Built on the site of a failed former amusement park that itself was built on a former coal mine with roots as old as the Domesday Book, the American Adventure Theme Park operated in Derbyshire, England. American Adventures Theme Park failed due to a series of poor management choices, and the site sat abandoned for a decade. Today, the site is under construction once again and will eventually become a new urban development.
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American Adventure’s Earliest History
The Shipley estate is an ancient manor in Derbeyshire, England, and when I say ancient, I mean ancient. The Domesday Book, the 1086 England survey ordered by King William the Conqueror, mentions the Shipley estate.
Early on, the land was used primarily for hunting and farming. Starting in the 16th century and fully entrenched by 1722, coal mining began to be the primary source of profit for the land owners, the Miller-Mundy family. The mines continued operating under family ownership for the next 200+ years.
(If you’re wondering whether you stumbled into the wrong podcast, fear not. We’ll get to the theme park soon enough.)
In 1920, the Shipley Colliery Company took over the running of the mines from the Miller-Mundy family who’d owned the land previously. During World War II, coal reserves in the UK were taken under the control of the government for the war effort. The National Coal Board was created to run all UK collieries, and took over operations completely as of Jan 1, 1947. This included the Shipley Colliery.
Once there were 3 coal mines, working 15 seams of coal and 30 railway sidings covering 176 acres in the vicinity. However, coal mining in the UK peaked in the 1910s, and began drastically falling in the 1960s. Coalpits of Woodside and Coppice, located at Shipley, were regarded as uneconomical and closed at this time.
Shipley Country Park
Working with the National Coal Board, the Derbyshire Country Council purchased the land, and decided to create a park as a memorial for the former mining activities in the area. The NCB and KLF mining spent four years reclaiming the former colliery land using opencast methods. Two additional years were spent contouring, seeding, planting, and constructing, in order to make the land available for public use.
Shipley Country Park opened in 1976. Shipley Lake, to the west, was artificial and had originally been created for and near Shipley Hall, the long-gone estate manor. During the open-cast mining in the early 1969s, the lake had been drained. As part of the reclamation process, it was lined with clay and refilled, becoming the 37-acre freshwater Shipley Lake.
Surrounding Shipley Lake was Shipley Lakeside, which was designated for privately-owned leisure development. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, discussions began to occur about the future of the area. A tentative agreement was settled on for a park about the best of all things British, past, present, and future.
Private company KLF group negotiated a 100-year-lease from the Derbyshire County Council (DCC) on the property, and discussion moved forward about the leirsure park. The residents of Shipley caught wind of this agreement, however, and were against the concept and its expected traffic congestion and noise pollution. There was much political infighting in the best local style, but KLF finally got the go-ahead to begin construction for their park.
Britannia Park
The park was to be called Britannia Park.
Britannia Park was envisioned as quite the grand affair, with multiple themed areas, largely based off the EPCOT idea. In Festival Village, there was to be a traditional village green with a Blacksmith, and of course plenty of cafes and shops. A 1/25th scale display was planned with displays of English landmarks done in miniature. Traditional British crafts would also be showcased.
A Wonderland area was proposed for children; an Adventureland area for a family-friendly amusement park; and the lake for water activities and sports.
The star of the park was the eight pavilions of the British Genius exhibit, where commercial investors could highlight the importance of their products to the average Brit.
It looked like it could be a charming park, but after irritating both the locals and the DCC taxpayers, there was a steep hill to climb. And since this episode is called American Adventures Park and not Britannia Park, I’m sure that you can guess things didn’t go well.
Money troubles happened, for one. KLF hoped sponsors would cover some costs (“To participate in Britannia Park is to contribute to the success and share in the benefits of a major national tourist centre,” was the promise in the park’s brochure.) and ultimately only about 20M lbs were raised (EPCOT cost approximately $800M).
The park opened on June 27th, 1985, and it wasn’t at all complete. The former heavyweight champion Henry Cooper gave a speech. There was a flyover by the Concorde. Then things began to go downhill. Only five of the eight British Genius pavilions were complete (occupied by the National Coal Board, the Royal Mint, and the Bass beer brewery) and there was half a mile of miniature railway. And that was it. The rest of the park was reportedly a muddy mess, much not even landscaped.
The season was a disaster. Mother Nature even seemed to be out for the park – it was an extremely rainy summer. This rain kept both visitors and construction workers away.
Only weeks after the grand opening, KLF was already selling shares in its business to pay off the creditors for the park, and staff were even laid off.
By November of 1985, Britannia Park was closed for good, after only 12 weeks of operation.
Ramifications of Britannia Park’s Closure
There were no buyers waiting to take on the failed Britannia Park. Derbyshire County Council was forced to buy back the land for 2.5M lbs.
Years later, Peter Kellard and the KLF Group were the subjects of (reportedly) the longest criminal trial in UK history. Over 14 months, it was revealed that KLF was in debt to the tune of 8.7M. Park debts went unpaid, even the appearance fee for Henry Cooper.
Peter Kellard was found guilty on several counts of fraud, for which he was sentenced to four years in prison (and served one). The chairman of Britannia Park, John Wright, received a six-month sentence for his part in the fraud.
The Origin of American Adventure Theme Park
Enter John Rigby, associated with Park Hall Leisure. This company is perhaps better known for its association with the UK theme park called Camelot Theme Park, which opened in 1984. Rigby negotiated a deal with DCC in August of 1986. Another 100-year lease, but this time reportedly with less strings attached.
Rigby wanted to capitalize on his success with Camelot and open a new theme park. This was going to be a “fully-fledged Cowboy vs. Native” theme park.
Rigby essentially took the infrastructure from the old Britannia Park, and put an overlay on it: Native Americans on one half of the park, Cowboys on the other half. The entrance pavilion was given a stars and stripes paint scheme.
Rides at American Adventure
American Adventure opened with incredible theming for the time – Alton Towers was the other big park at the time and wouldn’t add a big themed ride for a few years. “Major new theme park”
The former British Genius pavilion, essentially an empty warehouse, was given a fiberglass makeover. Possibly the most famous part of the park (at least in its abandonment), the building was covered in faux hills and giant fiberglass faces painted as Native Americans. Inside, a giant play area for kids under 8.
A replica of the Alamo, reportedly quite convincing, camoflagued an area for horseback stunt shows called Wild West Shootout. Lazy Lil Saloon was another area for live shows, where saloon girls would dance to entertain guests.
A Zamperla Buffalo coaster opened with the park.
A log flume called Cherokee Falls. At the time of the park’s opening, this ride was the tallest in the UK.
A small miniature train ride went around the park, repurposing old Britannia Park tracks. The train was called Santa Fe Railway, and went all the way around the park – popular for both transportation and excellent views.
Fort St. Lawrence opened the next year with the Great Niagra Falls Rapids (later called Grand Canyon Rapids and then Rocky Mountain Rapids). The rapids ride had 12-seater round boats and was considered by some to be the best ride of its type in the UK.
Boom Years for American Adventure
American Adventure was a moderate success after its opening, but it didn’t do as well as expected. The park was still overshadowed by fallout from the Britannia Park disaster, which the media was still focusing on.
Possibly in a bid to distract the media and boost attendance, in 1989, a new ride came to the park via the Glasgow Garden Festival. It was called The Missile and was a Vekoma boomerang ride. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin opened the ride. “Most intense ride in the UK” at the time, despite being similar to another ride at West Midlands Safari Park, nearby. The next year in the 1989 season, “Spaceport USA” section was added around The Missile. 5 years before similar Nemesis opened at Alton Towers nearby – cost of 4M pounds for the section.
1991 was American Adventure park’s most popular season.
In 1993, cowboys vs natives theme dropped for all over red, white, and blue. The time for immersive theming was over.
“Nightmare Niagra” was an upgrade to the log flume ride formerly called Cherokee Falls. This became a highlight of the park – The extra drop made it the tallest log-flume in the UK throughout its operational life (this record has now reverted to Loggers Leap at Thorpe Park as this ride used to hold the record before the new drop was added). Unfortunately this new ride was never advertised to any great extent.
Competition from the other parks in the area during the 1994 season was intense, with most of them opening major rides. American Adventure didn’t have anything new to offer. They began throwing things at the wall to see what would stick:
The children’s play area Pioneer Playground was closed and the space given to a Motion Master 4D movie.
Go-karts were installed at the expense of one of the live horse stunt shows.
Lightwater Valley, a theme park in Yorkshire, was looking to free up some capital. They sold a ride to American Adventure in 1995. It was called “Iron Wolf” and themed as the Gladiator’s Arena from the itv game show. This was a double loop coaster. Opinions are mixed on this one, with some loving it and some hating it. Quote: “It was a massive mistake buying something as uninspiring as Twin Looper.” The ride reportedly still had Lightwater Valley logos visible on it throughout its first operational year.
Soon, there were struggles with attendance. It became clear that there was no longer any interest in detailed theming like in the early years of the park. Although the detailed theming had been dropped in 1993 with the change to the red, white, and blue “theme”, it wasn’t until 1996 that this became an obvious negative.
1997 heralded big changes for American Adventure, and potentially the turning point in the park’s history. Granada sold the leases to Venture World, and John Broome, the original developer of Alton Towers. This was part of a broader movement during that time, where public companies exited from the attractions sector. Following the sale of American Adventure, Granada also sold Camelot, the neighboring amusement park, to that park’s management in a buyout. The Tussauds Group, which owned three major UK parks, was sold by its parent company around the same time.
A Skycoaster was installed at an upcharge.
1998 saw a short-lived attraction called the Flying Island. The ride had a habit of getting stuck, requiring fire department intervention, and the ride closed after two years.
1998 also saw the closure of the grand entrance. The main entrance to the park was suffering from mining subsidence (essentially sinking and collapsing). What was once one of the most attractive areas of the park was closed off. The amazing feeling of walking down the steps from the entrance plaza and seeing the park unfold in front of you was gone. It was another negative for the park, particularly as the new entrance had a view of the portapotties.
Around this time, John Broome tried to promote name changes – he very much disliked the American theming. “American Adventure World” was the new name, and the long term goals was to remove the “American” aspect of the park. The name changes were short-lived, however, as was Broome’s position.
John Broome left management of American Adventure in 1999. The park was sold to the THG Group, who owned Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens, and Piers (other UK parks). Major changes were afoot and many smaller rides were removed and sections closed off. A series of extra-pay attractions were added, including the JCB diggers, where guests could pay to spend five minutes in a real digger. Most rides were beginning to show wear, with malfunctioning parts and ride structures badly in need of paint.
2003 saw a JCB overlay including a JCB digging attraction, at an upcharge.
Less and less attention began to be paid to maintenance of the park.
2004-2005 was another period of huge turmoil for the park. It was the end of Nightmare Niagara.
Around the same time, the Missile closed, standing empty for all of 2005. So too did the water rapids ride, which was said to be because of structural issues and water pollution.
The park became a shell of its former self. Most structures and buildings were left standing, despite being abandoned/closed.
In 2006, new marketing came out, promoting American Adventure as a place for cartoons and family rides. New rides opened up, including a handful of “carnival” type rides and a Zamperla runaway mine train ride.
On January 4, 2007, American Adventure Park announced it would not reopen after 19 years of operation. The lease went back to the county council.
American Adventure Rides: Sold
Missile closed at end of 2004 season, stood unused for all of 2005; sold to Pleasurewood Hills in 2006 as “Wipeout” and is still open
Buffalo Stampede → Twin Lakes Theme Park in May 2007
Mini Mine Rush → Flamingoland (via Gullivers)
Twin Looper → Poland – lagendia theme park Tic Tac Tornado
Many rides → billings aquadrome
Big Country Motioneering – runaway train (near CF/NN) – ride was sold and traveled, went to Dubai
Abandonment of American Adventure
Many people began visiting the abandoned site – 2008 videos with the Aztec faces. In 2008 or 2009, much of the park was demo’d in order to avoid becoming an attractive nuisance.
In 2012, an announcement was made that the land would be redeveloped. However, nothing seemed to come of it.
In Feb 2018, “Shipley Lakeside by Waystone” was supposed to begin construction. This site would be a housing development, business park, possible healthcare, retirement facility, and pub. However, 2018 came and went.
Many petitions went around, looking to reopen the park. One had over 10,000 signatures.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is said to be purchasing 160 acres surrounding the site to create a nature preserve.
Many urbex videos are available on Youtube. A 2018 video really establishes what is left.
there are signs marking what was located in the different areas. Nearly all that is left are concrete footings. Paths are overgrown with weeds, pavement and brick crumbling.
Near the Missile, was Lunch Pad (restaurant) and Space Port Driving School (kids driving ride). Spaceport Cinema, a 3D/4D ride, like a big circle. The concrete portion of a lift hill at the rapids ride is still partially visible.
Trees were all reportedly cut down in 2016 and many have grown back.
Water and many canals for Nightmare Niagra (log flume) are still visible, though crumbling and incredibly overgrown with flora. Nearby, there is a rusted metal footing that used to support the Runaway Train ride. In this area, the pavement is very crumbly.
The bare outlines of the arena can still be seen.
Pier 49, nearby the arena, is sinking into the water on one side.
Out on Tentacle Island, the footings for the ride can still be seen, with large rusted bolts sticking out of solid concrete blocks. Floating aimlessly in the lake where the wind takes it, the platform that once held fireworks and a hole for the golf game sits. No longer covered in any astroturf, sadly.
Near the main shop area, traintracks from the miniature train are still visible and relatively clear of weeds – wooden logs on a gravel sea. By the original main entrance, a nearly-rotten wooden bridge stands.
In the former staff parking lot, on grass-covered ground, sits one of the former river rapids cars – now solely the structural components, “concrete”-looking plastic and rusted metal, upside down. A thin border of red paint is all that makes it clear that this once was a ride car.
A wheel that could be a spare from the Twin Looper coaster sits in a patch of weeds, rusted and falling apart.
Work for the Shipley Lakeside development is finally about to begin. Concrete crushing of all old foundations said to start in mid-2019, with land ready for housebuilders in 2020.
Helen McLoughlin, development director, said there was still 12 to 18 months of work to do on the old foundations before the first homes could be built.
Quote: “This is all weather dependent because what we have to do is take out old foundations that were left behind from the legacy of the American Adventure and they have to be re-crushed and used on site.”
Quote: “It’s literally just a lake surrounded by the overgrown foundations of all the rides, you can still see where the rides used to be. It just felt eerie, really eerie – you wouldn’t think it had ever been a theme park.”
In April 2019, four construction vehicles at the site were set on fire by arsonists.
American Adventure was once one of the largest and most popular theme parks in the UK. A series of poor management choices spelled the end for the park; change came too little and too late for the American Adventure park. However, the land has carried on since the Dark Ages, and it will continue on in a new form soon. For now, nature is reclaiming the land.
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References
I’ve included a complete list of references used while researching this topic. It’s hidden under the link for brevity.