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The Arthurian themed leisure attraction Camelot closed at the end of the 2012 season though having wandered around it yesterday, just 6 months after closure, seeing first hand how tacky and... well... grotty it actually is, I'm surprised it lasted so long.
Camelot Theme Park in Lancashire has closed, with the operator blaming a decline in visitors for the decision.
The attraction at Charnock Richard, near Chorley, has been open for 29 years and employs more than 150 people during summer months.
Operator Knights Leisure announced it would not reopen for the 2013 season.
Roy Page, managing director of Knights Leisure, said poor summer weather and events such as London 2012 and the Queen's Jubilee hit visitor numbers.
He said: "Following a number of years of declining visitor numbers, the 2012 season proved particularly challenging.
"Whilst we have become used to inclement summer weather in the UK during the past few years, a combination of the wettest summer for 100 years, the Queen's Jubilee celebrations followed by the spectacular television coverage of the Olympic Games during our busiest months of the summer and the school holidays had a major impact on visitors to Camelot.
"I would like to thank all the staff who have helped to make Camelot Theme Park one of the region's most entertaining visitor attractions and our many loyal visitors for their continued support over the past 29 wonderful years."
Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, said: "I think it's sad. Camelot seems to have had a troubled history in recent times, but it's still popular, people still turn up and come from all over the country.
"I think it does need new investment to revitalise it. Obviously we have had a new owner - people said it was a new beginning for Camelot, but obviously it has not worked out."
The car park leads in to the main entrance...
...and away to the ride areas.
The entrance fee wasn't expensive for Camelot so they made up for it with merchandising everywhere you look.
Beyond yet more merchandising is the Pirate Ship ride.
The height of sartorial elegance if your name is Jack Sparrow...
Appalling signage or a deliberate pun? You decide.
All aboard me hearties
The ride operator's aide memoire in his cabin.
The high level dragon monorail.
Such a lovely fella
Pendragon's Plunge, a sort of cross between a water chute and a log flume ride.
This bit sort of reminds me of Jane Mansfield lying down
It doesn't look much of a descent but it's surprisingly long.
The obligatory dizzy making bit...
Arrival time where I don't doubt they took your photo to sell you at a nominal price.
Roll up, roll up! Try your luck and win a wonderful prize.
The jousting ring where knights in shining armour would fight for your delight and delectation.
Part of the high level monorail ride passes overhead.
A corporate hospitality suite where you can pay masses of money to Camelot and stage your own event in impressive surroundings.
You think I'm joking Then zoom in on the sign and see for yourself
This should read "Moses the Tesco beef burger"...
Stained glass photocopies.
Mmmm! Smell that chip fat! A quality environment for the consumption of haute cuisine.
You can have anything you like so long as it is deep fried.
A very rusty big dipper. It's not quite the Pepsi Max but I bet it was a ring twitcher none the less.
Wooooooo Smiffy's Dungeon of Doom. Enter at your peril.
An animatronic dragon...
...complete with moving jaw and laser eyes
He's been here since the park closed last October...
Note to all employees... any staff found acting in a frivolous manner will be banished to Smiffy's Dungeon of Doom.
Quality props...
Just hanging around...
I want my mummy...
Call Time Team, I think we just found where King Arthur was buried
Anorexia is a terrible, terrible problem
Who's this 'erbert? Oh it's TJ
Scarper It's secca
And that moy luvvers is yor lot
A report on the BeeBeeBCeeB had this to say:
Camelot Theme Park in Lancashire has closed, with the operator blaming a decline in visitors for the decision.
The attraction at Charnock Richard, near Chorley, has been open for 29 years and employs more than 150 people during summer months.
Operator Knights Leisure announced it would not reopen for the 2013 season.
Roy Page, managing director of Knights Leisure, said poor summer weather and events such as London 2012 and the Queen's Jubilee hit visitor numbers.
He said: "Following a number of years of declining visitor numbers, the 2012 season proved particularly challenging.
"Whilst we have become used to inclement summer weather in the UK during the past few years, a combination of the wettest summer for 100 years, the Queen's Jubilee celebrations followed by the spectacular television coverage of the Olympic Games during our busiest months of the summer and the school holidays had a major impact on visitors to Camelot.
"I would like to thank all the staff who have helped to make Camelot Theme Park one of the region's most entertaining visitor attractions and our many loyal visitors for their continued support over the past 29 wonderful years."
Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, said: "I think it's sad. Camelot seems to have had a troubled history in recent times, but it's still popular, people still turn up and come from all over the country.
"I think it does need new investment to revitalise it. Obviously we have had a new owner - people said it was a new beginning for Camelot, but obviously it has not worked out."
There's not much else to say about this place so on with the piccies...
The car park leads in to the main entrance...
...and away to the ride areas.
The entrance fee wasn't expensive for Camelot so they made up for it with merchandising everywhere you look.
Beyond yet more merchandising is the Pirate Ship ride.
The height of sartorial elegance if your name is Jack Sparrow...
Appalling signage or a deliberate pun? You decide.
All aboard me hearties
The ride operator's aide memoire in his cabin.
The high level dragon monorail.
Such a lovely fella
Pendragon's Plunge, a sort of cross between a water chute and a log flume ride.
This bit sort of reminds me of Jane Mansfield lying down
It doesn't look much of a descent but it's surprisingly long.
The obligatory dizzy making bit...
Arrival time where I don't doubt they took your photo to sell you at a nominal price.
Roll up, roll up! Try your luck and win a wonderful prize.
The jousting ring where knights in shining armour would fight for your delight and delectation.
Part of the high level monorail ride passes overhead.
A corporate hospitality suite where you can pay masses of money to Camelot and stage your own event in impressive surroundings.
You think I'm joking Then zoom in on the sign and see for yourself
This should read "Moses the Tesco beef burger"...
Stained glass photocopies.
Mmmm! Smell that chip fat! A quality environment for the consumption of haute cuisine.
You can have anything you like so long as it is deep fried.
A very rusty big dipper. It's not quite the Pepsi Max but I bet it was a ring twitcher none the less.
Wooooooo Smiffy's Dungeon of Doom. Enter at your peril.
An animatronic dragon...
...complete with moving jaw and laser eyes
He's been here since the park closed last October...
Note to all employees... any staff found acting in a frivolous manner will be banished to Smiffy's Dungeon of Doom.
Quality props...
Just hanging around...
I want my mummy...
Call Time Team, I think we just found where King Arthur was buried
Anorexia is a terrible, terrible problem
Who's this 'erbert? Oh it's TJ
Scarper It's secca
And that moy luvvers is yor lot