Joyland Books

Here is a list of many of the rides that have graced Dreamland over the years.
The list is by no means complete. Also there are several gaps in the years columns and many of the present travelling rides, most of which have only been there for a season or two are not included.
I have compiled it based on articles I have read, internet resources,
posts on this forum and memories of personal visits to the park.
I have tried to be as accurate as possible but inaccuracies may exist,
however this list should serve as a good rough guide.

The List Reads (from left to right);
NUMBER
RIDE NAME
YEAR OPENED
KNOWN YEAR(S) OF RIDE PRESENCE - This is the year in brackets when the Opening / Closing Year is not known
YEAR CLOSED

LIST OF DREAMLAND RIDES
==================

1 Scenic Railway, 1920, --, STILL OPEN
2 Miniature Railway, 1920, (1980?), --
3 Joy Wheel, 1920, --, --
4 Haunted Castle, 1920, --, --
5 House of Nonsense, 1920, --, --
6 The Rapids, --, --, 1930
7 Over the Falls, --, --, 1930
8 Caterpillar, 1922, --, 1982?
9 River Caves, 1924, --, 1983
10 Haunted House, --, (1930), --
11 Sphinx, 1920s?, --, 1983?
12 Atlantic Flyer, 1928, --, 1928?
13 Train Air Flight Simulators, --, (1937), --
14 Motor Boats, 1931, --, --
15 Brooklands Racers, --, (1949-54), --
16 Galloping Horses, 1946, --, --
17 Skywheels, 1953, --, 1977
18 Rock n Roll House, 1958, --, --
19 Jets, 1958, (1971), --
20 Whirlwind Coaster, 1958?, (1960s), --
21 Racing Coaster, --, (1960s), --
22 Electric racing cars, --, (1960s), --
23 Petrol go-karts, --, (1960s), --
24 Psychedelic Fun Palace, --, (1960s), --
25 Sattelite, --, (1960s-1970s), --
26 Whirl-a-Boats, --, (1960s), --
27 Apple, --, (1980-84), 1994
28 Mirror Maze, --, (1980-84), --
29 Meteor, --, (1980-84), --
30 Tip Top, --, (1980), --
31 Ghost Train (at rear of park), --, (1983-84), --
32 Cyclone, --, (1970s), --
33 Paratrooper, --, (1970s), --
34 Swirl, --, (1970s), --
35 Astroglide, 1973, (1980-84), --
36 Orbiter, 1976, 1980, --,
37 Water Chute, 1977, --, 1995?
38 Big Wheel, 1980, --, 1997?
39 Dodgems (in main building), --, 1983-84, --
40 Zig Zag, --, 1983-85, --
41 Cinema 180, --, 1983-85, --
42 Tristar, 1981+?, 1983-93, --
43 Troika, 1981+?, 1983-93, --
44 Enterprise, 1981+?, 1983-93, --
45 Pirate Ship (Hanseatic), 1981+?, 1983-86, --
46 Looping Star (original blue one), 1981, --, 1994
47 Ladybird, 1982, --, 1998
48 Mary Rose, 1983, (1983-93), --
49 Ben Hur, 1984, --, --
50 Wave Swinger, 1984, --, 1984
51 Apollo 14, 1985, --, 1990
52 Melody Swing, --, (late 1980s), --
53 Zeppelin?, --, (late 1980s), --
54 Horror Haus, --, (2002), STILL OPEN
55 Heatwave, 1991, --, --
56 Crazy Golf, 1995?, --, --
57 Log Drop, 1996, --, 2002
58 Wild Mouse, 1998, --, STILL OPEN
59 Looping Star (Pinfari loop), --, (1999?-2001?), --
60 Frisbee, --, (2002), --
61 Looping Star (orange one), 2001, --, 2002
62 Blue Coaster, 2001, --, 2003

A couple of old favourites that are missing from this list include the WALTZER and the HELTER SKELTER;

The WALTZER may have been introduced to Dreamland in the 1950s (that was when it was built). I know it was present from around the late 1990s till it was destroyed by fire early in 2003.

The current HELTER SKELTER was built in 1980, although it was absent for much of the 80s/90s and is currently SBNO (standing but not in operation).

Hi Ricardo,

A great ride list there. I noticed the Tip Top one listed. If memory serves me right I seem to remember, unfortunately, deciding to ride that, assuming it was a high speed spinning ride that went up in the air on an angle I seem to recall. It made me really feel very dizzy and nearly sick after I stumbled off it. I remember going to Margate one summer's day in 1980 to see the Radio One Roadshow on the beach. (It was the first season for the Big Wheel and the park had a 60th year celebration; there were hanging signs all along the seafront lamp posts I recall for what I think was its "diamond" birthday). Anyone else remember this image? (or was it all a mirage) - I forget who was on stage at the roadshow, probably Mike Read, but I seem to recall a couple of others like Simon Bates. Don't worry, I've never been a fan of the aforementioned radio station but thought I'd go along with my sister and one of her friends anyway.

I still mourn the loss of the wonderful River Caves. Really sad they couldn't have been saved. Can't believe it's now 21 years since their sad demise. Shame I only rode them once too. A really unique ride.

Hope to see some of you at the park soon, especially September 4, the special 2004 closing Event night.

Martin

1980 was also the first time that I visited Dreamland. I was in Margate for a weeks holiday with my parents. I remember it being during Carnival week and the awesome sight of the Big Wheel all lit up.

Indeed it was the Diamond Anniversary of Dreamland that year. I can remember seeing it painted on the side of some of the arcades in Dreamland and was still there a couple of years later.

The rides that I actually recall from memory that year were the
BIG WHEEL, SCENIC RAILWAY, BIG APPLE, CATERPILLAR, TIP-TOP, ASTROGLIDE, METEOR & ORBITER.

There are still quite a few TIP TOPs around. They can be found at travelling fairs.

I recall my older brother and I going on the BIG APPLE and the SCENIC RAILWAY.

Was the BIG APPLE downsized to a kiddies ride later on?

I recall it being something like a family coaster size but a couple of years later it was definitely a kiddies only coaster. Or maybe cos I was young at the time it just seemed this way.

Then followed my first ride on the Scenic Railway. My first REAL rollercoaster. I was only young at the time and there were no lap restraints or seatbeats then, it was just a case of clinging onto whatever part of the train that you could!

I was proud to have ridden a ride that my dad went on when he was young. Shame I did not get to go on the CATERPILLAR though.

The ASTROGLIDE was a huge 6 lane bumpy slide and was awesome fun for any little child. It was true that you could get serious airtime on it!

One year my older brother, who was about 17 at the time, came flying down and jumped lanes and collected a little kid in his lap near the end of the slide.

This ride was ruined went it was chopped down to less than half the size (1990s?). Was this the same ASTROGLIDE or was it a different one in its place?

Does anyone remember a black and white APOLLO ROCKET ride next to the WATER CHUTE that you sat inside?
It looked like a simulator ride from the outside. It appeared to shake and rotate at various points of the ride.

On a different note, does anyone remember THE HALF-PENNY ARCADE on Margates pier/jetty? It was there and open in 1980.
Was the pier/jetty destroyed by fire, the weather or just demolished?
Another of Margates great attractions no longer with us.

...Ricardobugsy (real name Richard)

The Half-Penny Arcade was on the Sun Deck, which you describe as a Pier/Jetty. I think on the right hand side as you entered the Bingo being on the left.

Following the closure of this some of the machines moved across into an Arcade at the bottom of the Dreamland slope entrance, on the right .. under the cinema. If they weren't same machines it was an amazing coincidence as prior to this time only the Sun Deck had them and they looked pretty ancient.

When halfpennies ceased there were still some change machines that privided half pennies to use in the machines. Some machines were subsequently altered to take 1p coins but give two goes. Whether this was on the Sun Deck or after it's move I am not sure.

Eventually the Arcade by Dreamland became a 1p arcade and had a sign to the effect 'Margate's Famous Penny Arcade'

Many thanks for the info Susan

Forgot to mention in earlier response that I do remember the Apollo Rocket and indeed went in it, to accompany my, then quite young, Son. It was a simulation of a journey in space and as I recall extremely effective.

Susan wrote:It was a simulation of a journey in space and as I recall extremely effective.

I think it ended up by crashing on Mars or the Moon or something. I can also remember that it had an odour of smelly socks