splash Canyon 1993-2017, now open with all new boats, effects and theming around the whole attraction. |
Thomas Land Attractions[]
# | Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Emily's Adventure Play | 2008 | Unknown | An indoor soft play area. |
2 | Winston's Whistle-Stop Tour | 2013 | Zamperla | An aerial monorail style attraction with commentary taking you around Thomas Land. |
3 | Lady's Carousel | 2008 | Zamperla | A junior carousel ride. |
4 | Sodor Classic Cars, Originally Classic Cars | 1972 (Updated in 2008) | Supercar | A car ride that was re-themed to fit the area that is now known as Thomas Land, after Robinson's Land was dismantled. |
5 | Bertie Bus | 2008 | Zamperla | A crazy bus ride. In partnership with Arriva. |
6 | Harold's Helicopter Tours | 2008 | Zamperla | A samba tower ride. Features Tidmouth Sheds outside with Edward, Henry, Gordon, Toby and Rosie. |
7 | Cranky's Drop Tower | 2008 | Zamperla | An 8m high sky drop ride. |
8 | Rocking Bulstrode | 2008 | Zamperla | A rocking tug ride. |
9 | Blue Mountain | 2011 | Zamperla | A junior regetta ride. Relocated in 2015 in the new Thomas Land expansion. |
10 | Toby's Tram Express | 2015 | Zamperla | A barnyard ride. |
11 | Flynn´s Fire Rescue | 2015 | Zamperla | A fire brigade ride. In partnership with West Midlands Fire Service. |
12 | Captain's Sea Adventure | 2015 | Zamperla | A watermania ride. |
13 | Troublesome Trucks Runaway Rollercoaster | 2008 | Gerstlauer | A junior roller coaster located in Thomas Land. The height limit is 1m with an adult and 1.2m alone. |
14 | Thomas, Rosie and Percy Engine Tours | 2008 | Metallbau Emmeln | A themed train ride that takes you from the Thomas Land area to the zoo. Thomas and Percy were the original engines, with Rosie being added in 2009. The Rosie locomotive was repainted from pink to burgundy in 2019, in line with the TV series. |
15 | Jeremy Jet's Flying Academy | 2008 | Zamperla | An aero top jet ride. |
16 | Diesel's Locomotive Mayhem | 2008 | Zamperla | A demolition derby ride featuring themed cars resembling Diesel, Mavis, Bert, Salty, Dennis and Rusty. |
17 | Spencer's Outdoor Adventure | 2008 | Unknown | An outdoor adventure play area. |
18 | Terence's Driving School | 2008 | SB International | A driving school ride. Relocated in 2011 to the back end of the zoo near the exhibition. |
19 | Discover Thomas & Friends Exhibition | 2009 | HIT Entertainment | An indoor miniature model railway exhibition with the original models from the first twelve series of the TV series. |
20 | James and the Red Balloon | 2017 | Zamperla | A samba balloon ride located at the back of the Thomas Land expansion area that opened in 2015. |
Other Attractions[]
# | Name | Opened | Description |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Dino Trail | 2010 | Walk-through prehistoric dinosaurs. |
2 | HB Leisure Games | 1994 | A number of arcade games. |
3 | Tamarin Trail | 2016 | A walk through attraction where you can see a number of tamarins. |
Past Rides & Attractions[]
# | Name | Opened | Closed | Manufacturer | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Log Flume | 1981 | 1998 | Reverchon Industries | The original Log Flume replaced by Stormforce 10. Parts of the original Log Flume were used to lengthen Klondike Creek that used to be at Flamingo Land. |
2 | Klondike Gold Mine (Python Coaster) | 1984/1995 | 2004 | Pinfari | A Pinfari Zyklon ZL-42 roller coaster that was sold to Funland in Hayling Island (Now removed there) and replaced by G-Force. Now travelling. |
3 | G Force | 2005 | 2018 | Maurer Söhne | The world's first X-Car steel rollercoaster with a unique Loop inversion lift hill that reached speeds of 43 mph (70 km) on a 1263 ft long track (385m) and a height of 82 ft (25m) with 3 inversions; loop, bent Cuban eight (sidewinder immediately followed by a cutback) height limit 1.35m. Closed after maintenance issues and it constantly broke down. It did not operate for the 2019 Season and was deconstructed during the 2019-2020 off season. The ride is currently in storage in The Netherlands and has since been replaced by a new outdoor play area called Tidal Towers and a waveswinger. |
4 | Jumbo Jet | 1981 | 1983 | Anton Schwarzkopf | A City Jet coaster replaced by Python Looping Coaster. Was subsequently moved to Nigloland in France and now operates at Parc de la Vallée. |
5 | Super Dragon | 1984 | 2007 | Pinfari | A Pinfari MD31 coaster that was sold to Funland in Hayling Island & replaced by Troublesome Trucks. |
6 | Haunted Crypt | c.1970s | 2001 | Orton & Spooner | A ghost train ride, later replaced by an indoor play area. |
7 | Paratower | 1982 | 1997 | Vekoma | A Parachute Tower, sold to Pleasure Island Family Theme Park |
8 | Black Revolver | 1980 | 2010 | Jackson | An enclosed waltzer. Replaced by Air Race. Now operates at Rainbow Park, Hunstanton, replaced by air race. |
9 | Sombrero | 1998 | 2010 | Soriani & Moser | A Polyp ride replaced by Accelerator. |
10 | Jungle Cruise | 1976 | 2001 | Alan Hawes/Bennett | A river raft ride replaced by Excalibur. |
11 | Excalibur | 2003 | 2011 | BEAR GmbH | Tow boat ride that took riders on a humorous tour of a Medieval village with an indoor finale. Designed by Farmer Studios. The boats are in a storage area by the hotel and many themeing elements can be found on the lake to this day. |
12 | Sky Flyer | 1989 | 2003 | Vekoma | Vekoma Skyflyer, opened by John Pertwee. Upgraded to Pandemonium in 2004. |
13 | Tea Cups | 1988 | 2004 | Zamperla | A Tea Cups ride replaced by G-Force. Now located at Adventure Wonderland. |
14 | Pirate Ship | 1982 | 2003 | HUSS Park Attractions | A Pirate Ship replaced by Bounty. G-Force stood where Pirate Ship once was. |
15 | Snake Train | 1950 | 1995 | In House | A land train replaced by The Haunting. |
16 | Cyclone | 2003 | 2005 | HUSS Park Attractions | An Enterprise ride, relocated to Thorpe Park as Zodiac. |
17 | Cine 180 | 1985 | 2003 | OmniVision Technologies & Ferretti Brothers | A 180-degree cinema. |
18 | Balloon Race | 1987 | 1997 | Zamperla | A Wave Swinger ride where Maelstrom is currently located. |
19 | Quasar | 1985 | 1987 | A.R.M. | Sold to showman Michael Phillips in September 1987. |
20 | Octopus | 1984 | 1997 | Soriani & Moser | Polyp ride. |
21 | Rowing Boats | 1950 | c.1997 | Rowing Boats on the lake that were removed due to the popularity of Drayton Queen. | |
22 | Junior Carousel | 1986 | 2007 | Modern Products | A carousel. |
23 | Flying Jumbos | 1998 | 2007 | Zamperla | Elephant shaped jets. |
24 | Junior Combat Star | 1986 | 1997 | Modern Products | Junior Jets. |
25 | Cadbury's Junior Pirate Ship (Operated By Cadbury) | 1986 | 2007 | Modern Products | Junior Pirate Ship. Was sold to Funland in Hayling Island but has now been removed there. |
26 | Kiddie Concorde Jets | 1986 | 1997 | Modern Products | Junior Jets. |
27 | Lunar Carousel | 1986 | 2007 | I.E. Park | Carousel |
28 | Giant Slide | 1985 | 2002 | Astroglide. | |
29 | Cleo | 1986 | 1997 | Modern Products | Junior magic carpet. |
30 | Red Baron | 1986 | 1997 | Soriani & Moser | Junior Jets. |
31 | Ladybirds | 1986 | 2007 | Modern Products | |
32 | Frog Hopper | 1998 | 2007 | Zamperla | A Small drop tower. Sold to Funland in Hayling Island. |
33 | Mini Balloons | 1998 | 2007 | Zamperla | Samba Balloons. Sold to Funland in Hayling Island. |
34 | Arriva Crazy Bus | 1998 | 2007 | Zamperla | Crazy Bus converted to Bertie Bus. |
35 | Whirly Copters | 1998 | 2007 | Modern Products | Junior Ferris Wheel. Was sold to Funland in Hayling Island but has now been removed there. |
36 | Waltzer | 1965 | 1979 | Lakin | Replaced by a newer model in 1980. |
37 | Dodgems | 1952 | 1989 | Orton & Spooner | Replaced by a new set in 1990. |
38 | Roller Coaster | 1960s | 1983 | Supercar | Small oval roller coaster. Replaced by Super Dragon. |
39 | Pirate Raft Ride | 1998 | 2007 | Zamperla | Junior jets. Relocated to Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach. |
40 | Jolly Roger | 2004 | 2007 | Zamperla | Rockin Tug Pirate Ship. Converted to Bulstrode |
41 | Mississippi Showboat | 1988 | 1994 | S.D.C | A showboat-themed fun house. Closed and didn't operate for the 1994 season. Was left SBNO at Drayton Manor for years until the end of 2016 when it was removed. |
42 | Big Wheel | 1986 | 2017 | Helmut Hauser | A ferris Wheel. Replaced by a pay for ride themed around Accelerator. It is now located at Billing Aquadrome outside Northampton Northamptonshire |
43 | Pirate Adventure | 1990 | 2015 | Mack Rides | A pirate themed water dark ride inspired from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. It closed in 2016 with various parts sold off at a private auction in 2020. Boats for the ride are still on site and located in a storage area by the hotel. |
44 | Chair Lift | 1964 | 2017 | British Chairlifts | The chair lift offered a view from the entrance to the back of the park; height limit none / 16 years alone. Removed and put into storage. The ride closed with no statement given. Some gondolas are for sale in the surf shack/stormforce 10 shop, selling for £1200 each. |
45 | Drayton Queen | 1992 | 2016 | Severn Lamb | The Drayton Queen was a paddleboat that gave people rides around the lake, in the 2018 season it was decommissioned and left in a storage area by Splash canyon. In the 2019 season it was moved to a storage area by the hotel, which is where it is today and can be seen over the fence under a black cover. |
46 | VertiGo | 2016 | 2019 | Ropes Course, Inc | A high ropes adventure course. |
47 | Pandemonium | 2004 | 2021 | Fabbri | A 360° swinging inverter ride which in turn was upgraded from an old Vekoma swinging inverter called the sky flyer. The ride was retired on 31/10/2021 for future park developments |
Zoo[]
Drayton Manor is also home to a 15-acre (6 ha) zoo. It contains over 100 species from all over the world.
Accommodation[]
Drayton Manor Hotel[]
In 2009, plans for a hotel at Drayton Manor were submitted to Lichfield District Council. Planning permission for the hotel was granted in 2007, though the applicants felt that the scheme could benefit from further improvements without increasing the site area required.
The 4-star hotel with 150 well-appointed contemporary guest rooms including 15 Thomas & Friends themed bedrooms is designed to primarily meet the demand from park visitors as the park is attracting families from all over the UK, especially since the arrival of Thomas Land.
The Camping and Caravanning Club[]
The Camping and Caravan Club have a site at Drayton Manor. On the site there is 90 pitches, Glamping tents (available through Ready Camp) and a children's playground.
References[]
- ^ "Drayton Manor Park sold to European Company". Tamworth Informed. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Our leisure parks | Groupe Looping".
- ^ "Drayton Manor theme park sold after entering administration". BBC News. 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Drayton Manor closes due to flooding in the aftermath of Storm Dennis". Tamworth Informed. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Large fire breaks out at Drayton Manor Park". Tamworth Informed. 15 December 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Drayton Manor blaze declared 'Accidental' by Fire Investigators". Tamworth Informed. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Drayton Manor | 2020 Rides". Drayton Manor Park. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Drayton Manor Theme Park. |
- Operating amusement parks
- Amusement parks in England
- Zoos in England
- Tourist attractions in Staffordshire
- Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom
- 1950 establishments in England