New Dreamland - what will it offer

[phelco]

hi all - posted my memories - sadly no replies

what i want to know is what do we expect from the new dreamland

it all looks good but what will it bring to the area - a park that is like a museum - something to be visted once and then forgotten

kids will say - yes its good but i really want to go to alton towers - thorpe park etc

it will be visited at weekends as a day out - weekdays - even if someone wanted to stay - all the BBs are closed

if they did stay what would they do - you can only see so many turners before you fall asleep lol

margate is dead and nothing can revive it - can it ??

one armed bandits dont attract people- that is all the front offers

[Vince, Charlie and Sam]

hi all - posted my memories - sadly no replies

There have already been several replies, the first on February 19th, the day after you posted?

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

You need to look beyond the surface and see what's possible.

If you take a look at the main page, at the map, Dreamland will be completely rebuilt and incorporate not only vintage attractions, but much needed greenspace and lovely little cafes and kiosks. It will draw people from around the country, yes, but where Dreamland will shine is by being accessible to the locals, becoming a hotspot.
Dreamland will hopefully become a place where nearby people can come to enjoy a small concert, or a movie, or a sandwich and coffee for a couple hours or just spend a leisurely afternoon sitting on the grass with lunch.

A little creative booking of acts and theme based film nights at the cinema could keep Dreamland viable beyond the normal season, extending it 3 or 4 weeks on either side.

Keeping Dreamland fresh and exciting will require some work.

Example: There's a seaside amusement park in Santa Cruz, California, which features a 1924 Miller designed bobs style coaster (early banked wooden track). During the summer, they book musical acts, like Herman's Hermits, for Friday and/or Saturday shows. It's wildly popular.
There's NO ADMISSION to the park. They make money by people buying concessions and enjoying the park before and after the show.
The locals go hang-out there and it's a huge success.

This can happen at Dreamland.

The possibilities are endless. Have a classic car or hotrod show, or a VW show every year. Those things bring in HOARDS of people.
Have an antique fair/sale/swap - whatever you call it. This could be monthly. People LOVE to browse and buy old stuff.
Have a Halloween party in October as a last hurrah each season.

You'd be surprised at how many stars are willing to make appearances at showings of their old movies. We packed a 1200 seat theater at $30 a ticket showing "Valley of the Dolls" and having a 30 minute interview with Patty Duke beforehand. She happened to be in town for something else and was delighted to do it.

I may have to move to Margate to become the promoter and events coordinator. I have tons of ideas. All winners.

Most people will be thinking of what Dreamland can offer them. Someone will have to be on the inside thinking of things to offer to attract the people. Opening the gate won't be enough. it's proving itself year after year as parks close.

[Sarah]

I can barely contain my excitement. Kyle's moving to Margate! Hey, I'm not listening to any second thoughts. I'll find you a nice flat (I mean, an apartment) and arrange VW transportation. You'll miss San Fran for a while sure...for a long while maybe...but we can do steep hills and foggy mornings pretty good.

If I had a spare room I'd be clearing it out...

Sarah

[phelco]

hi all - posted my memories - sadly no replies

There have already been several replies, the first on February 19th, the day after you posted?

hi vcs
yes indeed - i have read them
but would love to read similar memories of the 60s etc - just to make sure i wasnt dreaming lol
have i missed a thread about memories
they were good days

[phelco]

You need to look beyond the surface and see what's possible.

If you take a look at the main page, at the map, Dreamland will be completely rebuilt and incorporate not only vintage attractions, but much needed greenspace and lovely little cafes and kiosks. It will draw people from around the country, yes, but where Dreamland will shine is by being accessible to the locals, becoming a hotspot.
Dreamland will hopefully become a place where nearby people can come to enjoy a small concert, or a movie, or a sandwich and coffee for a couple hours or just spend a leisurely afternoon sitting on the grass with lunch.

A little creative booking of acts and theme based film nights at the cinema could keep Dreamland viable beyond the normal season, extending it 3 or 4 weeks on either side.

Keeping Dreamland fresh and exciting will require some work.

Example: There's a seaside amusement park in Santa Cruz, California, which features a 1924 Miller designed bobs style coaster (early banked wooden track). During the summer, they book musical acts, like Herman's Hermits, for Friday and/or Saturday shows. It's wildly popular.
There's NO ADMISSION to the park. They make money by people buying concessions and enjoying the park before and after the show.
The locals go hang-out there and it's a huge success.

This can happen at Dreamland.

The possibilities are endless. Have a classic car or hotrod show, or a VW show every year. Those things bring in HOARDS of people.
Have an antique fair/sale/swap - whatever you call it. This could be monthly. People LOVE to browse and buy old stuff.
Have a Halloween party in October as a last hurrah each season.

You'd be surprised at how many stars are willing to make appearances at showings of their old movies. We packed a 1200 seat theater at $30 a ticket showing "Valley of the Dolls" and having a 30 minute interview with Patty Duke beforehand. She happened to be in town for something else and was delighted to do it.

I may have to move to Margate to become the promoter and events coordinator. I have tons of ideas. All winners.

Most people will be thinking of what Dreamland can offer them. Someone will have to be on the inside thinking of things to offer to attract the people. Opening the gate won't be enough. it's proving itself year after year as parks close.

hi jim
love what u say and i want dreamland to succeed but even if it does - margate wont
my early life was based on margate - the high st was where u bought things that werent anywhere else = northdown road was the posh bit - bobbys etc
my mum used to go to nortdown road as a day out - what would she go there for now - a kebab ???

i drove along the seafront today and noticed that even the nightclub was shut

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

I'm a good houseguest, Sarah. I wash dishes and everything.

Don't discount the idea. I'd consider it.

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

As for Margate. Hopefully, some effort will be put in to Margate and the people of Margate will glean a little pride from it.

There seems to be an overwhelming sense of negativity about the area, but the problem is that people want to whine about it, but not actually DO anything to improve it, like it's magically up to the wealthy and/or governing bodies.

This campaign is proof positive that you don't need to be either of those things to effect change. if you really want Dreamland and Margate to succeed, contact the people in charge here, Nick or Sarah for starters and ask what you can do to help.

[scouser andy]

It will offer me the chance to ride the rides from southport again

[cliffc]

Hi

The new Dreamland will offer something for people to do once there get to Margate, thus giving them a reason (other than the turner and the shell grotto) to come to the town.

Once more people start coming back to the town then on the back of this other people will see the potential of opening buisness in the town so some if not all of the shops will reopen.

It would be hoped like any other amusment park both the locals and the visitors will want to keep coming back to ride the classic rides again and again, thus keeping the park busy and making money.

Basicly its hoped that the re-opening of Dreamland will bring people back to Margate in big numbers.

Regards

Cliff C

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

It'd be nice if some ordinances could be past about storefronts.
Last photo I saw was of storefront windows cluttered with dirty posters and such.