On my way back to Dublin from London after visiting Thorpe Park I had planned on visiting relations up in Liverpool for a couple of days. And seeing that The New Pleasureland in Southport was only up the road and the fact that the park had been advertised a lot more this year, I decided to take a quick visit on the Saturday afternoon. They had also been giving away lots of vouchers for 2 for 1 ride’s so I thought most of their attractions may be operating.
Whilst walking towards the park along the seafront I could hear load music coming from the park area so at least the park would be open. Arriving at the front entrance the place still looked the same as all those years ago when it was Pleasureland. The place seemed dead even though the pier in Southport and towards the beach was quite busy. It looked like most people using the car park were using the shopping centre and water park across the road.
From what I had heard the park sounded like they were really trying this year to encourage more visitors but the place was in bits. It actually looked better back in 2007 just after they had taken over the site, there were a lot more attractions and most areas were taken up with rides. Now the park looked like a building site with a small funfair in front. The whole area from where TraumaTizer all the way across to Cyclone where located appeared as a muddy site not even blocked off from the rest of the park. The old buildings at the back of the park are still standing including the old dinosaur attraction. It seems like they can’t touch any of the buildings or knock them down as most of the main entrance along with the Casablanca restaurant are all still standing empty.
There were plenty of signs around telling people to excuse the mess and to expect improvements and more attractions coming up to Easter but I couldn’t see anything being placed on the muddy site and the judging by state of some of the paths and walkways, there was a big accident waiting to happen.
Most of my time was spent walking around thinking of the great days in the past when riding TraumaTizer, Cyclone, Wildcat and the rest. But now its sad to see the place in that state. If the recession had not kicked in I’m sure the site would have been developed or even plans drawn up, but I can see the site either operating as the funfair or ending up derelict until land prices rise again.
Finally when leaving a local scouser asked me what happened to the big red roller coaster which used to be here. Funny enough he was talking about TraumaTizer and he thought it was still in Southport. I told him what happened to it and we both agreed that we didn’t like the new park. I certainly wont be heading back soon.
Welcome to Southport, Englands classic resort.
Southport Pier, this is where you usually find most of the tourists walking up and down the pier.
Welcome to the New Pleasureland, the area where the tourist don't dare to visit. Saturday afternoon and there was nobody in the car park.
Mmm, old and new signs at the main entrance. At least they kept the entrance looking decent.
The old Casablanca Restaurant, laying empty and housing the old arcade machines inside.
This sign which first greets you at the main entrance.
Fun Park????
It does'nt look too bad from here, a new pirate ship, bumper cars and a new water chute ride the Jungle River.
More signs warning about the mess, god how long do they need. After 3 years the place is still a mess.
OMG construction site, maybe a new mega coaster for 2010. More likely to be another few pikey flats I think. Now I can see what all the warning signs were for.
Some the old Tizer signs from a few years back when TraumaTizer was still here.
The old Abdulahs Dilemma building still standing and believe it or not they were serving drinks of of this when I visited. You can see some dodgy looking bar thing on the right.
The new water chute ride the Jungle River which wasn't operating yet.
Boo, bring back TraumaTizer. This is where you would have gotten a good view of the lifthill, from the car park at the rear of the park. Nowadays there is just a caravan and derelict building to look at.
At least the go-karts were still operating but I wonder for how much longer as the area was looking very rundown just like the New Pleasureland site.
Back in the park, the Rock 'N' Roll Express.
The King is here.
One of the old dinosaurs from the Lost Dinosaurs of the Sahara attraction.
The new Super Waltzer, with Ray Von from Phoenix Nights trying to attract customers. They guy was going crazy on the mic and there was nobody around.
One for the credit whores, the Big Apple coaster.
Another one for the whores unless you have the credit from Blackpool. I was very surprised to see the Circus Clown here, especially as I couldn't remember hearing anything about it being removed from the Pleasure Beach. There didn't appear to be any train on the track yet so it may have just arrived recently.
Nooooooo, this was the only attraction I was looking forward too. They even had it down on the list of operating rides. It is Indiana's Adventure - The Ride, an oval kiddie coaster which been built in old Funhouse at New Pleasureland. How it looked last year.
http://www.rcdb.com/id4265.htm
I heard they had problems with copyright of using the Indiana Jones name, so it may be launched under a new name.
Interesting theming, half a Land Rover on the roof.
The Twister ride.
Attracting the biggest crowd was the bumper cars.
Walking around towards the front of the park I found the old entrance with a newish paint job complete with the old Pleasureland sign. I really felt like sneaking back at night and trying to hack the sign down.
Ah the memories, queuing up here during the summer waiting for a writband.
The old crazy golf course.
Before I left, I had one go in the Haunted Inn as I never had visited during the Pleasureland days and seeing as it was only £1 and it looked the safest thing operating in the park at the time.
Whilst walking towards the park along the seafront I could hear load music coming from the park area so at least the park would be open. Arriving at the front entrance the place still looked the same as all those years ago when it was Pleasureland. The place seemed dead even though the pier in Southport and towards the beach was quite busy. It looked like most people using the car park were using the shopping centre and water park across the road.
From what I had heard the park sounded like they were really trying this year to encourage more visitors but the place was in bits. It actually looked better back in 2007 just after they had taken over the site, there were a lot more attractions and most areas were taken up with rides. Now the park looked like a building site with a small funfair in front. The whole area from where TraumaTizer all the way across to Cyclone where located appeared as a muddy site not even blocked off from the rest of the park. The old buildings at the back of the park are still standing including the old dinosaur attraction. It seems like they can’t touch any of the buildings or knock them down as most of the main entrance along with the Casablanca restaurant are all still standing empty.
There were plenty of signs around telling people to excuse the mess and to expect improvements and more attractions coming up to Easter but I couldn’t see anything being placed on the muddy site and the judging by state of some of the paths and walkways, there was a big accident waiting to happen.
Most of my time was spent walking around thinking of the great days in the past when riding TraumaTizer, Cyclone, Wildcat and the rest. But now its sad to see the place in that state. If the recession had not kicked in I’m sure the site would have been developed or even plans drawn up, but I can see the site either operating as the funfair or ending up derelict until land prices rise again.
Finally when leaving a local scouser asked me what happened to the big red roller coaster which used to be here. Funny enough he was talking about TraumaTizer and he thought it was still in Southport. I told him what happened to it and we both agreed that we didn’t like the new park. I certainly wont be heading back soon.
Welcome to Southport, Englands classic resort.
Southport Pier, this is where you usually find most of the tourists walking up and down the pier.
Welcome to the New Pleasureland, the area where the tourist don't dare to visit. Saturday afternoon and there was nobody in the car park.
Mmm, old and new signs at the main entrance. At least they kept the entrance looking decent.
The old Casablanca Restaurant, laying empty and housing the old arcade machines inside.
This sign which first greets you at the main entrance.
Fun Park????
It does'nt look too bad from here, a new pirate ship, bumper cars and a new water chute ride the Jungle River.
More signs warning about the mess, god how long do they need. After 3 years the place is still a mess.
OMG construction site, maybe a new mega coaster for 2010. More likely to be another few pikey flats I think. Now I can see what all the warning signs were for.
Some the old Tizer signs from a few years back when TraumaTizer was still here.
The old Abdulahs Dilemma building still standing and believe it or not they were serving drinks of of this when I visited. You can see some dodgy looking bar thing on the right.
The new water chute ride the Jungle River which wasn't operating yet.
Boo, bring back TraumaTizer. This is where you would have gotten a good view of the lifthill, from the car park at the rear of the park. Nowadays there is just a caravan and derelict building to look at.
At least the go-karts were still operating but I wonder for how much longer as the area was looking very rundown just like the New Pleasureland site.
Back in the park, the Rock 'N' Roll Express.
The King is here.
One of the old dinosaurs from the Lost Dinosaurs of the Sahara attraction.
The new Super Waltzer, with Ray Von from Phoenix Nights trying to attract customers. They guy was going crazy on the mic and there was nobody around.
One for the credit whores, the Big Apple coaster.
Another one for the whores unless you have the credit from Blackpool. I was very surprised to see the Circus Clown here, especially as I couldn't remember hearing anything about it being removed from the Pleasure Beach. There didn't appear to be any train on the track yet so it may have just arrived recently.
Nooooooo, this was the only attraction I was looking forward too. They even had it down on the list of operating rides. It is Indiana's Adventure - The Ride, an oval kiddie coaster which been built in old Funhouse at New Pleasureland. How it looked last year.
http://www.rcdb.com/id4265.htm
I heard they had problems with copyright of using the Indiana Jones name, so it may be launched under a new name.
Interesting theming, half a Land Rover on the roof.
The Twister ride.
Attracting the biggest crowd was the bumper cars.
Walking around towards the front of the park I found the old entrance with a newish paint job complete with the old Pleasureland sign. I really felt like sneaking back at night and trying to hack the sign down.
Ah the memories, queuing up here during the summer waiting for a writband.
The old crazy golf course.
Before I left, I had one go in the Haunted Inn as I never had visited during the Pleasureland days and seeing as it was only £1 and it looked the safest thing operating in the park at the time.
