2017

Clarence · Serious Squawker

2017

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Clarence wrote:
Wasn't Alexis a caravan salesman before he came to Pleasurewood Hills? I think Liam done a lot more for the park than you realise! He turned the park around from making a loss the previous years before his GM role to making the last 3 years profitable. France has the first and last say in every decision. The GM is there to manage his team not to buy new rides!

-- Edited by Clarence on Wednesday 1st of February 2017 12:53:51 PM

This is exactly spot on and its never easy. You cant be right for being wrong

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

No chance, the only reason the park started to turn a profit was because of what Alexis and his team created.

The fantastic Pleasurewood Chills event, Marble Madness, Jolly Roger, Hobs Pit, pedal boats, Sean Alexander and many more.... and publicity was everywhere back then, including a heavy social media presence.

People hardly flocked to the park for Hyper Drive, at the same time the park fell back off the map.

There's always a delay with attendance in that sense. Word of mouth takes time to spread.

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Well you just listed a number of great things the park did and those things were not cheap, so i can understand why they would ease up for a year or two. Also, Liam might have always been a temporary stand in till they got a 'proper' manager, and maybe they now have found one, it would also explain the quite patch in the last two years.

But i read people are not too happy with a price increase what attractions and genral entertainment has gotten less with each year.

No Rattlesnake.
No Tales of the Coast (still don't understand why)
No Sky Hooks
No Castle theater show
Broken Tide Traveler
Two crappy Dodgems.
No general ride improvements either. (car ride i guess was a good thing)

Only positive is the WaveSwinger.
I wonder what state Hobs is in?

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

The point of Liam only being a stand in manager is a good one. What do we know of this new guy?

Other than the fact he tells porkies about the Rattlesnake ;)

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

I guess telling that lie is better than saying something that might get people's hopes up, he did say something about revealing future plans so maybe we'll find out more, it's possible they have a new coaster in the back of their minds.

Juranamo · Jolly Talkative

I'd imagine (sincerely hope) that the reason there's been no new additions this year is because of the change of management and that they've been racking their brains as to what to do with the Rattlesnake. Hopefully the big news will be that a junior coaster has been drafted in to replace rattlesnake (hence them taking so long to announce the permanent closure of Rattlesnake). Fingers crossed. 🤞

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

To be fair, they probably weren't even going to announce the closure. A certain Facebook page caused a bit of a storm so the park had to speak up ;)

Matt · pleasurewoodplace.com

I notice that the official website now lists the restaurant offering as follows;

Sharkey’s Fish & Chips

Traditional fish & chips – all you would expect from your local chippy. Enjoy in the sun at our picnic areas around the park. Why not also try our meal deal for extra value!

Smokey Joe’s Burgers

Tasty burgers American style at Smokey Joe’s on Main Street. Why not try our delicious Baconnaise! Yum!

Bear Grill

Try a tasty gourmet hot dogs or treat yourself to a beef steak bap! You can also get your morning coffee, tea or a selection of cold drinks or a delicious ice cream.

No mention of "The Merry Mariner" interestingly. I wonder if this is closed entirely or perhaps due for a remodel?

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Where's Bear Grill? Could that be the Merry Mariner? Although there's no mention of the bar. I can't imagine they'll leave it closed, it's always a popular choice for food!

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

According the the map Bear Grill is Woody's cabin (near Moby dick)

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pleasurewood-Hills-Family-Theme-Park-Rattlesnake-Roller-Coaster-Prop-/201811673689

The Snake, get bidding.
i don't understand why it's being sold when they can just it to decorate the park with, put it with their car ride or along the railway tracks to spot. Pity they didn't sell off there old Fairytale stuff.

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Yeah it should go up as a mural in the Safari ride!

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Bubbles wrote:
According the the map Bear Grill is Woody's cabin (near Moby dick)

Yes its where the cabin use to be and was a very busy spot last year and did very well - a great upseller. It smells and looks good, being cooked fresh on a spinny thing for all to see

Clarence · Serious Squawker

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pleasurewood-Hills-Family-Theme-Park-Rattlesnake-Roller-Coaster-Sign-/201813006220

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

I'm surprised they're still going ahead with the Rattlesnake closure given the social media out cry - would do them wonders to change their mind.

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

They wont change their minds.. remember you can't get new parts for theses old rides anymore ;)

But to be far it's not just the ride, it's what it sits on. Many of the supports/feet under the tunnel were always under water. I had to dig various trench's to drain the water away from the feet, to dry them so we could paint them, and remove some of the rust, it was like a swamp and no doubt it had gotten worse other the past 9 years. Sadly i don't think i took any photos. :(

Clarence · Serious Squawker

That's why they moved the clown slide from that end and they have never built anything substantial on the dinosaur land.

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Yeah, i painted the clown slide when it was next to the snake, it's probs why they removed the Dinos in the first place.
I can't see any new attractions being added down there. They'll probs just run the dodgems and balloon rays onto the ground and that's it unless they relocate them, i certainly thing they'll just close off that part of the park eventually.

Sad thing is there's no room for a 3rd coaster now, unless they get get go the go karts.

Connor M · Serious Squawker

Uuugh God, inner pecimist is surfacing...

I though parks in Europe have had their Tivoli's retracked? Then again, no point in retracking if maintenance will cost an arm and leg. There is a load of space down that end of the park and they can barely use it. How is a park meant to expand when it probably can't utilise a quarter of it's space? Surely another family coaster would be fine down at that end, like a force one or vekoma roller skater. They aren't incredibly loud as per my experience. Of course they probably have reasons for closures and additions but still, it hardly looks good to have a section of the park with open grass, an afterburner propped up on a trailer, a little kids ride that never works and a really old dodgems. Then, the negative impressions that people have received worsen as they see the massive queue and single train operations in relation to enigma and the knackered old tri star. The point is, they are effectively making the park worse. Then they have the nerve to (if it's still happening) put up the price? Why thank you.

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

is the dive show back this year? or can i add that to the list of 'negative things' for 2017 despite the price hike.

Guitar · Woody Wannabe

If rattlesnake needed a new track, and possibly a new train, or at least a major train overhaul, then it would be the correct decision to get something new.

Whilst people miss the Rattlesnake, something new is something new. It would seem silly to spend loads of money to end up with the same ride again. If money has to be spent anyway, then a newer coaster would be a nice addition to the park.

Nostalgia aside, it seems like the right decision.

jskinner97 · Jolly Talkative

Based on what i've read on here, and elsewhere. I won't even bother going to PWH this year.

£20 is outrageous, when they can't maintain anything. It's a joke. What a shame.

They've not purchased anything new, they've demolished two half decent rides that just needed a makeover, and a re-theme.

I genuinely got the feeling last year of a dying park, It was desolate and empty. I don't think the park has long left, I reckon by 2020 it will be houses.

-- Edited by jskinner97 on Tuesday 14th of February 2017 10:25:59 PM

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

They wont replace snake with a coaster because there is nowhere to put a new coaster, unless you dig up the go-karts and we know they won't to that. They can't use the same location due to one of the reasons it was removed in the first place (land not good enough to build one) plus noise, plus they want to shut that end of the park up. They could dig up the Rubber digney slide but again it's too close to houses.

So, i'm not sure where they can build a new coaster, and as far as the park is concerned there isn't anywhere for new flat rides, the empty spaces will never be build one (the old sky hooks site might be the exception as a ride use to be there)

They could make more room if they juggle a few of those kiddie rides about (Plane ride, kite flyer)

Oh well, we'll just have to wait and see.

The Park has survived worse/harder times so i doubt we'll be seeing 'houses' being build anytime soon.

Matt · pleasurewoodplace.com

I noticed today that Pleasurewood Hills no longer appears to be a Tesco Clubcard partner. They were still part of it last season, weren't they?

Josh · Passionate about Pleasurewood

It still says that you can use them on their FAQS but PWH has disappeared from Tesco's Days Out page? 🤔

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

this season will be the first for direct of the a47 rather than a12

Martyn · Passionate about Pleasurewood

Well we sort of have something fairly interesting to talk about... the kids play area that was next to Timber Falls has been relocated to near the Chair lift station down by the Rattlesnake.

That shows that they're not closing off that section anytime soon, although they're going to need to put more than a kids play area down there to make it worth the trip. That area of the park has always looked unloved, and that's without a boarded up SBNO Rattlesnake.

Also begs the question, what's going to happen with the area that the play equipment came from? ;)

coolskin · Passionate about Pleasurewood

To be fair the area that was the mini golf then the play area is a large area that can be developed...even more so if the old entrance route was involved too

Bubbles · Passionate about Pleasurewood

WOW. i have been saying they should do this for YEARS!!! From the dodgy dodgems to to the chair lift could make for an excellent playground. Seems someone has been listening to me.

It does mean a new ride can adopt the old playground site next year. i would suggest maybe a new Coaster but that'll mean three fairly close to to one another.