Do you remember the American Adventure theme park?
After a controversial legal battle, the Britannia Park theme park finally opened in 1985 on the site of a former opencast mine in Derbyshire. It shut within twelve weeks, and with no private sector rescuer stepping up Derbyshire County Council was forced to buy back the park for £2.5 million with the aid of a bank loan. It would eventually reopen two years later as the American Adventure, which aimed to transport guests to the American West.
The American Adventure boasted a variety of rides, as well as shows featuring cowboys and Native Americans. It became one of the most popular theme parks in the country, hosting attractions such as the towering Missile roller coaster.
The success didn't last. The park suffered a period of decline from the mid-1990s onwards, with visitor numbers dwindling. In 2005, most of the major rides were closed and replaced by kids' rides. At the end of the 2006 season, the owners gave up the ghost. In January 2007 it was announced that the American Adventure was closed for good.
Many of the park's rides were auctioned off, with the Missile reemerging as Wipeout at Pleasurewood Hills. The remainder of the park was abandoned and left to rot.
The American Adventure in 2009
The first group of beautiful images comes from Mark Tighe, and were taken in January 2009:
The Motion Master Theatre was still in place at this time:
Pier 49 also jutted out over the park's lake:
The next set of images comes from Ashley Burton, and were taken in August 2009:
The Rocky Mountain Rapids were gone, but a lonely raft remained:
Arson attacks took their toll:
But some signage remained in place:
These next set of images comes from Matt Francis, and were also taken in August 2009.
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Pier 49 was still standing:
The rear of the park's entrance doesn't look too inviting:
This final, haunting image is courtesy of Liam Samuel Brooks, and was also taken in 2009. It shows a post-demolition Motion Master Theatre:
All images released under Creative Commons license.
What's left today?
The answer, sadly, is almost nothing. Even Pier 49 has been razed to the ground.
The future
The American Adventure site is now controlled by Derbyshire County Council, and is dubbed "Shipley Lakeside". Most of the park's structures have been demolished, leaving only ride footprints here and there. A major project to convert the park into housing, offices and leisure facilities has been put forward but is yet to be completed.
Comments
When they closed the park they had a public auction of everything in the park. My husband and I went to the auction and got a number of signs from the park. We are selling these and if you are interested please drop me an email at [email protected]
The water is contaninated so cant build houses as j.mellors was going to buy the land and rebuild a theme park but pulled out due to the water being contaninated
It would be great to have a bmx/bike tracks,skate boarding ramps, a assault course/park for the younger kids, basket ball hoops etc
It could be developed as a leisure site which would provide jobs and bring visitors to the area and provide activities for local children, families and other residents local to the area.
The last time I visited the park in action I was 15 as soon as I saw this report I got straight in the car and drove up to be greeted by road closed (theme park closed) I just ignored it and went on I looked around a bit and went to the entrance (at back of park) and the gates were open I was shocked so I went in and they still have the odd sign and lamppost here and there but also the entrance sign was still there i was shocked to see that considering its so old and they have little parts of rides such as skycoaster and I thought come on its 2014 why are those here. I saw a security guard and hid from him. In 2008 I went down and the old main entrance was still there and the shops and aztec kingdom and I went in Aztec kingdom and there was a voice WARNING YOUR PRESENCE HAS BEEN DETECTED SECURITY HAS SURRONDED
THE BUILDING GET OUT and new it was recorded as a bunch of teens told me I find it so sad to see places like this it just brings up memory's R.I.P American Adventure
The last time I visited the park in action I was 15 as soon as I saw this report I got straight in the car and drove up to be greeted by road closed (theme park closed) I just ignored it and went on I looked around a bit and went to the entrance (at back of park) and the gates were open I was shocked so I went in and they still have the odd sign and lamppost here and there but also the entrance sign was still there i was shocked to see that considering its so old and they have little parts of rides such as skycoaster and I thought come on its 2014 why are those here. I saw a security guard and hid from him. In 2008 I went down and the old main entrance was still there and the shops and aztec kingdom and I went in Aztec kingdom and there was a voice WARNING YOUR PRESENCE HAS BEEN DETECTED SECURITY HAS SURRONDED
THE BUILDING GET OUT and new it was recorded as a bunch of teens told me I find it so sad to see places like this it just brings up memory's R.I.P American Adventure