Am I being clueless but have Drayton got something big in the works for next year?I do wonder if that back in the day event was kinda a test to see how many visitors visited just for the zoo mainly and brought tokens/tickets for select rides to really see how popular the zoo still is.
I think Drayton and Paulton’s will be the main major attractions for the 2026 season.
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Drayton Manor Park
DistortAMG
TS Member
Am I being clueless but have Drayton got something big in the works for next year?
Not that we know no, there have been rumours about Pirate Adventure being brought back, but they are just that at this point. Rumours.
There isnt even any construction going on, you would expect a project of that size would be well under construction now, it is indoors yes, but you expect to see a huge fleet of tradesman vans parked outside. We have seen nothing.
It could be done secretly you can't really see behind the building so there maybe things going on behind the scenes. It can't be coincidence many people have been suggesting something is happening with itNot that we know no, there have been rumours about Pirate Adventure being brought back, but they are just that at this point. Rumours.
There isnt even any construction going on, you would expect a project of that size would be well under construction now, it is indoors yes, but you expect to see a huge fleet of tradesman vans parked outside. We have seen nothing.
DistortAMG
TS Member
It could be done secretly you can't really see behind the building so there maybe things going on behind the scenes. It can't be coincidence many people have been suggesting something is happening with it
There is a huge car park and railway behind the building, you can see very clearly at the back.
Done in secret maybe, but you will still see a huge fleet of trades vehicles from people working on the ride. We have seen nothing because there is nothing as of yet.
I hope the ride comes back as much as the next person, I really do. For next year though? I dont see it.
Haz
TS Member
I doubt they'll be doing anything massive next year, probably general improvements. I think they may look at doing work to The Haunting.Am I being clueless but have Drayton got something big in the works for next year?
Skyscraper
TS Member
I genuinely could see Drayton buying it, actually. Would fit them well.They could get a delightful volcano themed drop tower![]()
You do have to wonder if they use the main old ride area for storage it's a big building so could store a lot of stuffThere is a huge car park and railway behind the building, you can see very clearly at the back.
Done in secret maybe, but you will still see a huge fleet of trades vehicles from people working on the ride. We have seen nothing because there is nothing as of yet.
I hope the ride comes back as much as the next person, I really do. For next year though? I dont see it.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
They may get a second train for The Wave (they won't). They may run Gold Rush for a full season without significant downtime (they won't). Accelerator may get a theme (it won't).Am I being clueless but have Drayton got something big in the works for next year?
Themeparksandy1981
TS Member
It was cleared of a lot of stuff. They use to store the red shockwave train in there for spares for the blue train. The maintenance shed is completely empty and I know for a fact they tested out the motors for the lift hills and they all work. It will need new pumps as they were knackered.You do have to wonder if they use the main old ride area for storage it's a big building so could store a lot of stuff
I think construction will start Aug/Sept and that will give them 9 months for a May opening date.
For starters each has a chance of happening. As for Gold Rush it is a complex ride with Switch tracks all rides have downtime, downtime does not equal bad it could be for good reason.They may get a second train for The Wave (they won't). They may run Gold Rush for a full season without significant downtime (they won't). Accelerator may get a theme (it won't).
No one can know the future so we shall see
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
They do, but it's Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, so likely not.For starters each has a chance of happening. As for Gold Rush it is a complex ride with Switch tracks all rides have downtime, downtime does not equal bad it could be for good reason.
No one can know the future so we shall see
Gold Rush is not a complex ride, by any means. Switch tracks are relatively standard now.
Two out of three ain't bad, but they've yet to accomplish that.
Themeparksandy1981
TS Member
They may get a 2nd train.They may get a second train for The Wave (they won't). They may run Gold Rush for a full season without significant downtime (they won't). Accelerator may get a theme (it won't).
All. New coasters have downtime just look at Nemesis and Hyperia which were also installed last year and had downtime.
Accelerator it’s had the outside done this year so they could do it inside next closed season.
To keep visitors coming you need big attractions every 2-3 years with a small investments in between to keep the visitors coming back.
Gold Rush a lot of safety things can go wrong with switch tracks. Most of its downtime is down to the Valleying issueThey do, but it's Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, so likely not.
Gold Rush is not a complex ride, by any means. Switch tracks are relatively standard now.
Two out of three ain't bad, but they've yet to accomplish that.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
So which is it? In your first post you've said it's the switch track, now it's the valleying. Both are issues which, on their own, would be considered disastrous. Especially for a relatively mid/generic coaster operating in its second year.Gold Rush a lot of safety things can go wrong with switch tracks. Most of its downtime is down to the Valleying issue
Excuse me for missing this, but has it? The Jim Bean Green Machine logos have been on the outside since last year, otherwise the outside looks relatively unchanged.Accelerator it’s had the outside done this year so they could do it inside next closed season.
They conveniently haven't mentioned how long the "temporary" Drayton Manor exhibition will be operating for, instead of the 4D cinema. I'm guessing that due to "unprecedented and overwhelming support and feedback" they'll keep the "museum" for the rest of the season. Conveniently mothballing the 4D cinema by the backdoor.
Gold rush clearly has a design failure, this isn't Drayton Manor Resorts fault entirely, same as Hyperia at Thorpe. Intamin have a habit of building rides that are difficult to maintain and don't work properly in there first season because they've built something wrong. It valleying is hardly Draytons fault is it.They do, but it's Drayton Manor Park and Zoo, so likely not.
Gold Rush is not a complex ride, by any means. Switch tracks are relatively standard now.
Two out of three ain't bad, but they've yet to accomplish that.
Themeparksandy1981
TS Member
They been doing the work in-house so they been working on it when the park has been closed.Excuse me for missing this, but has it? The Jim Bean Green Machine logos have been on the outside since last year, otherwise the outside looks relatively unchanged.
The 1st pic was taken during the Feb half term event

The next 2 was for the big restart event


And the last the 1st day of the main season

Now I do think that looks a lot better and I’m sure they will do the inside during the closed season.
GooseOnTheLoose
TS Member
It's the ride's second season.Intamin have a habit of building rides that are difficult to maintain and don't work properly in there first season because they've built something wrong.
Jb85
TS Member
It's the ride's second season.
Yep.
It’s the intamin curse alright ……
it is a fairly standard ride now given what they have built, and others have said it’s not launch related so god knows what’s causing the issue.
All parks should build b&m going forward - although they to have issues from time to time