Replica ride for Dreamland?

[faro]

now this project is getting closer to reality,seems a good time to bring this topic back up.
i personally would love to see a virginia reel operating again,but it would be costly.
also a skywheel would be great to see again,as would an upright paratrooper(that might not be too hard to get hold of)
the monster from bpb was certainly great to look at and is probably rotting away somewhere.
lastly it would be great to see the turtle chaser operating again.is that going to be a possibility??
all these rides would certainly get people flocking to margate again and i really hope it happens sooner than later
regards
jamie

[dreamland]

the original blue looping star , 1982 - 1995

[dave771]

A modern steel looping coaster doesnt really come under *heritage* type rides though !

[Greg Pryce]

There's a few more 'Skids' being restored and brought back to life now, this would be a great ride for the Heritage park.
Especially as it would be static, the virtual disappearence of these rides mainly being the staff needed to build-up & Pull-down, (not much fun at 2 a.m in the rain! ).
Would be great to hear those Cars 'Rattling' across the plates in Dreamland once again!

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Constructing a new ride, like the Reel, from scratch will cost millions that Dreamland just doesn't have.

Vintage rides aren't growing on trees. The 'possibilities' are whatever's available, and whatever's salvageable.

Whatever can be donated or had for reasonable cost is what will end up in Dreamland. No point in creating a wish list. I think Dreamland will be happy to give a home to unwanted vintage rides and attractions. That's what will make it unique.

That said, I don't think a few traveling rides scattered about, or off in one area that change every season would be a bad idea.

[paul69]

my choice would have to be the Virgina reel !! as well

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Great. You two can be in charge of getting the plans drawn up and if you could start looking into financing or sponsorship, that would be a great help, too.

[porterm]

I too would love to see a Reel revival, especially as I feel very privileged to have got my inaugural, and only, ride on Blackpool's former attraction in July 1982 (it's last season, very sadly)

Maybe, after seeing the item on BBC1's (UK) "The One Show" last night, we should all buy a free more premium bonds, and in the current economic climate, who knows, one of us might be lucky enough to part-fund a project like this. It really would be keeping the dream alive then if this ever came to fruition.

One can but dream....

Martin

[furie]

I'd love to see a Flying Turns like the one recently constructed at Knoebels. Though they're having terrible problems getting it up and running (without ripping the track apart) - it's a gorgeous looking construction. With recent expertise available, it may be more viable than a Reel?

[Jim Douglas Jr.]

Um, what part of "new construction of major rides costs a fortune" didn't quite sink in?

As for a Looping Star, hey, if Dreamland had one before and one came up free or cheap, then I'm sure it could be considered.

[furie]

As part of the proposed Heritage Amusement Park project, one thing we have been considering is the possibility of building a replica of a major amusement park ride that no longer exists anywhere in the country/world. We have been informed that grant funding may be available for such a project.

If you could choose any ride (within reason, i.e. it has to be able to fit into Dreamland), what ride would you choose?

Please post your ideas here, and we will forward them to our heritage lottery advisor.

Okay, I failed on the no longer exists part, but other than that - I believe my suggestion was well within the remit put forward in the initial post of this topic. Whether the team can get funding or not is not the issue - the question is "IF they get funding, then what?"

Nick is asking about a major replica ride he may be able to secure funding for. Suggestions of a miniature railway, dive bomber or Schwartzkopf looper don't come under the proposed question as a form of answer at all. Sorry I dared to answer Nick's question

[bluea61]

I would have said the Skid also, but there is one in exsistence at Folly Farm in Wales. Excellent ride that would certainly fit the bill.

[SteveC]

Hummm... how about the 'Scenic Railway'?

Speaking of which, is anyone aware of what is actually happening with that in the foreseeable?

I noted on Saturday the gap in the middle is huge - is anything afoot to start rebuilding it as of yet?

With regards to vintage rides, the River Caves as mentioned by Vince further up the thread, whilst quite gentile, was one I loved as a child and I reckon smallerkids today would love it too.

I don't know the history of it though, as in would it be something that's both unique and classed as old enough to qualify as vintage?

[Nick]

The Scenic Railway is part of our current £15m plans for the Dreamland Heritage Amusement Park and partial cinema building restoration. That is central to the proposals. Personally, I would like to see the Scenic restored sooner rather than later, with the rest of the park to follow, but at the moment the plan is to do it all in one go when all the funding is in place (hopefully later this year).

We have acquired the River Caves ride from Southport, so we do plan to recreate a River Caves at Dreamland, although it will have boats rather than tubs.

If you can come along on Sunday evening and view our plans, I can take you through the various rides and attractions proposed.

[SteveC]

The Scenic Railway is part of our current £15m plans for a heritage amusement park and partial restoration of the cinema building. That is central to the proposals. Perosnally, I would like to see the Scenic restored sooner rather than later, with the rest of the park to follow.

We have acquired the River Caves ride from Southport, so we do plan to recreate a River Caves at Dreamland, although it will have boats rather than tubs.

If you can come along on Sunday evening and view our plans, I can take you through the various rides and attractions proposed.

Yes, I was being cheeky with regards to the Scenic Railway, but yes, the restoration of this should be of primary concern given the state what is left of it is in.

And excellent news that a River Caves ride is going in.

I guess the other one that really stands out from my childhood was the Ghost Train - I remember being sat on the floor of the car, squeezed between the knees of my dad and his cousin.

So much for health and safety, eh?

I will be attending on Sunday and would like to explore any avenues I can assist with the project beyond pure fund raising and generating public awareness, as in are there any plans to get volunteers actively involved in the renovation of some of the existing features on the site should the go ahead be given for the plans?

It would be nice to really get stuck in and do my bit, so to speak.

With regards to the cinema, I'm particularly interested in any plans for the Compton Organ, as I used to be a Pipe Organ Builder and have actually worked on the organ in the past.

I therefore may be able to assist in some of the more technical matters relating to this, although I understand there is a group dedicated to the organ who may already have this in hand.

--
Steve