- Joined
- Dec 28, 2007
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American adventure has really been one of those places I have a look at if I happen to be driving nearby and have time to take a look. Therefore, I have pictures from the various phases of the site wasting away. My most recent visit, about six weeks ago, there was so little left I didn't see the purpose of changing the batteries in my well cared for camera.
As some will know, this site was initally opened as a leisure site, known as Brittania Park, in June 1985 and the venture was a bit of a cock up resulting in the park becoming bankrupt by September the same year and a fraud investigation which resulted in prison sentantces being dished out.
More on that aspect of the park's history here;
http://www.heanorhistory.org.uk/britanniapark.htm
Granada took over the site in 1986, it was then sold on to Ventureworld in 1997, and after various schemes to boost the parks dwindling gate revenue, including rebranding, and actually removing major rides instead of adding to them, the park closed announced closed for good around January 2006. The site stands as merely a lake and tell tale network of pathways around the site.
A selection from Spring 2007;
One redeeming feature of the American Adventure's layout was the way the park opened out in front of you once you had walked across the entrance piazzia. The entrance to the park in general was well designed, a little limited on parking perhaps, but either way the original entrance was lost due to mining subsistance towards the end of the parks years. It was difficult to close to the building close to the entrance due to security presence;
American adventure- lakeside by theoss, on Flickr
American adventure by theoss, on Flickr
In fact, my preffered point of access back then was at the rear of the park, crossing a service road and entering via the River rapids. This was was the return elevator to the passneger loading platforms at the end of the ride;
American adventure- river rapids by theoss, on Flickr
Boat things removed the water course await disposal;
RIver rapids- American Adventure by theoss, on Flickr
Quite nice scenic carpentry along the rapids ride queue system. Although on a hot summer day the queue for the rapids would be huge and this did little to alleviate boredom;
American adventure- Rapids entrance by theoss, on Flickr
Fort Lawrence, entrance to the rapids, and a gateway to the Missile, slide and cinema tent;
American Adventure by theoss, on Flickr
Unvandalised at this stage, catering units still equiped and some some buildings locked;
American Adventure kitchen by theoss, on Flickr
Some scrap go carts;
American adventure go carts by theoss, on Flickr
The safe refuge from security where we hid on spotting a patrol;
American adventure go cart repair area by theoss, on Flickr
The big slide- needed a good waxing;
American adventure- slide by theoss, on Flickr
The cine projector;
American adventure cine projector by theoss, on Flickr
Progressing round the lake, towards the 'new' main entrance. Some rides had already been removed, including the JCBs mini diggers;
American adventure JCB area by theoss, on Flickr
These barriers enclosed the JCBs, which had been mounted on bases so only hydraulic arm and bucket worked. Not a bad idea to have these in a park aiming towards the family/ juvenile market, but they were only available at an additional cost on top of admission;
American adventure JCB area by theoss, on Flickr
Skycoaster loading platform. Something else to paid for additionally to admission;
American adventure Skycoaster loading by theoss, on Flickr
A thrilling crazy golf course;
American adventure crazy golf by theoss, on Flickr
The 'petting zoo';
American Adventure- entrance to zoo area by theoss, on Flickr
And the hidden assualt course, as seen on that glorious thing called TV;
American adventure assault course by theoss, on Flickr
As some will know, this site was initally opened as a leisure site, known as Brittania Park, in June 1985 and the venture was a bit of a cock up resulting in the park becoming bankrupt by September the same year and a fraud investigation which resulted in prison sentantces being dished out.
More on that aspect of the park's history here;
http://www.heanorhistory.org.uk/britanniapark.htm
Granada took over the site in 1986, it was then sold on to Ventureworld in 1997, and after various schemes to boost the parks dwindling gate revenue, including rebranding, and actually removing major rides instead of adding to them, the park closed announced closed for good around January 2006. The site stands as merely a lake and tell tale network of pathways around the site.
A selection from Spring 2007;
One redeeming feature of the American Adventure's layout was the way the park opened out in front of you once you had walked across the entrance piazzia. The entrance to the park in general was well designed, a little limited on parking perhaps, but either way the original entrance was lost due to mining subsistance towards the end of the parks years. It was difficult to close to the building close to the entrance due to security presence;
American adventure- lakeside by theoss, on Flickr
American adventure by theoss, on Flickr
In fact, my preffered point of access back then was at the rear of the park, crossing a service road and entering via the River rapids. This was was the return elevator to the passneger loading platforms at the end of the ride;
American adventure- river rapids by theoss, on Flickr
Boat things removed the water course await disposal;
RIver rapids- American Adventure by theoss, on Flickr
Quite nice scenic carpentry along the rapids ride queue system. Although on a hot summer day the queue for the rapids would be huge and this did little to alleviate boredom;
American adventure- Rapids entrance by theoss, on Flickr
Fort Lawrence, entrance to the rapids, and a gateway to the Missile, slide and cinema tent;
American Adventure by theoss, on Flickr
Unvandalised at this stage, catering units still equiped and some some buildings locked;
American Adventure kitchen by theoss, on Flickr
Some scrap go carts;
American adventure go carts by theoss, on Flickr
The safe refuge from security where we hid on spotting a patrol;
American adventure go cart repair area by theoss, on Flickr
The big slide- needed a good waxing;
American adventure- slide by theoss, on Flickr
The cine projector;
American adventure cine projector by theoss, on Flickr
Progressing round the lake, towards the 'new' main entrance. Some rides had already been removed, including the JCBs mini diggers;
American adventure JCB area by theoss, on Flickr
These barriers enclosed the JCBs, which had been mounted on bases so only hydraulic arm and bucket worked. Not a bad idea to have these in a park aiming towards the family/ juvenile market, but they were only available at an additional cost on top of admission;
American adventure JCB area by theoss, on Flickr
Skycoaster loading platform. Something else to paid for additionally to admission;
American adventure Skycoaster loading by theoss, on Flickr
A thrilling crazy golf course;
American adventure crazy golf by theoss, on Flickr
The 'petting zoo';
American Adventure- entrance to zoo area by theoss, on Flickr
And the hidden assualt course, as seen on that glorious thing called TV;
American adventure assault course by theoss, on Flickr
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