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Drayton Manor Park

Just going back to the Pirate Adventure discussion (yes I know I’m late to the party with this one), I last rode it in November 2014, during the fireworks event.

To say that it has been closed for a decade isn’t true. The boats are all still on site, the ride system is undercover and therefore not exposed to the elements, and with some investment could, in theory, re-open more easily than a ride which has sat dormant out in the open for years.

I’d say that a refurb and reopening aren’t completely out of the question.
 
I stand corrected, it has been clapped out for a decade.
I last rode it around 2010, and it was a poor imitation of the original ride by then...sluggish flow, clapped out effects, poor animation (as it always was!).
We were advised it was beyond economic repair, because of difficult pump access, at least five years ago.
Metal parts corrode.
Electric wiring systems get beyond their safe lifespan.
Concrete, especially when mixed with water, tends to slowly rot away structurally, if not on the surface.
As I say...time will tell, but there is no quick, cheap fix.
If it involves millions, they would be better spent on the new over the water coaster they have been talking about for twenty years.
 
One thing I will say abut PA, is that all the staff I have talked to are under the impression that the final nail in the coffin for its closure was a "Major mechanical failure" involving "the pumps and pump impellers." If that is true, it would suggest that some new systems would have to be in place to repair this, which would most certainly need the draining of the entire ride (Pumps always being located at the bottom of the sump pool) that would definitely be noticeable if it was done when guests were in the park. Also, do consider that the park has flooded in that area, such as in storm Dennis, which would cause further damage to the ride, and any work undertaken.
 
I'm sure we will continue talking about Pirates Adventure, its reopening or its replacement until something does reopen or replace it in that building...

I'm not saying it isn't a big job, and its likely it does require considerable funds to fix otherwise I agree I suspect it would have just been fixed in the first place. Especially since it had new lighting install just a year or so before it closed suggesting then there was no intention of closing it. Firstly I think given the Rapids was SBNO for nearly 4 years with the concrete outside and lots of work done for its reopening shows it /can/ be done. Now I suspect it if needs new pumps etc that can be done not sure if there were new pumps for Rapids or not but I'm sure that can be done. Another thing I have said before in favour of reopening now is Pireten in Batavia rebuild, giving Mack rides the recent expertise to this ride system after they stopped making them many years ago. Being inside will likly have protected it from the worst of the elements and it will likely have been drained many years ago. Also as others have said Looping group do have a history of restoring ride systems at their parks not just Rapids but also a coaster at Pleasurewood Hills. I know old broken scraps of Pirates were sold so I would expect it would be a largely new build of sets etc but I could still defiantly see a Pirates 2.0 in there up until the point we see something else in there. Its a major site and it fits Draytons new direction perfectly.

Lets hope they reopen it soon so the forum can move onto the next endless conversation... when will Excalibur reopen ;)
 
Wasn't Piraten in Batvia rebuilt using a newer and more modern Mack system? I may be wrong, but I thought they used a different system than the classic Free Flow system using trough mounted pumps. If they did use the older system, then I don't see why they couldn't supply Drayton with the parts they would require to get Pirate Adventure up and running.
 
Ciaran said:
Wasn't Piraten in Batvia rebuilt using a newer and more modern Mack system? I may be wrong, but I thought they used a different system than the classic Free Flow system using trough mounted pumps. If they did use the older system, then I don't see why they couldn't supply Drayton with the parts they would require to get Pirate Adventure up and running.
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It was a ground up rebuild of course. So it was a newer system because they had to relearn how to make the ride type as they hadn't supplied the ride type since the 90s but they did. So I imagine it does have some improvements over the original but its still essentially the same ride system. I believe the Drayton one may be the only original Mack free flow boat system still in existence after the Ballewerde one and Batavia ones. I listened to a Podcast with the park manager of Europa park on the rebuild of Batavia he said it wasn't in the Mack catalogue anymore but was on the 'unofficial catalogue' in other words Europa park wanted Batavia back so they didn't mind paying extra for it but a nice side effect is Mack rides now freshly have the knowledge/capabilities to build a new version. How adaptable to the old version that knowledge is though I'm not sure.
 
On a slightly related tangent, about 10 years ago, the park published a book on its history, "George and Vera Bryan's memories of a family fun park." They were giving them away free last year to shift them, but on the very last chapter, Colin Bryan discussed his plans for the park, involving the development of a large waterpark, over the road from Vikings, and the hotel was the first part of this, with the councils planning department listing it as a "Desirable development and expansion plan." Obviously this has yet to materialise, and slowly disappeared into obscurity, But the story didn't end there (Wrong park I know, but I've always wanted to do that) The plans showed the closure of the Apoc entrance, and moving that all to the now Viking's entrance, and moreover, in 2020/21 DMP/Looping filed applications that were granted to build some Log cabins for glamping on the campsite, which I am pretty sure have materialised, crucially, in the site and manner as on the waterpark concept. Looping may have just taken that from the plan, but with the bigger budget they now have, could we see a long term plan to construct a water park at Drayton Manor, and finally fill out the title of resort?
 
Personally, I think Drayton Manor needs to develop the park a little more before expanding their accommodation offering, unless they do plan to expand the resort. This could just be my personal taste, but I don’t currently see Drayton Manor as a 2-day park, and I’m not sure too many would unless they’re really into Thomas.
 
Matt N said:
Personally, I think Drayton Manor needs to develop the park a little more before expanding their accommodation offering, unless they do plan to expand the resort. This could just be my personal taste, but I don’t currently see Drayton Manor as a 2-day park, and I’m not sure too many would unless they’re really into Thomas.
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Thats why a water park would be perfect. One day on the main park and one day (or a half day) at the water park.
 
The pumps are literally just pumps, almost like industrial pond pumps, placed at strategic locations along the ride's trough. Hardly a big job to replace them to be fair. No sumps, nothing like that.

Nothing like river rapid pumps or even the water wheel system that supplied Toyland Tours. I beleive, like Pirates of the Caribbean, Europa's Pirate ride still uses the same pump system. It is the only effective way to get a water flow in the trough when you consider the trough is slightly submerged in water (giving the impression the ride is in a lake). The waterwheel type used on Toyland and Alton's riverboat would not work, as the momentum of the flowing water gets lost very quickly due to the trough being slightly submerged. The only way you can do it is by pumps along the length of the ride.
 
immelmanloop said:
On a slightly related tangent, about 10 years ago, the park published a book on its history, "George and Vera Bryan's memories of a family fun park." They were giving them away free last year to shift them, but on the very last chapter, Colin Bryan discussed his plans for the park, involving the development of a large waterpark, over the road from Vikings, and the hotel was the first part of this, with the councils planning department listing it as a "Desirable development and expansion plan." Obviously this has yet to materialise, and slowly disappeared into obscurity, But the story didn't end there (Wrong park I know, but I've always wanted to do that) The plans showed the closure of the Apoc entrance, and moving that all to the now Viking's entrance, and moreover, in 2020/21 DMP/Looping filed applications that were granted to build some Log cabins for glamping on the campsite, which I am pretty sure have materialised, crucially, in the site and manner as on the waterpark concept. Looping may have just taken that from the plan, but with the bigger budget they now have, could we see a long term plan to construct a water park at Drayton Manor, and finally fill out the title of resort?
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Never need too much of an excuse to crack out the old DMP Waterpark plans. That said, they really were so much more than just a waterpark. Looking back at them now, they were incredibly ambitious, and you can't help but wonder what might have happened had they realised these ambitions at the time:
DMP Waterpark.jpg
 
Squiggs said:
Never need too much of an excuse to crack out the old DMP Waterpark plans. That said, they really were so much more than just a waterpark. Looking back at them now, they were incredibly ambitious, and you can't help but wonder what might have happened had they realised these ambitions at the time:
DMP Waterpark.jpg
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Wow those plans are ambitious!

Enter Valhalla said:
In the back of my memory, I seem to recall that West Midland Safari Park had planned to open a water park, but it fell through.
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I think the locals aren’t too happy that WMSP cancelled the hotel & waterpark as the Wyre Forest Glades pool had several flumes and a rapids river but was replaced with a standard swimming pool as the council expected WMSP would fill the gap for a leisure pool with the new waterpark.

I’m guessing they just didn’t see the return on investment of the hotel being worth it, as they have built those couple of lodges instead.
 
speaking about this wasn't there plans to have a second hotel built in the park under the Bryans on the old cedar fish and chips land next to the Hamilton suite, and also wasn't there plans to build holiday loges on the campsite too
 
How much money does AT water park make I wonder. It's obviously a revenue stream in the off season too which helps cash flow.

A water Park might actually be a good idea if there isn't anything local to compete with.
 
There’s Waterworld in stoke, AT waterpark both which are about an hour away, and The Wave in Coventry which is about 30mins away according to Google maps.

No idea if it would be viable for them, but I’d visit a water park at Drayton if they built one.

A splash park on site similar to what they have at Paulton’s or Legoland would be a good idea I reckon.
 
BigShadowtinytree said:
A splash park on site similar to what they have at Paulton’s or Legoland would be a good idea I reckon.
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I’m not a parent so no idea what parents with toddlers think of them, but I’m not convinced those outdoor splash parks are a good investment as part of a theme park. Given the British weather it just doesn’t seem there is more than two months where they are actually usable. Or if used in cooler weather then need to plan changes of clothes or swimwear for the little ones.
Far better to have one as part of a waterpark I think.
 
jon81uk said:
I’m not a parent so no idea what parents with toddlers think of them, but I’m not convinced those outdoor splash parks are a good investment as part of a theme park. Given the British weather it just doesn’t seem there is more than two months where they are actually usable. Or if used in cooler weather then need to plan changes of clothes or swimwear for the little ones.
Far better to have one as part of a waterpark I think.
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My children really enjoyed the splash park at Paulton’s last year. Went near the end of May and we were lucky with the weather, they spent a good hour or so in there whilst we could sit and have a rest. Personally I do see the appeal of them, but of course it does depend on the weather and we are not always blessed with good weather in England so I’m inclined to agree that a water park would be a better investment but a splash park wouldn’t be the worst thing they could do either.
 
They were originally gonna get a splash zone and the horse tracked ride as G-Force replacement under the Bryan’s ownership.
My son loves standing by the fence by the stormforce 10 waterfalls.
There was planning permission accepted for the 2nd hotel in 2013 and it was gonna be called the George Hamilton hotel after his dad. He had hoped construction would have started in 2015 but opted for the Thomas land expansion instead.
 
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