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Lightwater Valley

Given the parks location I would get camping and lodges onsite to bring in extra income and provide a base for visitors. It's an investment that pays for itself and has worked for Flamingoland. They may also want to get a wind turbine to generate Thier own power to reduce costs. None of that is exciting stuff but it would give the park a foundation to build on and be more sustainable
 
Poisson said:
It's the only park with enough space for wind power and they should take advantage if the prevailing wind is suitable.
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Especially as James Mellors has specially mentioned energy being a key operational cost, that will limit investment. Infrastructure investment like this ertainly isn't great marketable wise, but it's essential if they truly want to grow the park significantly.
Interestingly, Mellors mentioned that they have quite high rents to pay for the land, so it might depend how long their lease technically is, whether they want to make such long term investments into infrastructure. Although they do seem keen to invest, so I don't know.
 
How big is Light water Valley I have never been but with all the space The Ultimate took up it must be up their as one of UK's biggest parks
 
Hid said:
How big is Light water Valley I have never been but with all the space The Ultimate took up it must be up their as one of UK's biggest parks
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182 acres. They sold off the land where the ultimate was back in the Stavely days. Currently it's a little larger than Paultons, which itself is about half the size of Flamingoland.

You could fit 3-4 Blackpool pleasure beaches into LWV.

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slappyofmcguire said:
182 acres. They sold off the land where the ultimate was back in the Stavely days. Currently it's a little larger than Paultons, which itself is about half the size of Flamingoland.

You could fit 3-4 Blackpool pleasure beaches into LWV.

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Makes you realise how big Mingoland is.

Which itself is dwarfed by Alton.
 
slappyofmcguire said:
Mingo is about 375 acres Alton about 500 acres. So FL and LWV together a similar size to Alton. And yet FL squeeze most of their big rides in an area smaller than Blackpool. Such an odd headed park.

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Alton has lots of acreage that isn’t usable though. The entire gardens and ruins are not exactly theme park space. Add in the protected woodland and I bet they have about the same usable space.
 
Dave said:
Alton has lots of acreage that isn’t usable though. The entire gardens and ruins are not exactly theme park space. Add in the protected woodland and I bet they have about the same usable space.
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Had a look at the sizes of the various parks, was shocked to see how small Chessy actually is - it's about 2/3 of the size of LWV.

Like Alton, Thorpe is listed as 500+ acres, but obviously a good portion of that is water, PWH is 59 acres making it little larger than Blackpool, and Drayton around 280, which suggests in terms of usable area, Mingo is technically the largest.

Alton appears the longest, which is ironic, given the hugely problematic issues of navigating the park with it's frequently broken transport options.

Surprised they don't offer a rickshaw or rentable scooters service (at a premium of course...), because I imagine older or disabled visitors would be intimidated at the size of the park or queues for the already insufficient transport.

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Two rides could fit Lightwater Valley well, if Mellor's still own them is the Big Ben Shot Tower and Frisbee both would be excellent thrill rides to give the thrill seekers something to do
 
Quantum said:
Given the parks location I would get camping and lodges onsite to bring in extra income and provide a base for visitors. It's an investment that pays for itself and has worked for Flamingoland. They may also want to get a wind turbine to generate Thier own power to reduce costs. None of that is exciting stuff but it would give the park a foundation to build on and be more sustainable
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That's precisely what was proposed in 2012 - with big plans for west and south of the lake: https://www.cladglobal.com/architecture_design_news?codeid=303967
 
Flamingo Land makes lots of its money from its caravans and Mellors have experience running a large caravan park at Fantasy Island, so it would make lots of sense if they open some accommodation on this line, with bulk buy vans they can use at both FI and LWV, and they could also get some lodges and setup some tent pitches. Would be pretty easy moment for them.
 
How many rides roughly do Mellors actually own? Does anyone know? And then how many of them are sat around collecting dust? I'd imagine that type of business they operate they have to have these rides on the circuit most of the time unless they need repairs etc.

I did think they would add more to this park right from the off than they have done as it sure doesn't look like there's enough to do for me.
 
Adam James said:
That's precisely what was proposed in 2012 - with big plans for west and south of the lake: https://www.cladglobal.com/architecture_design_news?codeid=303967
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They still have the council approval, and it is very likely to be part of Mellors thinking, especially given James's comments on the problem with weather and destination parks. Put into the equation that fantasy island relies on visitors from the caravan parks.

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JAperson said:
Flamingo Land makes lots of its money from its caravans and Mellors have experience running a large caravan park at Fantasy Island, so it would make lots of sense if they open some accommodation on this line, with bulk buy vans they can use at both FI and LWV, and they could also get some lodges and setup some tent pitches. Would be pretty easy moment for them.
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Planning permission required...which the park had, then let drop, about a decade ago.
Lodges (not cheap) and tents also need services putting in, water, toilets, electric hook ups etc are not cheap on a large scale.
 
rob666 said:
Planning permission required...which the park had, then let drop, about a decade ago.
Lodges (not cheap) and tents also need services putting in, water, toilets, electric hook ups etc are not cheap on a large scale.
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Yes but those investments pay for themselves. Light water Valley is in a lovely location. Those won't need to go big with caravans/ lodges just build it up over time as demand dictates. Can't imagine getting planning permission again would be an issue given it was granted previously
 
The demand has been there for years.
Camping was done in the showfield at the back for car club meets and youth groups.

It was just down to big ideas but a lack of money a decade ago.

Need the Pub In The Wood reopening if there was a campsite.

That would be nice.
 
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