History Paultons Park

1 history

1.1 estate , house
1.2 1983–1999
1.3 1999–2009
1.4 2009–present

history
estate , house

the park located on land on paulton s estate. in 1969 land in possession of abbot of glastonbury, sold john de palton. estate has since been named after him. land passed down john touchet, in 1497 led rebellion against king henry vii; touchet defeated, beheaded , lands confiscated crown. lands left royal ownership in 1547, when newly crowned king edward vi gave estate john paulet. continued until 1780 when hans sloane inherited estate hans stanley, changed name hans sloane stanley sign of gratitude. estate, covering 3000 acres, modeled , designed capability brown in 18th century.

by 1940s, paultons estate owned major roger cyril hans sloane stanley , lady cairns. through second world war, estate played host 15 school girls , teacher, phyllis wilkins, northern parade school, hilsea, portsmouth. in 1944 manor house opened luxury hotel, guests stay 10 guineas week, in 1954 hotel closed. house became derelict , burned down in great fire on 5 november 1963.

in 1979, john , anne mancey (parents of current director, richard mancey) bought derelict 500-acres paultons estate, restored gardens , lake former glory , opened fun park. 4 years later, in 1983, paultons park opened country park , bird garden.

1983–1999

the theme park opened paultons park , bird gardens on 17 may 1983. park covered 140 acres, 4 staff members , attractions featuring adventure playground, village life museum located in converted barn, , numerous birds , animals.

three years after launch, attractions expanded railway station, station tea rooms , rio grande railway being constructed, alongside magic forest, kids kingdom , captain blood’s cavern. 1988 saw land of dinosaurs, rabbit ride , trampolines being completed, astroglide , crazy snooker added following year. bumper boats attraction added in 1990 alongside pets corner area, maze large clock @ centre added 1991 , flying saucer ride installed in 1992.

in 1993, runaway train roller coaster installed, becoming parks first major ride. accompanied mirror maze , sky diver following year , allowed visitors break 400,000 mark in 1995. in 1996, tiny tots playground constructed along walkthrough tableux entitled wonderful world of wind in willows, following story of same name. year saw introduction of santa s wonderland, event in every festive season day.

in 1997, tea cup ride became popular addition park, , following year percy s playhouse play area , go-karts constructed, latter providing older children attraction.

1999–2009

in 1999, park began expanding, new ride built every year since. in 1999, raging river ride, largest ride @ time , costing £500,000. new millennium, runaway train ride dismantled , replaced stinger roller coaster. runaway train relocated dunes leisure park in lincolnshire.

2001 saw 3 new rides added park: pirate ship, viking boats , dragon ride, replaced crazy karts ride located on same area. in recent years, rides had become more focused on attracting older audiences, , compensate 2 rides built 2002 solely children under seven: digger ride , seal falls. 2 rides constructed in 2003 – wave runner entertained thrill seekers, while flying frog catered children being younger version of stinger.

2004 saw 2 drop rides installed; jumping jack younger audiences , taller jumping bean older visitors. bumper boats ride removed , replaced penguin enclosure on same site, upgrade in animal areas. kontiki ride built in 2005, magic carpet built on site of wirly copters ride same year.

in 2006, park expanded when paultons in previous season of 2005, construction started @ cost of £2million on custom made cobra. coaster built on land unused before park , house new, bigger roller coaster: cobra. later became difficulty park due lands status , legal rights, action began in 2009. paultons had shifted ride investment towards older visitor market, , compensate opened trekking tractors ride in 2007, in children see growing in progress farming machinery around. crazy snooker, crazy golf , panning gold attractions, removed, , replaced gold rush falls, consisting of new , re-themed crazy golf , panning gold attractions.

2008 saw 25th anniversary of park. result, traditional style ride installed: sky swinger, , entrance plaza remodelled. new ride built on site of clock maze, clock transported entrance plaza become centrepiece of new side garden. striking part of new plaza kugel ball added celebrate anniversary. largest in uk, @ 1.5 metres diameter , weighing 6.5 tonnes.

2009–present

soon after anniversary, park undertook major rebranding project in logo changed, previous slogan s hoot! hoot! dropped , owl mascot seen less.

the park s expansion continued in 2009 addition of edge ride, located next cobra on land not used until cobra opening in march 2006, , of water kingdom, replacing kids kingdom play area. however, park told may have move cobra , edge after application grant them retrospective planning permission narrowly turned down national park planning committee 7 votes five. area these rides situated designated country park , not amusement park in planning terms, whereas other areas of park recognised amusement park , therefore have permitted development rights. after separate application cobra made announced on 22 december 2009 ride had been granted retrospective permission , remain in current location.

another planning application lodged new forest national park planning authority retain edge ride. application received public support , paultons granted permission new forest npa retain edge ride in current location on 16 march 2010.

no new rides opened in 2010, instead efforts put 2011 s new opening: peppa pig world. features 3 large rides , several more smaller rides , attractions contained within themed area. world s first peppa pig theme park. area includes largest peppa pig toy shop in world selling peppa pig themed merchandise. new development heavily promoted through internet, television , radio adverts. area opened on 6 april 2011 , visitor numbers park increased 500,000 per year 1 million after year of opening.

in 2012 park opened new drop , twist 25m tower ride called magma. volcano theme surrounds ride , there animatronic dinosaur inside mountain queue line is. smoke , rumbling sound effects occur when ride moves out of volcano.

in 2013 park opened 4d cinema showing curse of skull rock replaced village life museum , part of 1950 new orleans-themed area called show street.

in 2014, park demolishing old entrance make way new gateway building consisting of big toy shop , wildwoods restaurant. new admissions , guest information kiosks built part of development. park added new ride, victorian double decker carousel, park constructed new foot path along main entrance.

in 2015, park began rebranding of various areas of park. area surrounding stinger , wind in willows attractions named critter creek , themed around discovery of number of whimsical animals , plants professor stanley blast. stinger renamed cat-o-pillar reflect new half-cat-half-caterpillar theme, , wind in willows replaced beastie burrow, live insect , amphibian exhibit. new miniature train ride called professor blast s expedition express installed. four-acre area encompassing rabbit ride, astroglide, land of dinosaurs , kiddies play village cleared in order begin development of lost kingdom, dinosaur themed land due completion in spring 2016.

on 17 may 2016 park opened lost kingdom - dinosaur theme park land suitable younger , older children aged 6–12. land cost £9 million build , home 8 new rides , attractions including: flight of pterosaur, vekoma family suspended coaster, velocirpator, vekoma family boomerang coaster, temple heights zamperla magic carpet, dino chase, zierer tivoli junior coaster, boulder dash, zamperla demolition derby ride, meteallbau emmeln, track ride, alive - dinosaur meet , greet character experience , little explorers play ground.

a new discovery trail opened on 17 may 2016 encourage native species new forest reside. includes interactive boards along route , on 40 bird , bat boxes.

paultons launched brand new christmas attraction in november 2016.

in january 2017 paultons announced on peppa pig world website new project had started make peppa pig world bigger , better . statement on website stated new attractions under construction . park signage states attractions open in spring 2018.