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Lightwater Valley

Space has never really been a major issue at LWV, let's be honest here.

It's one of the UK parks I'm most concerned about at the moment. Losing a major ride, even one with such a bad history, is not good for the park.
 
As things currently stand, I would say the park is in danger financially and could well be the next UK park to close potentially.

I visited there last Summer and despite the odd school trip, the park was literally deserted with only a handful of people. Many rides were idol for a while and on some cases, staff even pleaded us to go round again to keep them busy.

Unless things change miraculously, I don’t hold much optimism for this park’s survival.
 
Some people are saying that LVW could be the park to purchase Drayton's (ex) G-Force. Do we think that's possible?
 
Dar said:
As nice as that would be, I don't think Lightwater could afford the deposit on g-force, let alone the purchase price, transport and construction!
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That's what I was thinking. It'd be perfect for them and they have the space, but they wouldn't be able to afford it.
 
Stick it next to The Ultimate and open the world's first area themed to "realms of pain". If it's a success they could look into buying an SLC for the area too.


(Disclaimer - I love The Ultimate)
 
Funny how small rural parks in Germany (Tripsdrill, for example) can afford entirely new areas and rides every few years yet the likes of LWV actually have to sell what tinpot funfair trash they already have just to keep going. Bizarre contrast.
 
Alastair said:
Funny how small rural parks in Germany (Tripsdrill, for example) can afford entirely new areas and rides every few years yet the likes of LWV actually have to sell what tinpot funfair trash they already have just to keep going. Bizarre contrast.
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I get the impression that Tripsdrill has an important place in the hearts of locals. They have a loyal customer base that keeps returning and which would probably bring friends visiting from other regions along for a day out at the park.
 
Enter Valhalla said:
I get the impression that Tripsdrill has an important place in the hearts of locals. They have a loyal customer base that keeps returning and which would probably bring friends visiting from other regions along for a day out at the park.
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It also has a nature reserve and holiday village that is a big income generator.
 
Unlike the holiday lets that Lightwater have been promising for a decade, but haven't actually happened.
They closed half a dozen attractions, and the blessed pub in the wood, to build them.
Very very slowly!
 
Alastair said:
Funny how small rural parks in Germany (Tripsdrill, for example) can afford entirely new areas and rides every few years yet the likes of LWV actually have to sell what tinpot funfair trash they already have just to keep going. Bizarre contrast.
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Trips drill is also in mainland Europe surrounded by different countries making it much more accessible to a lot more people, you can’t really compare that to a park in the middle of rural Yorkshire on an Island...
 
I'd also imagine that construction costs might be a bit cheaper in Europe, as a number of major ride manufacturers are European, and it probably costs far less for Tripsdrill to import a ride from Gerstlauer, for example, than it would for Lightwater Valley to import the same ride.
 
rob666 said:
Unlike the holiday lets that Lightwater have been promising for a decade, but haven't actually happened.
They closed half a dozen attractions, and the blessed pub in the wood, to build them.
Very very slowly!
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I believe it was more an issue with planning permission than the will of the park, welcome to one of the reasons so many small UK parks struggle.
 
They got the permission for some though didn't they?
Thought they were allowed a first build with amenities, about two dozen chalet style huts, close to the pub in the wood, but it never got started.
 
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