Joyland Books

Hi I'm new here, I'm from Coasterforce.

I use to go to Margate a hell of a lot with my grandparents when i was younger, then we stopped, don't know why, quite annoying. Anyway I remember loving it there etc, then I found this site telling me of its abismal state which angered me alot.

Basically I went to Folkstone alot too and they used to have a big sort of funfair/small type of park on the seafront (not as good as Margate seeing as it didn't have any coasters) but I was told a couple of months ago thats also closed now. But what I do remember mainly is that the parks were both Dreamlands, same logo etc. So was the Folkstone park run by the same peeps at Margate or not? Its just something thats been bugging me for a while.

I believe Jimmy Godden owned both parks in recent years.

He has closed Rotunda for good and tried to do the same to Dreamland.

David.

They were run by the same person.

The logos were similar (see below) as the attached scan from a joint 1997 Folkstone Rotunda and Margate Dreamland flyer shows, but I don't think Folkestone ever went by the Dreamland name.

Yes, I think Porf is right. The Rotunda was named after the concrete dome which was there between 1936 and 2003 and apparently the Folkestone historical society was in discussions about getting it listed when over night property pirate Jimmy Godden demolished it.

Interestingly the reason for its removal is apparently not that it isn't viable, but James is retiring and as you will understand he can't retire if his pension isn't atleast about £10 milliuon a year

I think he is hoping to start taking these new holidays they are introducing into space or something...can't think what else he wants to spend his money on.

The Rotunda had 3 coasters when it closed including the excellent Runnaway Coaster (woody) and a Magic Mouse.

ok, thanks for clearing that up for me a little bit. I swear I saw a leaflet where both of them were called Dreamland, hmm, oh well. It seems a shame that they have both been ruined, well one of them sounds like its been demolished and the other one only has one origional ride left.

What does remain is a world-significant rollercoaster, and the entire site basicly intact.
Visit the main page and click on I Dream Of Dreamland to see what Dreamland could be.

I think where the confusion may have arisen here is that both parks were once both run by Mr Godden and I believe he used the trading name of "Dreamland Leisure". Quite ironically maybe!

Martin

I think you have missed a word out there. Did you mean to say that both parks were run down by Mr. Godden?
nigel