This is a section of an article written back in 2004 that I came across:
During the show the sale of another Junior Coaster with 335 meters of track and a Family Suspended ride, both to Pleasurewood Hills in the UK, have be announced. The Family Suspended Coaster is the first installation of this kind in Europe (there are rides for example at Paramount´s in the US), offering a track length of 342 meters. Last but not least there will be a standard SLC for Magic Springs and Crystal Falls amusement park in the US.
Did Pleasurewood have some big plans that never came into fruition?
2004 was the year of transfer between owners Peter and Peggy Haden to Grevin & Cie (CdA now). Was this their last purchase, but it fell through due to change of ownership?
I remember noticing on RCDB years ago that there were 2 new coasters "under construction" at Pleasurewood. One was a Vekoma rollerskater coaster (Mini Mine Train, Pleasure Island) and the other was a Vekoma SLC Custom, which featured 2 inversions (sidewinder and corkscrew)
The new coasters were soon removed from RCDB, with no explanation at all. So that was it, I was left totally baffled by it, not knowing what was going on!
I personally think it was a rumour made up by someone, I remember ringing the park and asking them about it, and they hadn't heard anything about any new coasters!
But then, RCDB wont list anything on their site unless its confirmed....
So really, its still an unsolved mystery!
-- Edited by Martyn on Tuesday 5th of May 2009 10:24:44 AM
Yea, The RCDB thing does seem peculiar. Wipeout didn't appear on there till about a month after it was officially confirmed. I'm still laying on whether it was anything to do with the change of ownership.
Wipeout was one there for some time before it was confirmed? The status was "In Storage" as all the ride was actually at PWH. I remember sending in my pics to RCDB as soon as I saw the track at PWH.
It could have been to do with the change of ownership, but why sell up just as you're adding 2 new major attractions? It money was issue, why add the new attractions?
-- Edited by Martyn on Wednesday 6th of May 2009 03:06:57 PM
-- Edited by Martyn on Wednesday 6th of May 2009 03:08:00 PM
Good point. It is interesting to note that shortly after this announcement Flamingoland built a Vekoma Booster bike (05) and a Vekoma SLC (06). Maybe someone somewhere got their wires crossed and it was these guys they meant, also as PH never had any recollection when you said you called them.
I emailed Terry Nunn asking him if he knew anything about these coasters and he replied with:
A quick reply to your question regarding the other 2 roller coasters, this was being discussed by the old owner and when Pleasurewood Hills came under new management that year it was not progressed.
It must have been more of a 'discussion' though. RCDB had the SLC listed as a Custom model, with all the features etc. That would have been designed by Vekoma!
Does anyone know why the Hadden's sold up? They had invested heavily during their four years of ownership, and they seemed to be doing quite well. They clearly had considered the financial options were viable; particularly if Vekoma were to design a custom coaster for the park.
Maybe Grevin made them an offer they couldn't refuse?
Which would mean Grevin were pretty desperate to get hold of the park. And about a year after buying it, they announced they wanted to build the Walibi World of England! So I reckon Grevin had pretty big plans for the park...
-- Edited by Martyn on Tuesday 12th of May 2009 03:22:12 PM