I emailed Pleasurewood Hills a couple of days ago with a couple of questions regarding future plans and they were very kind in replying with some news for the future:
Thanks for the comments; the continued investment by the new owners is beginning to show some results! We have had a good season and a lot of favourable comments especially about Half Term, Halloween week and I think the staff enjoyed it too.
There is still a little more to be done to completely refurbish Timber Falls and some essential maintenance to be done on Enigma. Enigma is a one off and any major refurbishment would have to be bespoke for that particular ride as trains, parts etc are not purchasable from off the shelf, but various ideas are being looked at, but it depends on cost and budget.
As I said earlier the company are continuing to invest in both the attractions, shows, and Park presentation. We have looked at new attractions for Pleasurewood Hills but in this financial climate and being owned by a French company and the exchange rate any major new attraction will not before 2011.
We will be refurbishing further areas within the Park, which includes the children’s playground and some unseen areas in the Castle. We are also looking to have some extra events this season too, which will be a little extra for the visitor with some extra incentives to book and Halloween of course. Did Stitch die? Nobody seems to know!
We also won an award this season “The Best Visitor Experience in 2009” organised within Suffolk Tourism, which we are very proud of and runner up for the “Best Large Attraction”.
We had a new online booking system developed too, which we trialled at Halloween and will go fully live in 2010. The website will have a minor face lift to match our new visuals, along with some things for the kids and somewhere for the fan community as you call it, can send us their comments, photos and stories etc. We hope to have an area set up soon so that all your stories, pictures of Halloween and further events can be shared. You will also see Pleasurewood Hills and Woody Bear within the social media network , so there will be lots of different and exciting ways of keeping in touch and up to date with what’s happening.
Opening date for 2010 is April 2.
This is some great news although it's a slight shame that no major installation until 2011. But I am happy to see continued investment in the upkeep and presentation of the park.
Let's discuss. What are your opinions on nothing major for next season?
-- Edited by Josh on Thursday 12th of November 2009 10:19:13 PM
If im being honest, this does all sound abit of an anticlimax. I always thought that they would have something new for the park, as just refurbishing areas and doing slight work to other rides isn't going to attract new visitors nor interest older visitors.
However it will be interesting to see what is done to Enigma! Also the Castle refurbishment could be quite intersting..
But I suppose we wont actually ever know until we visit next season...
It is kind of disapointing to hear there wont add any major attractions added until at least 2011, but that doesn't completely rule out a new ride for next year.
I see the words 'major invesment' and think of Wipeout, everything else at the park is kind of 'medium investment'. Like to me, personally, I dont see them small Rapids as a 'major' investment, so we could still see something like them next year.
I thought Wipeout would be the first, and last ever major investment in the park, so I'm glad to hear there will be more major invesments!
Enigma is a one off and any major refurbishment would have to be bespoke for that particular ride as trains, parts etc are not purchasable from off the shelf, but various ideas are being looked at, but it depends on cost and budget.
This pretty much confirms they're looking into doing something with the ride, to maybe make it as a 'new' attraction. This is great news!
Also be interesting to see what they're intending on doing with Timber Falls, hopefully it will get some major theming for next year! I cant see anything mechanically that the ride needs, so surely they're going to give it a good theme!
I look forward to seeing what they could be doing to the Castle... and this email doesn't actually rule out a new attraction for next year- just a "MAJOR" attraction!
PATRICK said ".What they are doing to Timber Falls (retheme?)"
As they have only rethemed it this year then it is unlikely that they will be retheming it. I can only imagine that they have more theming to add or it still requires some maintenance. One thing that springs to mind in the strength of the boards lining the queue as the pressure of the water hitting them rips holes in them. The theme is also still quite bare and some extra theming wouldn't go amiss.
You are right though I think next year will see some much needed improvements to Enigma which is great news in my book.
Well what they had done with Timber Falls this year wasn't too bad. The little bits of themeing it has are quite good, and we know the park are good are themeing rides (Wipeout), so I hope we will see a heavily themed Timber Falls for next year.
Also, with them saying there will be no new major attractions before 2011, it makes me think they maybe doing an Alton, and adding a major ride every 4 years, though the only difference is, Alton added 'filler' attractions in between them years. We haven't really seen anything new since Wipeout.
And like I said last year, if they aren't going to add any new rides, and instead just 'spruce up' the ones we have, I'd be more than happy! Though we are over due a new ride, badly.
A small, or even medium sized EuroFighter is a definite. Infact, its odd that the park haven't gone down that road yet. They are so cheap and would do wonders for any small park.
If the rumoured relocationg of Enigma turns out to be true, I'm confident we would see a 'tall' ride placed in the crater.
2010 Retheme of Enigma and Timber falls Rapids ride
2011 Mega Drop Enterprise (to replace thunder struck)
2012 Small Euro fighter
Other Future plans: Huss Delirium Disko Pandemonium (Drayton Manor) S&S Screaming swing (it would have to be very small) Make either Tales of the coast or Woodys fairytale fantasy interactive
Yeah it could, but its a bit small. There's not too much space in there really.
It would however make a very good haunted attraction, like a Ghost Train, but obviously with a better theme/name. Like an old haunted ship or something along them lines.
I have an idea for enigma although everyone will disagree i think they should build completly new cars which could spin or mabey have higher capacity or something. i do realise they would have to do major modifications to the track.
another idea is a new entrance next to the dodgems. if they invest in rides down that end of the park it would make the ques shorter at the current entrance.
I dont really think there is an issue with queue's at the current entrance to be honest. And its nicely located in the middle of the park, so I dont think there's any need to move it.
a way tomake a quicker way to get there could be extending the railway down a bit to make a new station or something. maybee even a brand new sort of ferry service over the lake to where the little railway is and put in a new station. and make passing loops at sation to allow bi directional running
Jesus, we're not on about Alton Towers here! Its only little Pleasurewood. It probably takes no longer than 10 mins to walk the whole width of the park!
The only reason it feels long walking to the Dodgems is because there is nothing there from the Castle onwards. Before when you used to be able to walk straight down there, past the Magic Mouse (and what ever ride was opposite at the time), if felt alot shorter, well because it was and there were things to do.
All they need is a nice new attraction where the Hungry Bears Pavillion used to be.
I heard G force at Drayton Manor was 2 and a half million Pounds. I think it would be great to have something like it at the park and it could easily be built because it has a very small footprint.