Blackpool Pleasure Beach: General Discussion

[Pleasure Beach Valhalla]

So with construction workers now able to go back to work, do we think that they will start working on Valhalla again any time soon ? If they do then we may still see it reopening sometime in 2021.

Shakey if it does reopen in 2021, it will probably be the summer.

This. They don’t exactly look stable. Was considering one for use as garden planter like the one opposite Dodgems. I guess they really wanted rid of that last one. The folks who paid £250+ for one might not be too amused though. Like Shakey said, getting it into the garden would have been the tricky part as I had a space sort of earmarked for it at the back.

Not getting a Monorail car for a smoking shelter, Rob?

I would love a Log Flume boat, ideally the other half of the one used as a planter by Revolution. What the hell happened to the other half of it?!

It's probably in Blackpool's archives by now with the Hotchkiss Bicycle. Someone also bought the Tom Sawyer statue that used to be outside River Caves, before it was removed from there in 2017. It looked in an awful state and had quite a few chunks missing as well. apparently, the statue was originally at the Tom Sawyer Raft Ride which was built by Intamin back in 1974. I think it was underneath Tom Sawyer Bridge?

 

[Skyscraper]

Shakey if it does reopen in 2021, it will probably be the summer.

If the current discussion on TS Discord is anything to go by, expect to be disappointed.

 

[IDB]

Someone also bought the Tom Sawyer statue that used to be outside River Caves, before it was removed from there in 2017. It looked in an awful state and had quite a few chunks missing as well.

Might be the next project for TPWW, it doesn’t contain any animatronics I hope!

 

[Pleasure Beach Valhalla]

Might be the next project for TPWW, it doesn’t contain any animatronics I hope!

I don't think TPWW bought it though it is Shawn's birthday tomorrow so he might have bought it as an early birthday present? You never know with TPWW. IT's so random.

 

[Rick]

@Dipper_Dave I was at the grandmother's the other day so snapped a photo of #12 for you



Also, we were talking about this area of the park a few pages back. This a cool view I have never seen before:

Some other photos of Blackpool from around the same time here

 

[Pleasure Beach Valhalla]

@Dipper_Dave I was at the grandmother's the other day so snapped a photo of #12 for you



Also, we were talking about this area of the park a few pages back. This a cool view I have never seen before:

Some other photos of Blackpool from around the same time here

Is that a part of G-Force on top of the Drench Falls boat? It's a shame that it closed because it held lots of memories and used to hold a world record. Never mind, we've always got Rugrats

 

[WillPS]

Is that a part of G-Force on top of the Drench Falls boat?

No, but I can see why you got confused as it is in fact a Maurer Söhne Washing Basket.

 

[Dipper_Dave]

@Dipper_Dave I was at the grandmother's the other day so snapped a photo of #12 for you



Also, we were talking about this area of the park a few pages back. This a cool view I have never seen before:

Some other photos of Blackpool from around the same time here

Thanks for the Log Flume pic. Awesome. That other pic is amazing. The spinny ride in the middle I recall being called ‘The Eggs’ (or maybe even just ‘Eggs’ when it was at our September travelling fair in Scarborough whilst growing up. Was that it’s name at BPB and does anyone know when it opened and closed? Such a great pic, as I’ve only ever seen the ride from long distance before, never up close. Love the Funshines on the cages.

I wouldn’t touch a ride like that with a barge pole as it looks like a pure puke machine. Also reminds me of the terrifying Zipper ride that people used to die on when the cage doors flew open randomly during the ride

Also is that a mini Space Tower bottom right? Love it!

 

[pluk]

I didn't know any static park ever had eggs! Only ever seen them at travelling fairs. Insane rides, not been on one for decades.

 

[Rick]

I think you can just about make out 'Plane' on the cash box which would suggest to me it's called 'Rock O Plane', looks like an Eyerly ride.

 

[venny]

Thanks for the Log Flume pic. Awesome. That other pic is amazing. The spinny ride in the middle I recall being called ‘The Eggs’ (or maybe even just ‘Eggs’ when it was at our September travelling fair in Scarborough whilst growing up. Was that it’s name at BPB and does anyone know when it opened and closed? Such a great pic, as I’ve only ever seen the ride from long distance before, never up close. Love the Funshines on the cages.

I wouldn’t touch a ride like that with a barge pole as it looks like a pure puke machine. Also reminds me of the terrifying Zipper ride that people used to die on when the cage doors flew open randomly during the ride

Also is that a mini Space Tower bottom right? Love it!

Does anyone know if said small Space Tower was the same one which found its way into the Casino at one point?

 

[Rick]

What is curious about the southern area of the park is just how much of it wasn't there all that long ago. For a park with such a long history, if you take a look at this view from 1973, save for the Big Dipper and the modified Grand Prix, it's difficult to pick out very much at all. Giant Slide and Turtle Chase are being prepped in the photo and they're building the Tom Sawyer bridge.

@rob666 has talked about this quite a bit in other posts.

Image from Dave McCubbin on Flickr

 

[Dipper_Dave]

What is curious about the southern area of the park is just how much of it wasn't there all that long ago. For a park with such a long history, if you take a look at this view from 1973, save for the Big Dipper and the modified Grand Prix, it's difficult to pick out very much at all. Giant Slide and Turtle Chase are being prepped in the photo and they're building the Tom Sawyer bridge.

@rob666 has talked about this quite a bit in other posts.

Image from Dave McCubbin on Flickr

Another awesome photo!

 

[Pleasure Beach Valhalla]

Thanks for the Log Flume pic. Awesome. That other pic is amazing. The spinny ride in the middle I recall being called ‘The Eggs’ (or maybe even just ‘Eggs’ when it was at our September travelling fair in Scarborough whilst growing up. Was that it’s name at BPB and does anyone know when it opened and closed? Such a great pic, as I’ve only ever seen the ride from long distance before, never up close. Love the Funshines on the cages.

I wouldn’t touch a ride like that with a barge pole as it looks like a pure puke machine. Also reminds me of the terrifying Zipper ride that people used to die on when the cage doors flew open randomly during the ride

Also is that a mini Space Tower bottom right? Love it!

Mini Space Tower looks like it... Didn't the Space Tower make way for PMBO.

 

[rob666]

The mini tower is indeed the one from...not the Casino...The Wonderful World Building...as in the Casino.
Cracking photo of what I remember of the south of the park in my youth...all that grass and sand dunes!
The horseshoe building bottom left was the pony rides station, the queue could be an hour or more, and you could get walked round the track by a certain Ms Thompson.
Allegedly.
Flats dotted around the area, moved around by the season.

 

[Pleasure Beach Valhalla]

No, but I can see why you got confused as it is in fact a Maurer Söhne Washing Basket.

A rare collectors item no doubt?

 

[Rick]

No, but I can see why you got confused as it is in fact a Maurer Söhne Washing Basket.

A rare collectors item no doubt?

It rides like a shopping trolley and can't hang washing in high winds.

 

[shakey]

Not seen this short video before from what it says is 1975ish.

No sound and picture is a bit jerky at the start but it shows part of the extended grand prix (turnpike) layout. And crazy golf where Bradley's learning garden is now.

Also shows the drop on river caves so if the date is correct then the drop was added before 1975.





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[shakey]

I never knew that the grand prix/turnpike ran without the central rail and originally started at ground level. I suppose it was before they built the overpass.

About 10:25 in on the video below. (From 1963)



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[Rick]

Great videos @shakey

I don't know why, but the 'Carousel' Big Dipper feature makes me grimace as much as the moving animals on the ark make me smile.