Like so many have commented, a sad end to the backdrop of my own memories. I went often in the 90's as a teenager, but my last visit was in 2005 as an adult supervisor with a youth group (we were having a week's summer camp nearby). It struck me then how run-down it was and half the retail units were empty.

I worked there from 2000 to 2002. Great memories. One particular highlight was the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane flying over.

As a family we had some brilliant days there & all the staff made the effort to look after you ,it was such a great shame when it closed down ,but to compete with alton towers it would always struggle,the most attractive thing at American adventure was you didn't have to wait an hour for a ride on something

As head of Design and Technology, I used to take a whole school year group, year upon year to this theme park. We had great fun but also it gave the pupils an insight into many different aspects of mechanisms, marketing, branding, food and safety issues. Such a shame that this side was not developed more, with the county council taking the lead in the educational side of it. I have fond memories of the fun we had with 90+ pupils each year.

So sad this has gone! So many happy memories with friends during the 90's.

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

As a delivery driver I got to go there once and the only access was to drive down the rapids ride ( empty of water) I also got offered a weekend job there as a ride operator.

I used to love going here wish someone would build a new theme park there. All those jobs it would create. Come on Alton Towers or Drayton Manor wouldn't expanding your empire be great after all thesite is ready n waiting.

I live nearby and use the area for running and cycling and should be given back to nature as a large country park with perhaps some activity stuff for kids and a nice cafe. In its day the Halloween Fireworks show was spectacular and local people like us gathered on Shipley Hill with laterns to watch a show almost as good as anything Disney can do.

This is such a shame, I took my boys there when they were kids, they're 33 and 35 now, and they loved the place. I've still got my whip I bought there all those years ago!

It is so sad to see what was once a fun and exciting place crash and burn. I have many fond memories of the theme park from when I was a child visiting it to then a teenager working there and finding my true love who I have now married. It was a place very close to my heart.

Used to love the gob stoppers from the sweet shop used to take me a month to get through it.

Used to love going there. On the doorstep. Used to take our Scouts there for days out. The rides were good and the atmosphere great. It is in a lovely spot and definitely needs to be used for leisure.

My Grandparents lived just off Shipley Park and spent hours there before it was developed, even went canoeing in the lake with school before Britannia Park opened. No need for housing or a theme park, as recreational land for kids its great!

This place was amazing I used yo go there few time I even had chance to take my children there has little was its a shame cos another park would bring people back to heanor and Ilkeston

I lived just down the road from the American Adventure, young me was obsessed with the place and thought it was the best thing ever.
I used to bug my parents to take me all the time and have a lot of happy memories of the place. It's really sad that it had to close down and that last photo really got to me, that might sound lame but it was a relatively big part of my childhood.
The last time I visited was a slightly tongue in cheek visit with some friends in secondary school. We got stuck on the log flume, ate a lot of pick and mix and then spent a long time on a rotating octopus, I was pretty ill after that... Still, good times and pleasant memories.

I worked @ American Adventure back when I was young first on maintenance while the park was closed to public over the winter then when the park opened for the season I went onto a ride operator first on the missile then on the runaway train! Love the whole time working there! Do sad to see what happened to it. I remember the road from beanie to ilson bring do packed due to visitors you could hardly get by back in the 90's :(
Ilson has far to many housing estates tbh, I don't live their anymore but when I return from time to time it ceases to amaze me how many more houses are being built! And how packed the area is with folks. Needless to say I enjoy coming back home to South Wales and the beauty of The coast here near grower.

Could anyone give me the address for this place as I remember going all the time and would like to visit the site ? Thanks

I worked at the American Adventure for over 10 years.
Lets face it the biggest hurdles the park faced in its development were the local residents and the 2 councils Amber Valley BC and Derbyshire CC.
The locals moaned about everything from the red light on top of the Skycoaster towers to screams from the log flume to cars visiting the site. Ridiculous considering most of the residents had moved in after the park was built.
Despite employing over 400 people from the local community neither council suppoted any of the proposed developments.
How can a small business succeed in such circumstances?
The moaning residents and councils got exactly what they should have expected - a derelict site.

I worked at the American Adventure for over 10 years.
Lets face it the biggest hurdles the park faced in its development were the local residents and the 2 councils Amber Valley BC and Derbyshire CC.
The locals moaned about everything from the red light on top of the Skycoaster towers to screams from the log flume to cars visiting the site. Ridiculous considering most of the residents had moved in after the park was built.
Despite employing over 400 people from the local community neither council suppoted any of the proposed developments.
How can a small business succeed in such circumstances?
The moaning residents and councils got exactly what they should have expected - a derelict site.

I can remember going there as a child, it was fantastic. I would love to have been able to take my children to this magical place. I think they should build a new theme park there, like the person above has said, it would create more jobs and bring in more visitors to the surrounding areas. Come on DCC do something that is good for the local and surrounding communities!!! American adventure 2. To be built

I can remember going there as a child, it was fantastic. I would love to have been able to take my children to this magical place. I think they should build a new theme park there, like the person above has said, it would create more jobs and bring in more visitors to the surrounding areas. Come on DCC do something that is good for the local and surrounding communities!!! American adventure 2. To be built

I used to go there all the time and still remember it well. Had so much fun there with my friends. I would like to see maybe a sundown play adventure there or a wheelgate park there somthing for the family. Would bring more people to the area and boost local business too. There is nothing for our children now locally, sad really.

I used to go there all the time and still remember it well. Had so much fun there with my friends. I would like to see maybe a sundown play adventure there or a wheelgate park there somthing for the family. Would bring more people to the area and boost local business too. There is nothing for our children now locally, sad really.

Living in Nottingham there were always heavily discounted vouchers available for The American Adventure. Ended up going week in week out during the summers of the 90's. Then took my daughter in the late 90's early 00's, we loved it. It was empty towards the end so you could get on everything over and over again. It's a real shame it's gone & I really wish they'd do something with the site.

Come on investors....it would be great to take it back to its former glory - I'm sure it would do a roaring trade!!!!

I used to go here quiet a bit when I was a kid and was always a fantastic day out. The locality helped too as we weren't very far from it. I know people used to call it the poor mans Alton Towers, but it had its good points. I think their log flume was the best log flume going and it was always great to watch the live action shows. A well and truly missed theme park.

I worked there for 3 yrs from leaving school,it was just the best job ever, like a day out with friends every day but you got paid for it, definitely 3 of the best yrs of my life xx

Used to live this place. They used to do vouchers in the summer for 5 people in for £5 each, used to be there every few days in the summer holidays.

Best ride I remember there was the Canyon Trip or something similar where the Iron Wolf looper ride was. Basically it was a magic carpet that split apart.

If I ever win the Euro millions, I'll bring it back!

Used to live this place. They used to do vouchers in the summer for 5 people in for £5 each, used to be there every few days in the summer holidays.

Best ride I remember there was the Canyon Trip or something similar where the Iron Wolf looper ride was. Basically it was a magic carpet that split apart.

If I ever win the Euro millions, I'll bring it back!

All valid comments! but the employment opportunities this place created for a town that formerly thrived on mining,textiles and steelworks. All of them gone! How many small, former mining towns could once boast to having a theme park, ski slope, cinema (The oldest in Europe), bowling alley, nightclubs (Christies/MFN)swimming baths, tennis courts, museum, Country Park, Nature Reserve, College, I could go on! Ilkeston used to be a great place to grow up/live. Now all that's really left is Tesco and an Asda on the way!

So many childhood memories. This was my favourite place to go as a kid. I spent most of my birthdays here. My family had season tickets a couple of years too, so me and my friends would use them and go there once a week, almost!

It was so unique. It had something different to offer. Lazy Lil's Saloon, the horse shows, the cowboy shootouts. Not to mention some great rides. And who could ever forget the iconic Wagon Wheel and the Buffalo?!

It's nice, yet depressing, to cycle past now and again and reminisce. It's so sad that it had to come to an end. It was a part of my life, growing up. I will never forget the place.

I worked here for two seasons with the catering team, mostly in the blue fin restaurant. It was my first job in the food industry or anywhere, and a real eye opener. Fond memories include swapping fish n chips for goodies from Pizza Hut and fudge kitchen at the end of the shift. Only leftover/unsold stuff destined for landfill but still pleasingly naughty! I had a massive crush on one of the Pizza Hut girls lol. Also enjoyed occasionally getting to run one of the hotdog, donut or candy floss shacks near the fort and buffalo coaster. A really good staff team that were kings of gossip :) Did someone really get told not to come back because they kept getting holes in one on the golf thing near the missile and winning cars? Bet that's why they couldn't afford new rides... One sad memory tho, there were always Canada geese round the lake and once the park was empty of customers, they used to re-supply us with milk floats. A truly sad memory having to try to get up the courage to put a terminally squished goose out of its misery with a large rock. Thankfully someone else stepped up. Being my first job it helped to mold me and my working outlook and I will always love the American Adventure Theme Park in my memories. As for future plans, they can put houses anywhere, this area is stunning, please make it something for everyone to enjoy.

Fond memories of sitting on The Missile and going round 5 times without getting off! Was pretty dizzy by the end of it! The log flume was way better than the one at Alton Towers too.

Such a shame this had to be closed down we could do with another theme park being built there it would benefit for the kids then maybe we wouldn't have a these kids causing problems as there is no where for them to go

I spent every summer there with either my brother and sister or my school friends. Some wonderful memories and we loved the fact it was just a short bus ride from where we lived in Wollaton. I even had my first kiss while going up the log flume lol. It was such a shame when it closed, and it's really sad to see what's happened to it.

I spent every summer there with either my brother and sister or my school friends. Some wonderful memories and we loved the fact it was just a short bus ride from where we lived in Wollaton. I even had my first kiss while going up the log flume lol. It was such a shame when it closed, and it's really sad to see what's happened to it.

Such a shame we went here from the moment it opened every year many times too and it was always busy had many happy memories here as a child and as a teenager :-((

Me & my school mates spent every summer holiday at the park & had the best time ever, shame it ever closed, lots of fab memories were created there !!
Gone but never forgotten, thanku for the best summer holidays xxx

I worked at the American Adventure in the late 80s 1 summer before getting a real job and it was great. I remember American independance day was amazing, Yanks all around they loved the place and it was scorching hot so was so busy and full of people having fun.
The late Buzz Aldrin opened the latest ride during this year too and people flocked to see him so it wasnt all bad. Its a shame that the big boys take over and smaller ventures suffer. A great location and really was great fun :)

This was a great place to work back in the 90s, I worked on rides mainly motion master, Yankee cliper (pirate ship) and pioneer play land ect. I did two seasons there and loved every minute. I remember it changed names from American adventure to adventure world. I hope they don't build houses on the land, they should maybe reopen another park but aim at kids there's a gulivers land near me and it's always busy.

Over the years, I visited this theme park MANY times and absoloutely loved it!
I have so many childood memories of the American Adventure and its a massive shame that it was demolished.
With UK coal ripping up and devastating a large section of Shipley country park one end, its a massive shame that the other will be made into a housing development, when it could easily be turned into a beautiful nature reserve. x

This place is a sitting duck for a mountain bike park, about time the council got there finger out and started building it, it could be bigger than Cannock Chase and Marin Trail, could be Coed y Brennin style.

C'mon DCC do it..!

I went to American Adventure every birthday from about 5 to 15years old and absolutely loved it! I took about 10 friends and all my family joined me and we had some fantastic memories! It was always so exciting knowing the next year we would be bigger and go on bigger rides like the missile! It upsets me knowing I cant repeat these memories with my son!

"Cowboys and Native Americans"

My goodness, seriously?!?!??!?!

Went for a walk around the site at the end of last year! Still have the American Adventure Entrance sign up but apart from that it's mostly gone. A real ahem as loved the park when I was younger and to leave the sight alone like it is now is a real shame. Such a nice area just needs some TLC and can be once again.

I went to the American Adventure A couple of times.
One visit was part of a fun day by Fast Forward magazine.
Lots of guests around the park. My friend and I went on The Runaway Train with ex CBBC presenter Andy Crane and Liz Kershaw ex Radio One DJ. My favourite rides were the rapids and the log films. One attraction that was quite a challenge was a tower you climbed up on ropes spider style.
My friend and I kept slipping back down through the rope very funny. Once we had reached the top what a view then we started our journey down the snake side back to the ground.

I went to the American Adventure A couple of times.
One visit was part of a fun day by Fast Forward magazine.
Lots of guests around the park. My friend and I went on The Runaway Train with ex CBBC presenter Andy Crane and Liz Kershaw ex Radio One DJ. My favourite rides were the rapids and the log films. One attraction that was quite a challenge was a tower you climbed up on ropes spider style.
My friend and I kept slipping back down through the rope very funny. Once we had reached the top what a view then we started our journey down the snake side back to the ground.

This theme park has so many memories for me, from going there on school trips to annual summer visits with the grandparents. Unfortunately I believe the downfall of this park was due to falling behind demand, whilst all of the other parks such as drayton manor and alton towers were investing in exciting new rides, american adventure chose not to change nor expand and eventually tried to tailor the park towards a very young audience which took away appeal from the teenagers and adults without children. So sad to see this park go and its just a shame a larger theme park didn't step in to purchase it and create a franchise to its larger park to make the brand more countrywide accessible, after all it was in prime location in the centre of the east midlands. This site will more than likely become a new housing estate as generally councils get what they want despite opposition, this however is such a shame as the area could become so much and once again pull in the public from far and wide.

Me,my sister,mum and dad would always go here in the 80's/early 90's and it was always a fantastic day. My dad would take my sister on the missile while mum would take me on the buffalo stampede which is now at drayton manor as took my 2yr old on in the summer. We would always eat our picnic watching some of the shows and its so sad that i cant repeat these memories with my daughter. My parents are divorced now and i would have loved to go back and have those memories again!

I used to love going here in the summer holidays. We'd be there every few days. It had very thing a kid wanted back then. We loved it.
Was gutted when I heard it had closed, as someday had always thoughts of taking my own kids there, even though we have now moved away from the area.
I remember I went on the missile 13 times in a row with my cousin on one of our trips.
Sadly missed x

I used to go here all the time as a kid. It was one of those places where kids could be kids and so could the adults. It's so sad. I was talking to my sister not too long ago about our times here and neither of us knew what had happened. We need more magical places like this that takes you on a journey. We have brilliant theme parks, yes, but do they hold up to the American Adventure? I'm not so sure.

I used to go here all the time as a kid. It was one of those places where kids could be kids and so could the adults. It's so sad. I was talking to my sister not too long ago about our times here and neither of us knew what had happened. We need more magical places like this that takes you on a journey. We have brilliant theme parks, yes, but do they hold up to the American Adventure? I'm not so sure.

After living in Ilkeston for 20/25 years this was a well known theme park for me.. I remember going here as a child and though being a teenager.. Unfortunately it lost out to Alton towers big adrenaline rides. It really saddens me every time we go by on put bikes and show our son what was once there.. We don't need anymore housing as there is sooo much already.. Really is a shame..

I worked a season at the American adventure in the joke shop at the bottom of the first main set of concrete steps, I really enjoyed my time there.
It's extremely sad to have seen it go, it was brilliant to have a theme park so close instead of the journey further afield to bigger ones ie Alton towers
Hope they build some kind of leisure / entertainment things on the site and not more housing

We went there in the mid 90's, the best ride there was The Missile.
Shame they have to tear these places down, would have made a great returned to nature project.

I live near here and have to say there are plenty of other places to build houses. It boarders a great country park and is a great place to go walking (with or without a dog). It would be a shame to do nothing with the place but would rather see the country park extended than the housing estate creep closer and closer to shipley park.
Ow and not that I would do this but there are some gaps in the fence for those that like to go exploring (again with or without a dog)

Such a shame this was a great place to go. Needs to be a attraction again not houses.

Another theme park gone. I went there once when I was about 12. Now I have to travel round the six flags, Disney and universal parks in America which are ever expanding

This site is just up the road from me and back in the 90's was the place to be and we were always there! The log flume and missile were my faves, and we always stopped to watch the bears play at the entrance of the park and the cowboy shoot outs!

I even remember a "Fast Forward (magazine) roadshow" here with really big names of the time and they were abandoning backstage to go on all the rides!! And the junior krypton factor assault course was here too!

Such a shame it all came to an end; but they stopped upgrading the rides and Alton Towers isn't that far from us with a much better selection, it was never going to last too long.. Such a shame, a lot of childhood/teenage memories here

I remember going to the American Adventure as a youngster with my sisters. I have vague memories of the rapids and the wild west shows they used to put on with stunts being performed.

Its a shame to see what has become of the park.

Went to American adventure with school when I was about 13, was planning to take my daughter before realising it had shut down. Very sad to see these places shutting. Went to morcambe too with school and that later shut down :-( maybe I'm a bad omen lol

Was sad it ever shut.
but few things that baffle me. When the mine shut they deemed the area could only be used for lesiure etc because of the extent of the mining, it would have caused subsidence etc in houses.. so how can they now get away with it now?

*never got a chance to go to this park

Why do they always say they are going to make former theme park sites into housing?! It's so sad :( can't they just build a new attraction there and really make the most of the land. I know there is a housing shortage, infact myself have been struggling to move out and find a place for a while now, but I would rather these home-grown british theme parks stay open and remain magical, entertaining, atmospheric places to escape to for a great day out, than the land to be sold to property developers. I hope I am not alone in this thought. We need these types of places in life to just get away from all that stressful real-life stuff! :D
P.S That last photo is so sad and a real shame that they had to demolish the theatre. I never got the chance to go to this back, but I'm sure in it's heyday it was a grand place. :)

I worked at American adventure for 4 years and have the best times there, it was shame to see the place die a slow death due to lack of visitors or funding to update it with new rides. It employed a lot of people around the area. So It would be great to see another sort of attraction there rather than more housing, as we need more local job opportunists x