Joyland Books

As I was driving along the seafront this morning on the way to work, I saw a crane on site. So I drove up into the car park and had a bit of a nose and two or three of the top turns on the mouse are no longer there. Has the ride been sold? Anyone know the fate of this ride?

the place was in such a poor state, most of the rides are at least half gone, and it did not have that off-season, rides-being-prepraed-for-the-new season type feel.

Ian

Yes i noticed the cranes yesterday...i had a look too. I also had to go to Arlington hOuse today so while i was up there i got a good view of the park, and what a sad state its in

I note that Godden had purchased the old restaurant up the top of the entrance near the Flamingo, and also see the Garage at the end of Eaton Road has been sold and boarded up

To think what a wasted opportuntiy this is to put Margate on the map as a place to visit in the South East...of course, i dont doubt that tonnes of families will flock to the new Turner Centre when its opened...ahem...ubnless of course that falls into the sea and floats up to the north Pole.

Such wasted potential, i hope TDC and others realise what a boon Dreamland could be to the area

We already have the Scenic Railway, noted worldwide amongst Rollercoaster enthusiasts...a few flat rides, a looping coaster of some sort and the place would be packed

I have heard that the Wild Mouse has been sold and is being shipped up to Scotland. That would lead me to assume that Hank Bembom has bought it.

Sarah

I made a flying visit to the Dreamland site today and have put a few photos up at http://paulf.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=Dreamland-Feb-2005

The Wild Mouse is now pretty much totally gone. Most of the other rideas are in a dismantled state.

Not a pretty place at the moment

Those pictures are pretty depressing! Run down, half empty with a suitably apocalyptic grey sky! What a shame I hope this isn't the way I see Dreamland for the last time

UPDATE 9/2

Had another look in this am and the mouse is gone. The only ride that looked even vaguely complete was the sombrero ride - all the others seemed stripped down. It was such a depressing sight. The sun was rising through a misty sky behind where the mouse had been, and I thought how great a sight it could be - loads of family rides etc etc etc. At least I got a better morning to see it than Danny87!? I too hope that that was not my last look at Dreamland.

Ian

Blimey-That is depressing-It doesn't bode atall well for Dreamland being able to open again next summer as it has for the last couple. Are Dave Wallis's rides still there as that will give us some indication of the likely hood of the place opening this year?

Things also seem to be looking pretty bleak over at the Rotunda. Apparently the Council have raised questions as to whether the site is reall approrpriate for a large ASDA (ofcourse it's not appropriate! ). Plans may also full through for this universtity out post (Yeah, can you really imagiene the University of Folkestone? Not that I'm knocking Folkestone as I have several conncetions with the place and I don't want to offend too many people). But Godden still has plenty more plans up his sleeve including up market accomodation aimed at London Commuters. The date for these new fast trains to London has been put back by a couple of years so Jimmy Godden says he is now going to slow the development down a bit as the market won't be there for them until the new train system is in place. However the place really is looking like a scrap heap and the future of the Runaway is not getting any better (although I wouldn't say it's inretrieveable).