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Drayton Manor Park

Hid said:
Maelstrom, Air Race, StormForce 10, Wave, Thor, Haunting I would consider thrill
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I think Stormforce and The Haunting are potentially spurious as “thrill rides”. Are they rides that an older guest could enjoy? Absolutely. But would I call them “thrill rides”? Probably not.

I think your other suggestions are valid shouts for thrill seekers, though in general, I would say Drayton has pivoted away from high thrills. Which, to be fair, probably makes sense when Alton Towers is less than an hour away. I’d say they’re pursuing a similar sort of market to Paultons at present, with the younger families being their main bread and butter.

I would say that if you’re above 1.4m, the park serves you more weakly than if you’re a younger child, hence why I would call it a “young family park”. Perhaps not quite as much as Paultons, but thrill seekers aren’t Drayton’s core market anymore.
 
Matt N said:
I think Stormforce and The Haunting are potentially spurious as “thrill rides”. Are they rides that an older guest could enjoy? Absolutely. But would I call them “thrill rides”? Probably not.

I think your other suggestions are valid shouts for thrill seekers, though in general, I would say Drayton has pivoted away from high thrills. Which, to be fair, probably makes sense when Alton Towers is less than an hour away. I’d say they’re pursuing a similar sort of market to Paultons at present, with the younger families being their main bread and butter.

I would say that if you’re above 1.4m, the park serves you more weakly than if you’re a younger child, hence why I would call it a “young family park”. Perhaps not quite as much as Paultons, but thrill seekers aren’t Drayton’s core market anymore.
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No park back in the day could complete with Towers it was the dominant park. I believe it was one of the reason American Adventure closed.

And Drayton would of shared the same fate if it didn't pivot to something different which it has found now it's identity as a family park in the midlands
 
The American Adventure when it opened was the 1st ever theme park I had been to. Drayton didn’t really start to becoming a theme park to 35 years ago. Even Alton Towers to the mine train and the haunted house opened was more like an amusement park.
The American adventure never really kicked on and poor ownership/management led to it closing.
 
rob666 said:
I first visited in the last year of the old log flume...it was manky, rotten shotcrete over chickenwire for landscaping, and lots of slimey green stinkywater.
The coaster other than shockwave was the scary (g)old mine train.
Extra scary for the tall.
Never saw the one on the card, sadly.
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The jumbo jet was sold to alton towers and became the black hole .. The log flume has always been were it is now .Just made bigger . I lived in the zoo for 36 years from the age of 6 im now 51. So I've seen everything change there ..was a fantastic life to have a theme park as a giant free playground 😀
 
Poisson said:
Bobsleigh at Parc de la Vallee retains 2 trains even now
Tren Minero at Serena Aventura is down to 1 now I believe, most likely sold to Funland with 2 trains and part of 1 remains as a planter
Python may or may not have been a pre-themeing Klondike as the dates match up
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The python was the klondike. The jumbo jet was sold and became the Blackhole at Alton towers
 
Jumbo Jet was sold to Nigloland and then it moved to Parc de la Vallee.

Black Hole was at Towers from new, then had trains modified but still the same system. It was then SBNO, removed, sent to Gerstlauer for an overhaul and then sold to Furuvik. It was recently for sale again and Furuvik no longer list it as there.

Here is Jumbo Jet last year in France in it's current home at Parc de la Vallee

4N8hIDdKSdGpHjgK7ru_aQ.png
 
stephenrobs73 said:
The python was the klondike. The jumbo jet was sold and became the Blackhole at Alton towers
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Klondike was a different coaster, I don't think it was the Python, even though they were basically identical.

The story is quite interesting actually. Pinfari had a huge amount of metal fatigue issues with the early ZL42 ride models and Python was number 2 off the production line. Everything from failing restraints, to track and supports becoming unsafe relatively quickly all thanks to a bad design and metal fatigue. There are ADIPS safety bulletins from back in the day about this actually.

The Python was dissembled at the end of 1994 and sent back to Pinfari for what I assume would have been crucial structural and mechanical upgrades, all of this work could not be done in the relatively short closed season, so it was part exchanged for a newer or brand new ZL42 that had the upgrades and was ready to ship. Aka Klondike.

It is not clear what become of the Python after that. Being one of the first models in the series, it would have suffered the worst of the fatigue issues that plagued the early ZL42s, so it wouldn't surprise me if the decision was made by Pinfari to scrap it, after looking at the work that needed doing on that specific ride. The very first model however, was recently for sale in the USA, complete with it's maintenence track in the middle of the ride.

The key difference between Klondike and Python was the transfer track. Python, model number two, was the last model of 46 or so that were made, to have the transfer track and maintenance track squeezed inside the rides footprint and tightly connected to the rides compact supports. Model number 3 onwards, including Klondike, had a completely re designed transfer track and support system in that area, with the transfer / maintenance track being on the outside of the rides footprint, making maintenance much easier due to space.

Amazing that you lived in the zoo? I am assuming one of the houses by the farm that back onto Drayton's side drive? As I local myself, ive got some cool stories of the park over the years. I bet you have too.
 
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Drayton Manor Halloween event looks good this year with the water fountain show over the lake
The UK’s first end of day extravaganza! Monsters and Magic features towering water fountains, precision lighting, vivid lasers, striking projections, and bursts of fire that will combine with a Halloween themed musical score to create an unforgettable end to your day.

Throughout the day, you can also enjoy three smaller fountain shows, offering a taste of the spectacle to come at night.

www.draytonmanor.co.uk

Monsters & Magic Halloween

This Halloween, Drayton Manor transforms into an enchanted world where spooky creatures and mystical wonders await.
www.draytonmanor.co.uk www.draytonmanor.co.uk
 
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