![]() ![]() ![]() No bid was accepted during the following few years. However, the new owners put the park back up for sale within 11 months of buying it, deciding instead to refocus their business. Both parks were operated by Leisure Great Britain, part of Queensborough Holdings. Queensborough Holdings was also in ownership of the Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park at the time. The park was sold because it had run into financial difficulties following the heavy expenditure on The Ultimate. However, in 1997, there was a change of ownership from a private family firm to Queensborough Holdings, who bought the park for £5.2 million. In the mid-1990s, Robert Staveley handed the park over to his children, Amanda and James. A number of rides, including the Beaver Rapids and the Heatwave, were opened on short-term leases instead of being purchased. Water rides such as the Beaver Rapids log flume and Splash Falls were opened. Īdditional rides and attractions were added throughout the decade, including roller coasters such as The Viper, The Batflyer, and The Ladybird. The Ultimate was opened to the public in 1991. In 1990, construction began on what would become the world's longest roller coaster, costing £5.2 million and over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length. His wife suggested that the train be sent out to the top and then returned with the aid of two drops. He liked the idea of having a roller coaster coming down the valley at the top of the park, but was faced with the challenge of getting people to the top of the valley to board the train. įollowing the success of the Rat Ride, Robert Staveley persuaded his wife that a 'proper' roller coaster be built. The ride attracted much attention, nearly doubling gate figures and paving the way for future developments including the park's first looping coaster, the Soopa Loopa, in 1988 which featured two vertical loops and a backward facing ride car. The ride was constructed by blasting large amounts of rock (which was sold) and capping the hole and exposed sides with a large barn style building. The ride closed in 2009 for refurbishment and re-opened as Raptor Attack for the 2010 season. To accommodate his wife's wishes, Robert decided that he would bury the roller coaster underground and it became based on the dwellings of a sewer rat. After much discussion, she permitted the construction of a roller coaster as long as it was out of sight. At the time, Robert Staveley's wife was a keen protector of the country park status and did not like the idea of having a roller coaster spoiling this. Robert Staveley wanted to expand on the family market and provide something for the thrill market, whilst still catering for a younger audience. The Lightwater Valley Theme Park was born when the Rat Ride was built in 1987. A range of different fairground rides were introduced into the entrance areas of the park and the Lightwater Shopping Village was established. During this time, the park was advertised as a country park and self-pick fruit farm with a pay-one-price and ride-all-day system in place, with the exception of a small number of pay-to-play attractions. Later on, Staveley introduced a petting zoo, BMX bikes, Go Karts, a pitch and putt golf course, a hell slide and a water chute ('Devil's Cascade', later re-themed to 'Toad Hole'). Early attractions included an adventure playground (later Fort William), canoes, rowing boats and a circus. The lake's popularity instigated the transition of the farm into a tourist attraction. In 1976, the farm was affected by drought, resulting in the excavation of a lake to help reduce the effects of future droughts. The farm was owned by the Staveley family, who had owned the land since 1516. In 1969, Lightwater Valley began as a small self-pick fruit farm attraction. The boating lake at Lightwater Valley theme park The park features approximately 30 rides and attracts approximately 300,000 visitors per year. Lightwater Valley was founded by Robert Staveley in 1969, and is now owned and operated by The Brighton Pier Group, having been purchased by them for £5 million in 2021. The park was once home to Europe's longest roller coaster, The Ultimate. Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park is a theme park in North Stainley, North Yorkshire, England. ![]()
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