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Ulster Adventure Park - RCT3

QTXAdsy

TS Member
Favourite Ride
Black Hole
Hello there! From the guy that made that park, St. Adams Castle, brings you the sequel project for SAC, Ulster Adventure Park! I believe this is the first time that there has been a RCT theme park set in Northern Ireland, but also this has been a chance to really improve on my RCT skills, which have been admittedly have been quite rusty since I've taken a brake from it. But anyway, let's begin with this little storyline...



Spring 1992

For many years, Northern Ireland has been blighted with the religious problems and divides which has only dragged the name down of Northern Ireland to new lows, what can be done to throw off that image? In late 1990, a colourful 37 year Ulsterman by the name of Jimmy O'Neil, a rich entrepreneur, visited Scotland to the newly opened St. Adams Castle. After his visit in which he was amazed by the atmosphere and the escapism value of it, he then had the idea to build a theme park of some sort in Northern Ireland that wouldn't have such religious divides and that either Protestant and Catholic could enjoy together. Despite gaining a good backing from the Northern Irish Assembly who supported the idea, the funds weren't there for it and planning permission wasn't given to make a theme park in southern Belfast, an amusement park was the cheeper option. It would all have to be privately funded from O'Neil's own pockets. All seem lost until O'Neil found a large lake and surrounding area that was owned by his now deceased Uncle. Lough Raith.

The penny dropped. He was able to acquire the land in his uncle's will and was able to start bringing his dream to life. Not to mention with such wonderful views, how could he lose?

Spring 1993
A year after Lough Raith was decided upon, a selection of rides started to appear and new buildings were built up. A new name was chosen, Ulster Adventure Park and a new page in the history of Irish amusement parks was about to begin.

O'Neil always says that first impressions are important, and the entrance to the park is quite a sight to behold, but a park is nothing without it's rides and UAP's ride to be built was a Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop coaster named 'Storm of Ulster'.

The ride itself is in fact a second hand ride that was brought over from the Untied States and is said to be one of the proper type coaster built sometime in the late 70's. Nonetheless, its installation fires a message to many cynics that the park is serious in what it attempts to do.


Shortly after 'Storm of Ulster' is built, another new roller coaster appears, a Vekoma Boomerang simply named 'Boomerang'.

Note other rides in the picture, an Enterprise flat ride on the left and a Merry-go-round in the background.


Another Vekoma ride is a Juniour Coaster simply named 'The Snake', and mainly for the not so brave riders.


The park from the air, will Northern Ireland have something they can finally be proud of after many troubled years?

Summer 1993
Ulster Adventure Park opens on the 7th July 1993 and despite some rumours saying that the park could be a white elephant, public reactions have been nothing sort of praise, mainly for Jimmy O'Neil who many are now treating like a conquering hero for how this park could transform the image of Northern Ireland. It is hoped that the park can get at least 43,000 visitors in it's first year of operation and if so, future projects can be undertaken. Here are some sorts from the first shots from the first few days after opening.


SOU proves to be a very popular ride for many.


Finally, a shot of SOU is action with a full train. As the old saying goes, the only way is up!

So there you are, what'd you think? Please tell me what you thought of the park and any any ideas what I could add to the park, plus even story lines to tell the story of the park right up to 2014. So until then, I'll catch you with the next update for 1994.
 
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So there you are, what'd you think? Please tell me what you thought of the park and any any ideas what I could add to the park, plus even story lines to tell the story of the park right up to 2014. So until then, I'll catch you with the next update for 1994.
Looks good, although you may want to check the spelling on the park sign. ;)
 
Alright then, time for another update from the wee park in Ulster, so without further ado, here we go!

Summer 1994
For many saying that it couldn't be done, O'Neil's gamble was a success. As soon as the first day was other, plans were already underway for new attractions for the next coming years. It was said the park would hopefully get 43,000 visitors in the first year alone, and just over 50,000 guests appeared. Though a success, it was not the big figures that the park wanted. Only made O'Neil wanted to add more attractions. 1994 is the year of the British roller coaster, but UAP open something a little different that year...

It is a new MACK log flume named 'Raith Falls', after the nearby lake. It proves then the park is here to stay and rumours have now started flying round that a deal with B&M could be signed. For now, here are some shots of the new ride from it's opening season.


Despite its length, it's strangely not the highest ride as you'd expect.


It now acts as something that people who are looking for the park can spot to know where the park is.


The ride itself isn't really the best themed ride, but it's wooden station does have a charm in its own.


Finally, a shot of the entrance area of the park. It is hoped that a new mode of transport will be built here to take visitors to a new section of the park for next year, a new flat ride is also rumoured too...

So there you are then, I kinda have ideas going up to 2000, but I still need ideas for you guys of what I could add to the park. Stay tuned for 1995!
 
Hello again, time for another update from the wee park from the wee country!

Summer 1995
Expansion, expansion and more expansion, that's all that O'Neil can say to the press about his plans for the park. 1995 opens with not only a new attraction, but a new area and new form of transport. The new area is opened in the southern section of the park and is home to a (second hand) Troika named 'Triple Freaks', though a large expanse of land stands nearby and staff members can only say to curious members of the public 'Watch this space!'

The new form of transport that opens along with the new area is a cable car attraction. Originally O'Neil had wanted a small railway running, but his designers told him that many tunnels and bridges would have to be built which would cost them a pretty penny, in the end, the cable car was chosen after O'Neil had a ride on the Sky ride attraction at Alton Towers and was giving the thumbs up by his board members over this ride.

The cable car, named 'Cloud Nine', is well liked by the public due to the fact that it gives out some impressive views of the surrouding Ulster countryside. Here are some photos from the summer parks of that season...


The afternoon sunshine shines on the park.


Shot of the new cable car in action, here it is shot from the entrance of the park and is the first attraction that people want to ride on.


A shot from one of the less developed areas of the park.


Another shot of 'Boomerang' and 'Storm of Ulster' in the background.


Finally, a shot with the Troika, notice the large area beside it and waiting for a new attraction in its place some day...


To wrap it up, here is a shot from the air of what the park is like, who knows, maybe we'll see expansion around the lake in the not too distance future.

So that's the lot for now, any ideas of what can be added next? Feel free to say anything and until then, catch you again!
 
In late 1990, a colourful 37 year Ulsterman by the name of Jimmy O'Neil, a rich entrepreneur, visited Scotland to the newly opened St. Adams Castle. After his visit in which he was amazed by the atmosphere and the escapism value of it, he then had the idea to build a theme park of some sort in Northern Ireland that wouldn't have such religious divides and that either Protestant and Catholic could enjoy together. Despite gaining a good backing from the Northern Irish Assembly who supported the idea, the funds weren't there for it and planning permission wasn't given to make a theme park in southern Belfast, an amusement park was the cheeper option. It would all have to be privately funded from O'Neil's own pockets.

Pretty difficult recommendation to get, given that the NIA didn't exist until 1998. :p
 
The park could use a lot more variation. At the moment it's pre-built CT's everywhere. That's boring and unoriginal! I'd understand one, maybe 2, in the forms of the boomerang and thunder looper, but any extras are just a little lazy. It doesn't take much to create a good layout and support it!

The other thing I'd suggest is the use of StationJims sets. You seem to be using Shyguy's main street everywhere, which again is repetitive.Get some variation in there!

It looks ok so far, some small improvements here and there could improve it drastically.
 
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