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Drayton Manor Park

It does say © 2022 at the bottom of the page, so I would assume they are still going.

Not difficult to automate that with a small script. Means nothing in this day and age, it is not like they have to manually update it.

Interesting they are from Leicester though, I wonder if they have any connections to the former Farmer Studios.
 
So, same company, but different name? I see they still design attractions. Not sure why their website doesn't has Terror Tomb on there though.

Because Farmer Studios created Terror Tomb, not Farmer Attraction development. Two different companies that share the same owner. Farmer Attraction Development was incorporated in late 2003. Farmer Studios ceased trading in 2004, not long after they finished Excalibur at Drayton Manor. I remember it well.

FAT were inactive for a few years after Farmer Studios died. Even without a website.
 
Because Farmer Studios created Terror Tomb, not Farmer Attraction development. Two different companies that share the same owner. Farmer Attraction Development was incorporated in late 2003. Farmer Studios ceased trading in 2004, not long after they finished Excalibur at Drayton Manor. I remember it well.

FAT were inactive for a few years after Farmer Studios died. Even without a website.
I see, but is the new company ran by the same people who designed Terror Tomb, or are they gone as well?
 
1656433905396.png
Here is a look at the original concept art of Thomas land and what looked to be the area not including three of the rides that it opened with and these rides that weren't in the brief were Diesels Locomotive Mayhem, Crazy Bertie Bus and Lady's Carousel but there is another building that looked to have housed another attraction like a tracked ride or rollercoaster in addition to the Troublesome trucks
 
Sorry for the double post, but it’s quite sad to see how much themeing has actually been removed over the years from Drayton, wether it be because of rot, damage or something else I’m not entirely sure.

We’ve saw a whole attraction go to a Christmas event that is only on for 2/3 months a year.
E84C089F-EEE4-4863-BDE1-08672C1E2FCA.jpeg

The Bounty have its mast removed along with the photo opportunity Shark which has been turned into a “mini stage”. Come on Drayton, we have 3/4 Mini stages now. 4 if you include the one in Thomas Land.
85D25DEB-AF79-4322-81C0-699D97984368.jpeg

Buccaneer burger bar, however I think this whole structure was removed due to wood rot.
D5CA21AD-4CA0-48EE-810E-09D06E6762EF.jpeg
Centre piece removed from the pirate themed Jolly Buccaneer and replaced with a generic statue.
191785ED-8E6A-4A22-89FF-AFA562FC1963.jpeg
Apocalypse main entrance portal removed, aswell as a reduced que line.
91D4462E-2E67-4858-985D-DE814D244D5E.jpeg
As you can see from the images above, a lot of the original themeing has slowly dissolved at the park over the years, with not a lot of “physical” themeing added back. Gone are the days oh physical themed set pieces it seems!
 
Sorry for the double post, but it’s quite sad to see how much themeing has actually been removed over the years from Drayton, wether it be because of rot, damage or something else I’m not entirely sure.

We’ve saw a whole attraction go to a Christmas event that is only on for 2/3 months a year.
E84C089F-EEE4-4863-BDE1-08672C1E2FCA.jpeg

The Bounty have its mast removed along with the photo opportunity Shark which has been turned into a “mini stage”. Come on Drayton, we have 3/4 Mini stages now. 4 if you include the one in Thomas Land.
85D25DEB-AF79-4322-81C0-699D97984368.jpeg

Buccaneer burger bar, however I think this whole structure was removed due to wood rot.
D5CA21AD-4CA0-48EE-810E-09D06E6762EF.jpeg
Centre piece removed from the pirate themed Jolly Buccaneer and replaced with a generic statue.
191785ED-8E6A-4A22-89FF-AFA562FC1963.jpeg
Apocalypse main entrance portal removed, aswell as a reduced que line.
91D4462E-2E67-4858-985D-DE814D244D5E.jpeg
As you can see from the images above, a lot of the original theming has slowly dissolved at the park over the years, with not a lot of “physical” themeing added back. Gone are the days oh physical themed set pieces it seems!
actually the queue line and entrance was removed so they could get a crane in to fix tower 5
 
Sorry for the double post, but it’s quite sad to see how much themeing has actually been removed over the years from Drayton, wether it be because of rot, damage or something else I’m not entirely sure.

We’ve saw a whole attraction go to a Christmas event that is only on for 2/3 months a year.
E84C089F-EEE4-4863-BDE1-08672C1E2FCA.jpeg

The Bounty have its mast removed along with the photo opportunity Shark which has been turned into a “mini stage”. Come on Drayton, we have 3/4 Mini stages now. 4 if you include the one in Thomas Land.
85D25DEB-AF79-4322-81C0-699D97984368.jpeg

Buccaneer burger bar, however I think this whole structure was removed due to wood rot.
D5CA21AD-4CA0-48EE-810E-09D06E6762EF.jpeg
Centre piece removed from the pirate themed Jolly Buccaneer and replaced with a generic statue.
191785ED-8E6A-4A22-89FF-AFA562FC1963.jpeg
Apocalypse main entrance portal removed, aswell as a reduced que line.
91D4462E-2E67-4858-985D-DE814D244D5E.jpeg
As you can see from the images above, a lot of the original themeing has slowly dissolved at the park over the years, with not a lot of “physical” themeing added back. Gone are the days oh physical themed set pieces it seems!
Do they still use the upstairs of the burger kitchen or not?
 
I think with Slepnir it was still in pieces 3 weeks before it opened and they just managed to get in all Passed off. The sound on the horses wasn’t even connected up when it opened and the park been open every day so they not had a chance to add anymore theming and I doubt we see anything added to September when they have mid week closures again.
Great photos of Shockwave and I had always thought the station and queue line was added when Splash canyon was built but them photos prove the track was installed before the building and queue line.
How much Drayton has changed over the past 30 years with just the vintage cars still there.
Does anyone remember where the old indoor play area was as you could see it from the pirate adventure queue line.
 
Also, just been informed that the Bryan’s still own Drayton Land and Looping just own assets? Similar to Merlin and Alton where as they just lease the land.

I did try and look into this but can’t find anything at the moment.
 
The Bryan’s don’t own anything at the park now
William Bryan was still on the board for a just over a year but he left in October last year.
The Bryan’s walked away with nothing but with the amounting debts and the 1 million pound fine for the rapids accident I’m sure Colin happy that the park in good hands and he and his family can enjoy there new life debt free and be proud what his family did for the park for 70 years.
 
Also, just been informed that the Bryan’s still own Drayton Land and Looping just own assets? Similar to Merlin and Alton where as they just lease the land.

I did try and look into this but can’t find anything at the moment.
I’m pretty sure that’s correct, not sure where you’d find proof unless you accessed the land registry records.

Sorry for the double post, but it’s quite sad to see how much themeing has actually been removed over the years from Drayton, wether it be because of rot, damage or something else I’m not entirely sure.

We’ve saw a whole attraction go to a Christmas event that is only on for 2/3 months a year.
E84C089F-EEE4-4863-BDE1-08672C1E2FCA.jpeg

The Bounty have its mast removed along with the photo opportunity Shark which has been turned into a “mini stage”. Come on Drayton, we have 3/4 Mini stages now. 4 if you include the one in Thomas Land.
85D25DEB-AF79-4322-81C0-699D97984368.jpeg

Buccaneer burger bar, however I think this whole structure was removed due to wood rot.
D5CA21AD-4CA0-48EE-810E-09D06E6762EF.jpeg
Centre piece removed from the pirate themed Jolly Buccaneer and replaced with a generic statue.
191785ED-8E6A-4A22-89FF-AFA562FC1963.jpeg
Apocalypse main entrance portal removed, aswell as a reduced que line.
91D4462E-2E67-4858-985D-DE814D244D5E.jpeg
As you can see from the images above, a lot of the original themeing has slowly dissolved at the park over the years, with not a lot of “physical” themeing added back. Gone are the days oh physical themed set pieces it seems!
I agree with you, the lack of theming over the years is a shame really. Although there is a few reasons why some of those rides had their theming removed.

Excalibur was an absolute nightmare and spent more time closed than it was open. The ride system didn’t work too well with dirty lake water. The effects suffered massively due to the harsh outdoor conditions, caused the animatronics to stop working and the rest of the theming to look sorry for itself.

The Bounty had its mast removed due to it somehow interfering with sensors on the ride and causing it to have a lot of downtime. I’m not sure how this makes sense if I’m honest, but this is what I was told by an ex-operator of the ride.

Jolly Buccaneer had its huge centre piece removed as it obstructed the operators view of the cars on the opposite side. New health and safety rules.

Apocalypse had its entrance archway removed so they could get a crane in to fix tower 5 I believe.
 
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