Bad news today for fans of Pleasurewood Hills scare attraction "Hobs Pit". After just under 5 seasons at the park, the attraction has now closed to the public.
The ride opened with a huge amount of fanfare and promotion back in 2013 and was even given a 12a rating by the British Board of Film classification, to reflect the level of scares guests could expect. The park, in partnership with special effects expert Rob Ostir, devised a ride which was a combination of walk through sections, live action scares and a ghost train.
Pleasurewood Hills recently posted a photograph of their new promotional vehicle which was emblazoned with the words "New ride for 2017". It is expected that this new attraction will find a home inside the former Hobs Pit building, but official details are yet to be announced.
Yes, it had gotten worse and worse since it opened but it had potential at the end of the day. I remember the actors being really interactive in early 2016 and 2015. Used to be a load of them jumping out as well (one chased you out of the exit). Kept like that it would have been a good ride but noooooooooo. Lets hope that if they are putting a new ride in there then it'll be a good one(I doubt it).
I've seen a few people on social media grumbling about Hobs Pit and hoping for a return to Fairytale Fantasy... While I can see the family-friendly appeal of something like FF, an updated version of that back in 2013 would have done very little for the park.
With the massive marketing push, BBFC rating and a big grand opening day, Hobs Pit certainly caught peoples attention and got plenty of press coverage. So, from that point of view, it was surely a success.
Admittedly, the watered down version of the ride in recent times is embarrassing. So I can understand why they want to to something about it. If the rumours I have heard are true, I hope they can make a success of it.
I wouldn't mind if they just kept Hob's as a high end ghost train without actors, it's it's more cost effective.
But i hate to think what they've done with it. they have little interest in dark rides theses days, no imagination and i suspect the replacement will be a real kiddie attraction.. as if they need more of those.
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It's always the cracked ones that let the light in.
Good call Martyn but I can't think what the last word could be. Maybe it stands for Return the Two Teddies and it all links with the stolen characters stunt.
terrible name aside.. what on earth is it? and WHY?? What possessed them to do this? Does it still have a train?
I knew it was Hobs they were dumping, it couldn't have been anything else but i wasn't expecting to remove it and replace it which seems like another Laser Labyrinth style attraction. No forward thinking at all, just another cheap and nasty "Ride" Maybe i'll go back to calling it a bloated Joyland wannabe.. because that's what it's becoming again.
Maybe i'm wrong.
-- Edited by Bubbles on Tuesday 4th of July 2017 03:47:41 PM
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It's always the cracked ones that let the light in.
Have some faith guys. I'm actually thinking it could be quite good. I think it will be very different inside to Hobs Pit with a light hearted warm Wild West feel. Although losing HP was sad if they nail this and get a decent upbeat western atmosphere that could be good.
Have some faith guys. I'm actually thinking it could be quite good. I think it will be very different inside to Hobs Pit with a light hearted warm Wild West feel. Although losing HP was sad if they nail this and get a decent upbeat western atmosphere that could be good.
I kind of agree. If it's done to a decent standard with a proper soundtrack and themeing, this could be good.
"Original Hobs Pit" hasn't really existed for years. It's been a much more watered down version for some time now. I'd take a well-themed family attraction over that.
I can't bring myself to have any faith. At all. Hobs pit was actually really good in its day and pulled a queue most of the time so why the hell couldn't they have kept it to that standard? If it is going to be a shooter dark ride then what is the bloody point in closing hobs pit for it? They had a really good attraction there that could have been restored to its former self but noooooo...
Same thing happened with TOTC, could have been restored or re-themed but they ripped it out. I get the same sort of feeling from this; a perfectly decent dark ride that has been ruined for a common shooter dark ride. Yes, sure, it recycles the ride system but between a shooter and hobs pit, well, I know what I'd prefer...
Even if Hobs didn't have the actors due to cost cuts they still could have kept it as a high end ghost train, providing they kept it running properly and added some new scares here and there.
They want something that's cheap, low maintenance and kiddie friendly. They just don't have the imagination, enthusiasm or ambition anymore. It's the reason TOTC got bulldozed because they couldn't be arsed.
And you know instead of getting a fair replacement for Rattlesnake they'll get a a proper kiddie coaster instead, it's something they should have anyway but now it'll just be substitute.
Oh Well. They never learn from past mistakes.
-- Edited by Bubbles on Wednesday 5th of July 2017 12:55:12 AM
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It's always the cracked ones that let the light in.
It's still a dark ride. It's something we haven't had at the park before and as it seems the park are set on being more family orientated (and who blames them when that's where the money is) then a shooter is a more apt dark ride than a horror based one.
Hobs was imaginative and great but it had terrible throughout, wasn't actually that scary and relied mainly on a couple of actors doing jump scares for any proper thrill. Don't get me wrong I'd rather keep Hobs AND have a dark ride shooter but this is probably the best of both worlds.
Of course don't get me wrong it might turn out to be p*ss poor but we shall see. It's at least a more imaginative choice for a ride than a 2nd set of dodgems!