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The History of Drayton Manor

Drayton Manor has a history that goes back into centuries. Although the theme park was only opened 50 years ago; the actual Manor of Drayton was built around... Read More...

 

Past Rides

Klondike  
Klondike Old Mine is a Pinfari coaster that opened in 1995 and was replaced by G Force for 2005.The ride was in fact re-themed and used to be called Python Looping Coaster. Klondike is themed to be a mine as part as the original themeing of Action Park which was of the wild west -Shockwave, Splash Canyon, Klondike and Black Revolver. You can now find Klondike at Hayling Island Park.

 

Tea Cups  
The Tea Cups were basically a content of a spinning platform, and with spinning Tea Cup Cars which it opened in 1988. The Tea Cups was renamed in 1994 as it used be called Coffee Cups. At the end of the 2004 season, both the Tea Cups and Klondike were removed to make way for G Force.

 

Sky Flyer  
Sky  Flyer is a ride similar to Pandemonium but caged were passengers instead of them being outwards. It was smaller than Pandemonium and isn't as good as its successor. Sky Flyer closed in 2004 due to maintenance problems. It was in fact opened in 1987 by Doctor Who - John Pertwee.

 

Cine 180  
It was a small Cinema attraction that was on the site of successors Cyclone and the recent Drunken Barrels. It opened in 1985 and closed in 2003 and was not a very popular ride.

 

Cyclone  
Cyclone was an enterprise ride that opened late 2003 that looked like a fairground joke, until it was improved a bit with a queue and banners. It was located on the site where the new Drunken Barrels is, which is it’s replacement due to locals and the European Coaster Clubs visit to the park forced Cyclones removal as a prosecution was a possibility. Cyclone closed in 2005 and was brought by rival theme park, Thorpe Park. Cyclone has/will become the new enterprise to replace the old one at Thorpe Park but with the same name: Zodiac. Cyclone could spin up16 meters and had a g-force of 3.5 with nothing but the g-force holding you in.

 

The Crypt  
The Crypt was a ghost train ride next to the Buccaneer Burger Bar. It had models of skeletons and other 'scary' features. It suddenly closed in 2001, possibly due to constant maintenance. It was first called The Ghost Train and re-named as the Crypt when the outside was made to match Pirate Adventure. The space is sealed off as an empty room, but Colin Bryan, MD of the park says he would like the planned 4D Cinema to be built here.

 

Para Tower  
The Para Tower was an old fashioned version of Apocalypse, as it was a slower drop and in a basket. In fact Apocalypse replaced the Para Tower. You get in a basket and stand there getting lifted up held in with safety straps that was pulled up by a pulley system. You get to the top like Apocalypse looking at the view and thinking about the drop, but the drop is not as bad as Apocalypse as there is no G-Forces! Parachutes controlled the speed as you go down gently. The Para Tower opened in 1982 and closed in 1998.

 

Log Flume  
The Log Flume was the predecessor of Stormforce 10, but was your average Log Flume. It was built in 1981, the same year Jumbo Jet was built. The Log Flume originally had 1 drop, but was upgraded to 3 drops in 1986. It closed in 1998 due to the logs had trouble climbing the 3rd lift hill due to algae in the lake and made way for the even better Stormforce 10. In fact the Log Flume was in the same location to Stormforce as well! 

 

Snake Train  
The Snake Train was basically a tractor pulling some carts with passengers in them. The train went around the zoo to the park and closed in 1993 and was replaced by The Haunting which opened 1996.

 

Jumbo Jet  
The Jumbo Jet was a Schwarzof manufactures roller coaster that was installed in 1983, and suddenly closed in 1985 which suggests that  it was Temporarily. It had grey trains with a capacity of 12 and the track was black and the supports brown. Jumbo Jet is on the site where G Force is now, but was replaced by the Python Looping Coaster shortly afterwards.

 

Jungle Cruise  
The Jungle Cruise was a family boat ride that was like Excalibur, but with a jungle theme and not so advanced technology that opened in 1976. It was in fact on the same lake where Excalibur is now. George Bryan (chairman) was inspired by a ride that Disney had also called the Jungle Cruise and soon after a man from America agreed to build a Jungle Cruise for Drayton Manor. The 'elephant temple' you see while your on Excalibur used to be part of the Jungle Cruise. There was maintenance check on the ride and they apparently found remains of a castle in the lake-(true or not). But the Jungle Cruise suddenly closed after the maintenance check in 2001and during 2002- early 2003 was the construction of 'Project Neptune' that was first known of on the '02 map and became Excalibur- a Dragon's Tale.

 

Pirate Ship  
The Pirate Ship was a basic pirate ship ride that was located behind the Super Dragon Roller Coaster which is where the new main entrance stands. However according to park maps, it was in Action Park and not Robinson's Land. When the Pirate Ship had gone, there was a park survey and the results ended up that visitors missed the Pirate Ship and the Tea Cups. So in June 2006, along came Drunken Barrels- a tilting, German themed tea cups ride so the tea cups came back and new for 2007 is The Bounty- an Intamin pirate ship that brought back a pirate ship for Drayton Manor but this time the ride is located on the lake in Fisherman's Wharf!