I remember the last day in 2006, we did our last show in the cowboy town... then headed for a staff meeting after where we were led to believe we would carry on for 2007 season. I then turned up one day to do out of season maintenance and was told by the park director we were shutting down. He was a good bloke the park director and I remember how upset and distraught he was when he told me what was happening. It was a real shame how it all ended but there it had definitely got to a point where the lack of investment had taken its toll on the park. Some great memories though 👍
For the two year anniversary of Expedition Theme Park i wanted to remake the first ever Expedition Extinct. The American Adventure was a park that meant alot to me and i wanted to improve the quality, audio and expand on something that inspired many videos that followed. This video is 10 minutes longer than the original which you can still find in the description. I hope you enjoy this remake and see an improvement from when i began making videos. Thank you for joining the Expedition!
I really liked the original version but this version is definitely better. I like how at the end you related it to your own life and how it shaped your appreciation of parks and roller coasters. I really enjoy your videos and look forward to seeing what other stories you'll be telling about parks and attractions.
This actually made me cry. I went here with my mum and my son in 1997, his first trip to a theme park, and we had such a wonderful time. He was too small for the roller coasters, but the place had such a lot of fun things going on and the atmosphere was terrific. And now it will be just another soulless estate of kennel-like houses. Tragic.
As a kid growing up In Nottingham, we all used to visit American Adventure loads. Used to get the bus to Shipley and spend the day on the rides. I loved the place, and the rapids there were easily the best in the UK by a mile. Until recently I used to get in and walk the dogs around the place, spooky at times as a lot of the buildings were still there. One thing you missed though, and something I think contributed to its failure, was the constant swapping from free entry and tokens / wristbands to general admission fee, and back and forth.
I had my eleventh birthday at the park the day before it closed. They gave us so much park merchandise in party bags as I guess they couldn’t sell it all in time 🤷♂️
The guy you see standing on the horse at the very start is called Samuel, he was the lead horseman for the show, my aunt was married to him and we went every summer, some great childhood memories for me there
I loved The American Adventure and have really fond memories of going there in the late80s/early 90s. Such a shame that so many poor management decisions put an end to this place. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
So many comments are about the good memories people had as kids, and the profound sadness when American Adventure Park closed. I realize these are "first world problems" -- but, yes, still a sense of loss. I can think back to amusement parks here in California I enjoyed as a kid that are no longer around as well. Cheers from your friends here in the USA.
Ludwig Von Koopa you need to understand that, when AA opened, the vast majority of Brits had no hope of ever travelling to the US and seeing it for themselves. The whole concept of the Great Plains, Native American culture etc was something that carried a certain romanticism and fascination with it. Also, the number of Brits able to visit a US theme park was a fraction of those who can and do today. Anything American themed was assumed to be bigger, better and more exciting.
Not Ironic as it isn't the first theme park. Drayton manor and Alton Towers opened years earlier and even on that site Britannia park had opened in 1985 or Camelot in 1983. Maybe Ironic that a Brit commenting on history got it wrong like a yank would?
I went to the park three times in the 1990s, 94, 95 and 96 - it was at it's height then and was a great place, the queues were always manageable and you could get on everything multiple times in a single day. We actually drove all the way to Alton Towers once and the queue was so massive, we just turned around and went here instead and had a better time.
The downfall was partly down to the park wanting to be more 'kid friendly', which involved closing all the good thrill rides. This is exactly what Lightwater Valley in Yorkshire have done, and I think this is the worst mistake any theme park can make. I really hope Drayton manor don't go down this route, as they are going down the more family orientated future as well. Look at Lightwater Valley now compared to when The Ultimate and Raptor attack were open, it's just not the same park. I reckon Lightwater won't last too long and I hope theme parks learn not to close their thrill rides to bring in more families because it doesn't work.
This park was what started my love for theme parks, I still have a lot of fond memories from American Adventure and Oakwood. It's a shame as this place had so much potential to be great.
I went to school in Shipley Park (Michael House) from 89-99! Our boundary was only about 20ft from the American adventure, the amount ofvgolf balls that came over!
Aaawww, the story of this theme park is so tragic and heart breaking, I was shocked when I learned it had been closed down. The American Adventure was actually my first theme park experience as a kid back in its early years of its prime and I actually live in Derbyshire myself. I believe 2000 was the last time I ever went to The American Adventure and I noticed it felt off the moment I entered the park because of the closure of the main entrance. It was great for its time but it seems that its bad history and the stiff competition from other UK theme parks was what ultimately doomed it. I'll never forget those singing animatronic bears at the main entrance and all the fun times I've had at that theme park.
This was my first theme park and I visited it throughout my childhood and teens. I have such great memories of the park and seeing its decline and closure was desperately sad.
This was my "local" Park when I was younger. The twin looper was the first inversion I ever experienced on a coaster. And the missile was awesome at the time as a young kid. Looking back, the park wasn't anything amazing, but it could have been with a bit of commitment and that is the true tragedy here. I vividly remember how run down the park had become the last time we visited. A shame...
this was one of the first videos i watched of yours!!!! your content is AMAZING, you always cover a lot of parks that other theme park channels just don’t do, and it’s extremely refreshing to learn new things about something i love. congrats on the two years, here’s to many more!!!!
Thank you so much! This first video was the one that inspired Expedition Extinct at all and i spent a good amount of time trying to make this better version if it! Thank you for watching all this time
I really enjoyed finding out the history of this park from conception to demise. I would love to see a history of Thorpe Park from beginning to end with all added/removed rides.
Geat little documentary brought back so many memories. This park played a big part in mine and my friend's life, we used to go most weekends getting dropped off in the morning and picked up later before the park closed. i can always remember running from the entrance to the Missle ride as fast as we could so we could get a few goes before the queues started.
Awesome video. I remember this park as a kid. It was great. The cowboy shows and the massive indoor play area were superb. I also remember the log flume fondly and the missile. I remember canyon trip as well!
Wow, this brought back so many memories of end of term school trips. I think 2002 would be the last year I visited and can remember it being very quiet and had that sense of being 'run down' compared to previous visits. Great video!
10:07 Great Scotland Yard. It's Commander Buzz Aldrin From Apollo 11 In 1969 And He Was Also Started In The 5th Season Episode Of The Simpsons The Original Series. DO'H. Thanks Mate. X
What a sad story...I had so many firsts here, my first go-karts, first log flume, hell first coaster and first loop-de-loop! I was so sad when it shut down and I remember sometimes we would drive by the old park before everything was gone and I could just see the little bits that were left...if I could go back in time to anywhere, this would be near the top of the list of places to go to
This has to be one of my favourite videos that you have done, I grew up when alton towers was starting to grow and been to pleasurewood hills more times than I can count but never heard of the American adventure so all of this was fascinating to me. Excellent work
Thanks for remaking the episode that introduced me to your channel. American Adventure was the park that started it all for me. As somebody who lives on the edge of the park, just a few minutes walk from the entrance, it is sad to see houses going up in place of the park where I spent most Saturdays and Sundays as a youngster :(
This channel has everything! I went here as a kid the year before they started packing it up. There's not much on the internet about this old place. So thanks!
I remember going there in the good ole days in the early years of the park it was great. I think every kid left thinking they were cowboys with hats and guns. It was the first year of the Missile i was too scared to go on it but went on the log flume i was just tall enough to go on it.
I may be 37 now but this was my first theme park, I visited a number of years when I was younger with my grandad. He was a country and western fan and I loved fairgrounds and shows too . It's such a shame it had to but I will always have the memories of wonderful fun filled days, especially when I think of my grandad too 😀
My first theme park was Disneyland in Anaheim, California. My first roller coaster was the Matterhorn Bobsleds. I was 5 and I cried the whole time, making my dad feel really bad for taking me on it! My second theme park was Knott's Berry Farm and my third one was Six Flags Magic Mountain (where I rode my first looping roller coaster, Revolution). My fourth was Seaworld in San Diego, California. So basically, all of the parks of Southern California were a part of my childhood. I'd say it was Magic Mountain that really ignited my love of roller coasters, especially as I got older and more thrilling rides were added over time. In fact visiting Magic Mountain has become a family activity as I go once per month with my sister. :)
14:21 I've Used To Love Watching Sooty Live At Fairfield Halls In Croydon Surrey Just Outside The Capital City Of London In England In The United Kingdom When I Was A Kid And Then I Saw The Show Again At London's Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Theme Park In London In England In The UK And It Was My Very First Ever Sooty Show Live Stage Musical In London's West End Into New York's Broadway In New York City In The United States Of America Upside Down. Thanks A Lot Mate. PS I've Also A Big Sooty Fan As Well Too. X
Great vid. American Adventure & Camelot where my first parks and live fondly in my memories. This Video certainly helps draw out even more vivid memories.
So many memories. In the summer holidays i use to go every other week as I lived in Nottingham. Recently I help my mum move house and I found an original American Adventure keyring when they used to use the Statue of Liberty in the advertising wish I could show you a picture. Thanks for the awesome video
Thanks for this, i've seen so many videos about other parks, it's so much more personal seeing one that's actually special to me - remember going here a couple of times, once with my family in '91 and again as an end-of-term school trip a couple of years later. The Missile might not have been my first inverting coaster, that was python at drayton manor - but I'd been too young to go on the boomerang at west midlands safari park with my dad when they had it (I want to say it was called sidewinder?) so it was really cool to be able to go on basically the same thing a few years later. Even now i won't build a park in Rollercoaster Tycoon without one. :) Also now i'm trying to work out if i can justify dragging my own kids down to norfolk to ride it one more time :D
Watching this bought back some great memories but also made me a little sad. The American adventure was the theme park of my childhood with so many great trips there in the early 90s. It made me fall in love the the US and led me to visiting the real country so many times as I’ve grown older. Happy memories but a sad ending.
Man this one hit me right in the feels. I visited in 97 or 98 as a young lad and I remember it well. As you said yourself at the end, it was my first inverted rollercoaster and also a chance to ride that biggest log flume in the UK. Good memories were made for sure. Thanks for the great content.
Visited here most years for my birthday when I was a kid - in the height of when it was awesome. Such amazing memories, and so true it had so much potential with the lake in the middle. Loved the video 👍
I remember going here alot when I was a kid. I even remember one rainy weekend I begged my Dad to take me to America Adventure, he did bless him. I have lovely memories from here. A shame it's going to be a housing estate. Like we need more house. Bringing back the park would make my day. The missile was my first ever roller coaster also. Great film thank you.
The park that probably most developed my love for theme parks (other than Disney, of course) was Hersheypark in Pennsylvania (about 90 minutes from where I grew up in upstate NY)...just a really nice park/zoo safari park for a little kid in the early 1970’s!
Britain's first theme park was Alton Towers, it was the first time a pay-one-price inland park had been done in the UK although it only had one actual themed area for a while (a bit like American Adventure when it started). Thorpe Park opened a theme park area with big themed rides just after and then Pleasurewood Hills was an American themed park that opened in 1984 ish.
I don't think it classes as a Theme Park as i said in another thread. It might have one themed area but TAA was planned fully themed. I would say even Chessington beats Alton and Thorpe and Pleasurewood Hills does not count. Amusement Parks for me
@@ExpeditionThemePark Got to remember when Alton first started as as a theme park, that one themed area was the whole theme park. The rest of Alton was still the famous grounds, it was the theme park 'at' Alton Towers if you like. Their problem was they never did more themed areas afterwards so it got a bit crumby until the 90s, but they were the first to do it. AA even hired the same theme park designers as Alton & Thorpe because they saw the success. They were nowhere as themed as today but they were all parks with a theme, themed rides and a pay one price, a hit with the public. It was a big breakthrough but just a line in the sand at the end of the day :)
Don't think anyone will see this, but I'd like to let every know, what the fate is of the land the park stood on. I live near by to the theme park grounds (10 min walk), and unfortunately now it is being converted into housing. I don't know what's happening about the lake. if it's being drained and filled in or left alone. I remember getting into the park grounds about 6-7 years after it had closed, due to there being panels missing out the steel fence in areas, and if you travelled around the perimeter there was a small stream with an iron gate, through a dense bit of wood that you could hop over. The parks grounds were completely different without the rides, but the foundations were still intact, including the tiled floors of some of the shops. For those who remember it Pier 49, where you'd line up to get on the pedal boats, was sinking as the foundations were rotted away by the lake ,and electrical outlets, although long disconnected, were still on the beams that powered the speakers. The rail road that ran around the lake had been ripped out, but there were still signs of it if you knew what to look for. I'd seen the gravel path that sat under the rails, and when followed, found the crossing points and the old posts, with the name of the company that made it. The stairs that took you up to what was the 3D cinema had decayed, the rotting wood holding the crumbling concrete in place, along with the hand rails being rusted where the paint had chipped off due to the weather. The grand entrance had been demolished, with the rubble left on its floors. The carpark cracked, and left to nature like the rest of the parks grounds, with weeds and trees reclaiming the land. I have photos of my time in there, as I used them for my school work to get a post apocalyptic theme I was looking for, they're available on Flickr. I also know what happened to, the fort playground, and one of the decommissioned log flume cars. My family and I had friends stopping over from Essex, that had decided to camp at a nearby campsite called "Golden Valley", which is a 25 min drive away from the American adventure site. Whilst they were there, we went to visit them at the campsite for a BBQ. As we drove into the campsite I spotted a familiar fibreglass log next to this wooden playground, and immediately recognised it as the old playground, and car from the American adventure park. To say I was 16, I still went on it for nostalgia to remember the good times I had there, whilst explaining to my friend, why i knew about it but never been to the campsite up until that point. All in all, it's shame that the management ran the park into the ground, as there's not much to do now it's gone, and the council no longer care about the up keep of roads and businesses nearby. I'm 26 this year, and I've never forgotten the park. To this day, I can remember my time their vividly, despite not going since I was 10 and still walk past it from time to time remembering all sounds sights and smells from my childhood. RIP, American Adventure, you are sorely missed.
Interesting update, thanks. I had a wander around the grounds about 8 years ago and it was quite an eerie experience, especially as I have such fond memories of the park in it's prime.
So by “First British Theme Park”, you mean an amusement park with actual theming. I know Alton Towers and Thorpe Park already existed but those were just plain amusement parks.
Thorpe Park and Alton Towers were theme parks, they operated like theme parks and had big themed areas with themed attractions. Although not all of the areas were themed and there were some amusement rides too, same with American Adventure. Alton Towers was Britain's first real theme park.
@@EuroThemeParkArchive Thorpe and Alton were not considered a theme park in 1987. They literally had no themed lands. I would even class Chessington a theme park before then
Damn this hits me in the feels! I went on a school trip, can't remember the year but the Missile malfunctioned when I was on it at the top of the first drop, JCB was there and the sky dive thing. I've been to a few places that are now abandoned and run down but it's only the sight of this that makes me feel all nostalgic and a tiny bit emotional. A good 20-25 years ago
I live about 10 minutes up the road from where the American Adventure was, have loads of memories of it as a kid, it was great having a theme park just down the road, I remember going on the Nightmare Niagara log flume tons as a kid. As well as the motion master! When I go out walking I often end up walking around where the park used to be.
So many great memories of this place. I lived about 10 mins drive from it so went dozens of times. The big blue slide in Pioneer Playland used to terrify me and my friends. So many of us damaged ourselves on it.
Such a sad story !! One park that I never got the chance to visit, living in Morecambe I can’t remember it ever being advertised but sort of knew about it
Expedition Theme Park yeah Frontierland was awesome, another Wild West theme park that was re themed in 1987 from a traditional amusement park (or fairground as we called it) and was owned by the Thompson family, it closed 20 years ago and nothing is left now just wasted land They also owned Southport Pleasureland
The Twin Looper was the first inverted coaster I ever went on. I remember I was too scared to ride the Missile though, I’ll have to go and find it at Pleasurewood Hills and give it a good go!
Loved this place as a kid, always had a great time when I went with my parents. Loads of good memories going here on red hot sunny days. I think they captured the feeling of America/the Old West really well. Anyone remember the hillbillies you shot & they would spit water at you?
Man, this hit me right in the feels! Growing up in Shropshire and later living in Nottingham, this place was the highlight of many of my summers! My lifelong love of theme parks and rollercoasters was born in Derbyshire. Like so many others have said, The Missile was the first proper coaster I ever went on when I was about 10. I think the last time I went was either 2003 or 2004. Such a shame to see how shite it ended up!
Dreamland in Margate, Kent was my first theme park experience. My Dad grew up in the area and told me of days where he would sit on the Scenic Railway all day, just paying his money each time it went round - he never had to get off. I spent a lot of time there in the 90s when it was free entry and pay per ride. It has a complicated history with arson attempts (and success ☹) but it now runs as a vintage heritage park and I'm looking forward to going back one day soon to see it again
I've never been there, but as an American, I found the theming very interesting! I guess people outside of the U.S. think we are all cowboys and Indians, but I'm glad that theme evolved! I would have loved to experience the park in its heyday! It could have been a nice kids park, so I'm sad it closed.
My mum always used to mention this place! I’ve never got to see it as I wasn’t born in time but alton towers have taken me into the love of rollercoasters!
My first amusement park (and the one that made me love them) was Cedar Point. Great introduction to rollercoasters. I had no idea all parks weren't as "elite" in the rides sense.
This video was published a while ago and I have only just seen it! I visited this place a few months ago and there is now lots of fencing and overgrown land where the theme park used to stand. There is also a large park and people still clearly remember the area for the attraction and come back to look at it now. Wish I'd had the chance to go but it certainly is well-remembered in Derbyshire.
God this video unlocked some memories. When I was around 5/6 years old I went to alton towers with my dad. I was awear that we must of gone to other parks while we were there but I had no memory of what these other parks were. After watching this video I'm about 80% sure that American adventure was one of them, I remember faces in the wall, I remember the boat and the wagon wheel along with JCB World cause I was "just like my dad" who was a JCB driver at the time. So odd to think that I was there just a mere year or so before it closed and yet I never knew till like 15 years later.
The Missile was my first roller coaster too! After that I was hooked! Remember going back on a few school trips. So sad it never worked out. Great videos, keep up the good work!
I've never heard of this park! You learn something new every day lol. I've been on the coaster from the Glasgow garden festival though! Rode it in '87 😁.
I remember visiting this park when I was younger, and the floating island ride that gave you a view of the whole park, had a gap inbetween the ride itself, I was about 10 at the time, I remember not noticing the whole and one of my legs falling down said ride, oh happy memories.
Alton towers was the first big theme park I went to, and nemesis was one of the first “big” coasters I ever got to ride. 10 years on, I now work there and it is my home away from home. I currently have towers blues because the closed season is very very miserable.
This was 10 minutes away from where i lived, i remember being around 5 or 6 begging my mum to take us there and for our birthday around maybe 8 or 9 we could finally go! We visited shortly after again the following years, Missile was probably my first big coaster but it was pretty rough, my head bashed so much around it was more painful than fun (weird to learn it still operates to this day). It was sad to hear them shutting their doors but i used to visit Shipley park a lot and seeing it waste away and slowly be overgrown by nature hurt too. Last time i went to Shipley park i wandered down to the fenced off areas, the building hadn't begun on houses then and it was likely the last i would see of the grounds where this park stood. Shame, in age i of course grew to love places like Alton towers and such but this was a local bit of fun so seeing it die hurt.
The theme park that forged my love of theme parks is Knoebels in Pennsylvania. My grandparents owned a summer house in the Poconos and we would spend a lot of summers there and Knoebels was only like an hour and half drive from the house. I rode my first roller coaster (The Phoenix) there and that's where my love of all things amusement parks was forged. First wooden and first steel coaster (Whirlwind). Great great memories there. Haven't been there in nearly 20 years but would love to go back
Great Video of what was my local theme park went quite a bit in the early days (being local we got cheap entry) but had a preference for Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Park, can remember opening day of Britannia park and yes it was a mud bath and the station for the peddle boats on the lake was even made of mud with a trench lined with old railway sleepers running through it and crossed with a bridge also made of railway sleepers and was very makeshift, as I remember Britannia park could be entered by simply walking in as the security fencing only ran half way around the park thankfully when The American Adventure first opened think they got it right and it was certainly well worth a visit
We did several "movie" days there with a UK costuming club. Stormtroopers, Vader etc, lots of car clubs and a simulated lightsabre fight in the area they did the western show in. It was great fun for us and being local easy to get to. I never went to Britannia Park but miss the western one and it's mine train, fort and gold panning. A shame it closed.
Man I never realized just how surreal it is to see other places create a theme park around a fictional version your country’s history.
I remember the last day in 2006, we did our last show in the cowboy town... then headed for a staff meeting after where we were led to believe we would carry on for 2007 season. I then turned up one day to do out of season maintenance and was told by the park director we were shutting down. He was a good bloke the park director and I remember how upset and distraught he was when he told me what was happening. It was a real shame how it all ended but there it had definitely got to a point where the lack of investment had taken its toll on the park. Some great memories though 👍
This made me tear up. Thank you for helping make such special memories for so many families. Wishing you all the best from across the pond.
For the two year anniversary of Expedition Theme Park i wanted to remake the first ever Expedition Extinct. The American Adventure was a park that meant alot to me and i wanted to improve the quality, audio and expand on something that inspired many videos that followed. This video is 10 minutes longer than the original which you can still find in the description. I hope you enjoy this remake and see an improvement from when i began making videos. Thank you for joining the Expedition!
Expedition Theme Park love your content so much you do such a good job 👏 👍👍. Keep up the good work
Expedition Theme Park wow the audio improved tenfold!
Two years? The quality of your content seems like you've been going on for years.
I really liked the original version but this version is definitely better. I like how at the end you related it to your own life and how it shaped your appreciation of parks and roller coasters. I really enjoy your videos and look forward to seeing what other stories you'll be telling about parks and attractions.
Expedition Theme Park Please do a video about Wonderland Australia next!
This actually made me cry. I went here with my mum and my son in 1997, his first trip to a theme park, and we had such a wonderful time. He was too small for the roller coasters, but the place had such a lot of fun things going on and the atmosphere was terrific. And now it will be just another soulless estate of kennel-like houses. Tragic.
Clearly, what this park was missing was a walking animatronic Benjamin Franklin.
Based on how good (or bad) British animatronics were in the 80's it would have been a thing of beauty.
As a kid growing up In Nottingham, we all used to visit American Adventure loads. Used to get the bus to Shipley and spend the day on the rides. I loved the place, and the rapids there were easily the best in the UK by a mile.
Until recently I used to get in and walk the dogs around the place, spooky at times as a lot of the buildings were still there.
One thing you missed though, and something I think contributed to its failure, was the constant swapping from free entry and tokens / wristbands to general admission fee, and back and forth.
I had my eleventh birthday at the park the day before it closed. They gave us so much park merchandise in party bags as I guess they couldn’t sell it all in time 🤷♂️
Wow. Do you have any picture of that merchandise
I went there as a child, the gun fights were amazing I remember a man falling from a window into a hay bale and the Log Flume was great
The guy you see standing on the horse at the very start is called Samuel, he was the lead horseman for the show, my aunt was married to him and we went every summer, some great childhood memories for me there
I loved The American Adventure and have really fond memories of going there in the late80s/early 90s. Such a shame that so many poor management decisions put an end to this place. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
So many comments are about the good memories people had as kids, and the profound sadness when American Adventure Park closed. I realize these are "first world problems" -- but, yes, still a sense of loss. I can think back to amusement parks here in California I enjoyed as a kid that are no longer around as well. Cheers from your friends here in the USA.
Oh my god I remember going to this when I was 5 and loving it
Me too!
Exactly!
Am I the only one who finds it ironic that the UKs first park was about America
Seems fitting
Expedition Theme Park what do you mean “Seems fitting?”
Ludwig Von Koopa you need to understand that, when AA opened, the vast majority of Brits had no hope of ever travelling to the US and seeing it for themselves. The whole concept of the Great Plains, Native American culture etc was something that carried a certain romanticism and fascination with it. Also, the number of Brits able to visit a US theme park was a fraction of those who can and do today. Anything American themed was assumed to be bigger, better and more exciting.
I refute the claim the AA was the UK's first themed park. Drayton Manor Park opened in the 40s and it was themed around chavs! 😂
Not Ironic as it isn't the first theme park. Drayton manor and Alton Towers opened years earlier and even on that site Britannia park had opened in 1985 or Camelot in 1983.
Maybe Ironic that a Brit commenting on history got it wrong like a yank would?
I went to the park three times in the 1990s, 94, 95 and 96 - it was at it's height then and was a great place, the queues were always manageable and you could get on everything multiple times in a single day. We actually drove all the way to Alton Towers once and the queue was so massive, we just turned around and went here instead and had a better time.
The downfall was partly down to the park wanting to be more 'kid friendly', which involved closing all the good thrill rides. This is exactly what Lightwater Valley in Yorkshire have done, and I think this is the worst mistake any theme park can make. I really hope Drayton manor don't go down this route, as they are going down the more family orientated future as well. Look at Lightwater Valley now compared to when The Ultimate and Raptor attack were open, it's just not the same park. I reckon Lightwater won't last too long and I hope theme parks learn not to close their thrill rides to bring in more families because it doesn't work.
The UK's first theme park...was American? Fascinating. That name reminds me of the amazing show at Epcot, Americaaa spread your golden wings
I nearly put that song in
Don't worry Sam, America The Beautiful was good enough
Avery the Cuban-American Wow...
I wanna see a theme park called “Kalahari African Adventure” from Kalahari Resorts and Conventions!
"Flying hiiiiiiiigh."
How do I see you everywhere
This park was what started my love for theme parks, I still have a lot of fond memories from American Adventure and Oakwood. It's a shame as this place had so much potential to be great.
I went to school in Shipley Park (Michael House) from 89-99!
Our boundary was only about 20ft from the American adventure, the amount ofvgolf balls that came over!
I used to go here multiple times a year, with both my parents and grandparents. As a kid, it was brilliant!
Aaawww, the story of this theme park is so tragic and heart breaking, I was shocked when I learned it had been closed down. The American Adventure was actually my first theme park experience as a kid back in its early years of its prime and I actually live in Derbyshire myself. I believe 2000 was the last time I ever went to The American Adventure and I noticed it felt off the moment I entered the park because of the closure of the main entrance. It was great for its time but it seems that its bad history and the stiff competition from other UK theme parks was what ultimately doomed it.
I'll never forget those singing animatronic bears at the main entrance and all the fun times I've had at that theme park.
This was my first theme park and I visited it throughout my childhood and teens. I have such great memories of the park and seeing its decline and closure was desperately sad.
I live so near this and it was so good when i was young but it was such a shame when it closed 😔
Yeah I miss it
I loved the wild West theme, it was ace when it first opened.
This was my "local" Park when I was younger. The twin looper was the first inversion I ever experienced on a coaster. And the missile was awesome at the time as a young kid. Looking back, the park wasn't anything amazing, but it could have been with a bit of commitment and that is the true tragedy here. I vividly remember how run down the park had become the last time we visited. A shame...
this was one of the first videos i watched of yours!!!! your content is AMAZING, you always cover a lot of parks that other theme park channels just don’t do, and it’s extremely refreshing to learn new things about something i love. congrats on the two years, here’s to many more!!!!
Thank you so much! This first video was the one that inspired Expedition Extinct at all and i spent a good amount of time trying to make this better version if it! Thank you for watching all this time
I’m 13 and love theme parks I would have loved to gone here rip American adventure
Travel the world and visit all the parks you can
I really enjoyed finding out the history of this park from conception to demise. I would love to see a history of Thorpe Park from beginning to end with all added/removed rides.
Geat little documentary brought back so many memories. This park played a big part in mine and my friend's life, we used to go most weekends getting dropped off in the morning and picked up later before the park closed. i can always remember running from the entrance to the Missle ride as fast as we could so we could get a few goes before the queues started.
I loved the missile, my first ever coster
Me too!
jammytalk same
same :D
Same!
Awesome video. I remember this park as a kid. It was great. The cowboy shows and the massive indoor play area were superb. I also remember the log flume fondly and the missile. I remember canyon trip as well!
Wow, this brought back so many memories of end of term school trips. I think 2002 would be the last year I visited and can remember it being very quiet and had that sense of being 'run down' compared to previous visits. Great video!
10:07 Great Scotland Yard. It's Commander Buzz Aldrin From Apollo 11 In 1969 And He Was Also Started In The 5th Season Episode Of The Simpsons The Original Series. DO'H. Thanks Mate. X
Plus these videos are absolutely superb, especially for someone in their 30s who still has such confusing memories of growing up in the 90s
I remember going there with school in 1999 and really enjoyed it.
What a sad story...I had so many firsts here, my first go-karts, first log flume, hell first coaster and first loop-de-loop! I was so sad when it shut down and I remember sometimes we would drive by the old park before everything was gone and I could just see the little bits that were left...if I could go back in time to anywhere, this would be near the top of the list of places to go to
This has to be one of my favourite videos that you have done, I grew up when alton towers was starting to grow and been to pleasurewood hills more times than I can count but never heard of the American adventure so all of this was fascinating to me. Excellent work
Thanks for remaking the episode that introduced me to your channel. American Adventure was the park that started it all for me. As somebody who lives on the edge of the park, just a few minutes walk from the entrance, it is sad to see houses going up in place of the park where I spent most Saturdays and Sundays as a youngster :(
This channel has everything! I went here as a kid the year before they started packing it up. There's not much on the internet about this old place. So thanks!
Absolutely amazing video! Happy 2 year anniversary Expedition Theme Park 😊😊😊
Thank you!
@@ExpeditionThemePark no worries 👍😁
I remember going there in the good ole days in the early years of the park it was great. I think every kid left thinking they were cowboys with hats and guns. It was the first year of the Missile i was too scared to go on it but went on the log flume i was just tall enough to go on it.
I may be 37 now but this was my first theme park, I visited a number of years when I was younger with my grandad. He was a country and western fan and I loved fairgrounds and shows too . It's such a shame it had to but I will always have the memories of wonderful fun filled days, especially when I think of my grandad too 😀
My first theme park was Disneyland in Anaheim, California. My first roller coaster was the Matterhorn Bobsleds. I was 5 and I cried the whole time, making my dad feel really bad for taking me on it! My second theme park was Knott's Berry Farm and my third one was Six Flags Magic Mountain (where I rode my first looping roller coaster, Revolution). My fourth was Seaworld in San Diego, California. So basically, all of the parks of Southern California were a part of my childhood. I'd say it was Magic Mountain that really ignited my love of roller coasters, especially as I got older and more thrilling rides were added over time. In fact visiting Magic Mountain has become a family activity as I go once per month with my sister. :)
14:21 I've Used To Love Watching Sooty Live At Fairfield Halls In Croydon Surrey Just Outside The Capital City Of London In England In The United Kingdom When I Was A Kid And Then I Saw The Show Again At London's Hyde Park Winter Wonderland Theme Park In London In England In The UK And It Was My Very First Ever Sooty Show Live Stage Musical In London's West End Into New York's Broadway In New York City In The United States Of America Upside Down. Thanks A Lot Mate. PS I've Also A Big Sooty Fan As Well Too. X
I'm guessing it closed over a tea pricing dispute?🤔
lol
oh my god
And the ownership group decided to open a restaurant chain instead...
Great vid. American Adventure & Camelot where my first parks and live fondly in my memories. This Video certainly helps draw out even more vivid memories.
So many memories. In the summer holidays i use to go every other week as I lived in Nottingham. Recently I help my mum move house and I found an original American Adventure keyring when they used to use the Statue of Liberty in the advertising wish I could show you a picture. Thanks for the awesome video
Thanks for this, i've seen so many videos about other parks, it's so much more personal seeing one that's actually special to me - remember going here a couple of times, once with my family in '91 and again as an end-of-term school trip a couple of years later. The Missile might not have been my first inverting coaster, that was python at drayton manor - but I'd been too young to go on the boomerang at west midlands safari park with my dad when they had it (I want to say it was called sidewinder?) so it was really cool to be able to go on basically the same thing a few years later. Even now i won't build a park in Rollercoaster Tycoon without one. :)
Also now i'm trying to work out if i can justify dragging my own kids down to norfolk to ride it one more time :D
I went to Thorpe Park when it first opened, no rides but models of buildings from around the world. Replica planes. It was themed around boredom.
I rode the missle 27 times straight. Sat on Shipley hill today some 30 years later, smiling for the experience.
Went in the 90’s and loved it, the cowboy show and indoor play area were amazing
So well done and with that personal touch
Watching this bought back some great memories but also made me a little sad. The American adventure was the theme park of my childhood with so many great trips there in the early 90s. It made me fall in love the the US and led me to visiting the real country so many times as I’ve grown older. Happy memories but a sad ending.
Exact same for me
Man this one hit me right in the feels. I visited in 97 or 98 as a young lad and I remember it well. As you said yourself at the end, it was my first inverted rollercoaster and also a chance to ride that biggest log flume in the UK. Good memories were made for sure. Thanks for the great content.
Visited here most years for my birthday when I was a kid - in the height of when it was awesome. Such amazing memories, and so true it had so much potential with the lake in the middle. Loved the video 👍
It was cool revisiting your first video. Thanks for the remake. 😊
I remember going here alot when I was a kid. I even remember one rainy weekend I begged my Dad to take me to America Adventure, he did bless him. I have lovely memories from here. A shame it's going to be a housing estate. Like we need more house. Bringing back the park would make my day. The missile was my first ever roller coaster also. Great film thank you.
Why are even more housing estate being built why is it whenever I theme park closes it always only housing estate being replaced
The park that probably most developed my love for theme parks (other than Disney, of course) was Hersheypark in Pennsylvania (about 90 minutes from where I grew up in upstate NY)...just a really nice park/zoo safari park for a little kid in the early 1970’s!
Loved this as a little kid. I remember the nice chewy cookies well, which is an unusual thing to be in mind.
Britain's first theme park was Alton Towers, it was the first time a pay-one-price inland park had been done in the UK although it only had one actual themed area for a while (a bit like American Adventure when it started). Thorpe Park opened a theme park area with big themed rides just after and then Pleasurewood Hills was an American themed park that opened in 1984 ish.
Btpa coming through with the facts 👏👏
I don't think it classes as a Theme Park as i said in another thread. It might have one themed area but TAA was planned fully themed. I would say even Chessington beats Alton and Thorpe and Pleasurewood Hills does not count. Amusement Parks for me
@@ExpeditionThemePark Got to remember when Alton first started as as a theme park, that one themed area was the whole theme park. The rest of Alton was still the famous grounds, it was the theme park 'at' Alton Towers if you like. Their problem was they never did more themed areas afterwards so it got a bit crumby until the 90s, but they were the first to do it.
AA even hired the same theme park designers as Alton & Thorpe because they saw the success. They were nowhere as themed as today but they were all parks with a theme, themed rides and a pay one price, a hit with the public. It was a big breakthrough but just a line in the sand at the end of the day :)
Don't think anyone will see this, but I'd like to let every know, what the fate is of the land the park stood on. I live near by to the theme park grounds (10 min walk), and unfortunately now it is being converted into housing.
I don't know what's happening about the lake. if it's being drained and filled in or left alone.
I remember getting into the park grounds about 6-7 years after it had closed, due to there being panels missing out the steel fence in areas, and if you travelled around the perimeter there was a small stream with an iron gate, through a dense bit of wood that you could hop over. The parks grounds were completely different without the rides, but the foundations were still intact, including the tiled floors of some of the shops.
For those who remember it Pier 49, where you'd line up to get on the pedal boats, was sinking as the foundations were rotted away by the lake ,and electrical outlets, although long disconnected, were still on the beams that powered the speakers.
The rail road that ran around the lake had been ripped out, but there were still signs of it if you knew what to look for. I'd seen the gravel path that sat under the rails, and when followed, found the crossing points and the old posts, with the name of the company that made it.
The stairs that took you up to what was the 3D cinema had decayed, the rotting wood holding the crumbling concrete in place, along with the hand rails being rusted where the paint had chipped off due to the weather.
The grand entrance had been demolished, with the rubble left on its floors. The carpark cracked, and left to nature like the rest of the parks grounds, with weeds and trees reclaiming the land.
I have photos of my time in there, as I used them for my school work to get a post apocalyptic theme I was looking for, they're available on Flickr.
I also know what happened to, the fort playground, and one of the decommissioned log flume cars.
My family and I had friends stopping over from Essex, that had decided to camp at a nearby campsite called "Golden Valley", which is a 25 min drive away from the American adventure site.
Whilst they were there, we went to visit them at the campsite for a BBQ. As we drove into the campsite I spotted a familiar fibreglass log next to this wooden playground, and immediately recognised it as the old playground, and car from the American adventure park.
To say I was 16, I still went on it for nostalgia to remember the good times I had there, whilst explaining to my friend, why i knew about it but never been to the campsite up until that point.
All in all, it's shame that the management ran the park into the ground, as there's not much to do now it's gone, and the council no longer care about the up keep of roads and businesses nearby.
I'm 26 this year, and I've never forgotten the park. To this day, I can remember my time their vividly, despite not going since I was 10 and still walk past it from time to time remembering all sounds sights and smells from my childhood.
RIP, American Adventure, you are sorely missed.
Interesting update, thanks. I had a wander around the grounds about 8 years ago and it was quite an eerie experience, especially as I have such fond memories of the park in it's prime.
So by “First British Theme Park”, you mean an amusement park with actual theming. I know Alton Towers and Thorpe Park already existed but those were just plain amusement parks.
That's why he said theme park not amusement park
yea
@@ExpeditionThemePark So what about Camelot?
Thorpe Park and Alton Towers were theme parks, they operated like theme parks and had big themed areas with themed attractions. Although not all of the areas were themed and there were some amusement rides too, same with American Adventure. Alton Towers was Britain's first real theme park.
@@EuroThemeParkArchive Thorpe and Alton were not considered a theme park in 1987. They literally had no themed lands. I would even class Chessington a theme park before then
Damn this hits me in the feels! I went on a school trip, can't remember the year but the Missile malfunctioned when I was on it at the top of the first drop, JCB was there and the sky dive thing. I've been to a few places that are now abandoned and run down but it's only the sight of this that makes me feel all nostalgic and a tiny bit emotional. A good 20-25 years ago
Well done. I love your videos. Great narration that tells the whole story.
I live about 10 minutes up the road from where the American Adventure was, have loads of memories of it as a kid, it was great having a theme park just down the road, I remember going on the Nightmare Niagara log flume tons as a kid. As well as the motion master! When I go out walking I often end up walking around where the park used to be.
That’s a nice way to celebrate your 2 year anniversary! You keep up the good work!👍🏻
Thank you!
❤ thanks for sharing this with us!
So many great memories of this place. I lived about 10 mins drive from it so went dozens of times. The big blue slide in Pioneer Playland used to terrify me and my friends. So many of us damaged ourselves on it.
Such a sad story !! One park that I never got the chance to visit, living in Morecambe I can’t remember it ever being advertised but sort of knew about it
There is a park that was in Morecambe i am going to cover next year :D
Expedition Theme Park yeah Frontierland was awesome, another Wild West theme park that was re themed in 1987 from a traditional amusement park (or fairground as we called it) and was owned by the Thompson family, it closed 20 years ago and nothing is left now just wasted land
They also owned Southport Pleasureland
@@Coaster_Crazy be good to see one on Southport Pleasureland aswell
The Twin Looper was the first inverted coaster I ever went on. I remember I was too scared to ride the Missile though, I’ll have to go and find it at Pleasurewood Hills and give it a good go!
I loved the American adventure. Best ever theme Park and I wish it still existed ❤
Edaville Railroad in South Carver, Massachusetts. That park got me interested in theme parks.
i will look it up!
Well thanks for the tears on a Friday morning. Loved that place.. such a shame
Loved this place as a kid, always had a great time when I went with my parents. Loads of good memories going here on red hot sunny days. I think they captured the feeling of America/the Old West really well.
Anyone remember the hillbillies you shot & they would spit water at you?
Man, this hit me right in the feels! Growing up in Shropshire and later living in Nottingham, this place was the highlight of many of my summers! My lifelong love of theme parks and rollercoasters was born in Derbyshire. Like so many others have said, The Missile was the first proper coaster I ever went on when I was about 10. I think the last time I went was either 2003 or 2004. Such a shame to see how shite it ended up!
Dreamland in Margate, Kent was my first theme park experience. My Dad grew up in the area and told me of days where he would sit on the Scenic Railway all day, just paying his money each time it went round - he never had to get off.
I spent a lot of time there in the 90s when it was free entry and pay per ride. It has a complicated history with arson attempts (and success ☹) but it now runs as a vintage heritage park and I'm looking forward to going back one day soon to see it again
Absolutely loved this place we went nearly every day my aunt lived on Thorpe road leading into Shipley park which was handy just round corner ❣️❣️
I've never been there, but as an American, I found the theming very interesting! I guess people outside of the U.S. think we are all cowboys and Indians, but I'm glad that theme evolved! I would have loved to experience the park in its heyday! It could have been a nice kids park, so I'm sad it closed.
I have very fond memories of this park. Thanks for the great history lesson.
Loved The MIssile, such an intense ride. The fact I can't remember anything else about my visit back in th early 2000's tells a clear tale
This park’s logo reminds me of Islands of Adventures’ logo 🤔 I’ve never heard of this park and enjoyed the history!👍🏼
I loved this place when I was young and so miss it.
Fond memories of American Adventure. It was right on my doorstep so visited a lot.
My mum always used to mention this place! I’ve never got to see it as I wasn’t born in time but alton towers have taken me into the love of rollercoasters!
My first amusement park (and the one that made me love them) was Cedar Point. Great introduction to rollercoasters. I had no idea all parks weren't as "elite" in the rides sense.
Cedar point is the best
Absolutely incredible , well done fella 🙏
This video was published a while ago and I have only just seen it! I visited this place a few months ago and there is now lots of fencing and overgrown land where the theme park used to stand. There is also a large park and people still clearly remember the area for the attraction and come back to look at it now. Wish I'd had the chance to go but it certainly is well-remembered in Derbyshire.
God this video unlocked some memories. When I was around 5/6 years old I went to alton towers with my dad. I was awear that we must of gone to other parks while we were there but I had no memory of what these other parks were. After watching this video I'm about 80% sure that American adventure was one of them, I remember faces in the wall, I remember the boat and the wagon wheel along with JCB World cause I was "just like my dad" who was a JCB driver at the time. So odd to think that I was there just a mere year or so before it closed and yet I never knew till like 15 years later.
The Missile was my first roller coaster too! After that I was hooked! Remember going back on a few school trips. So sad it never worked out. Great videos, keep up the good work!
I still drive past the old site regularly. Spent quite a few summer nights with my mates in the abandoned park drinking on the edge of the lake.
I've never heard of this park! You learn something new every day lol.
I've been on the coaster from the Glasgow garden festival though! Rode it in '87 😁.
Great video...loved that 60ft drop on the flume
I remember visiting this park when I was younger, and the floating island ride that gave you a view of the whole park, had a gap inbetween the ride itself, I was about 10 at the time, I remember not noticing the whole and one of my legs falling down said ride, oh happy memories.
Many happy memories, went there loads as a kid!
Alton towers was the first big theme park I went to, and nemesis was one of the first “big” coasters I ever got to ride.
10 years on, I now work there and it is my home away from home. I currently have towers blues because the closed season is very very miserable.
Why is this so interesting, i love it!
This was 10 minutes away from where i lived, i remember being around 5 or 6 begging my mum to take us there and for our birthday around maybe 8 or 9 we could finally go! We visited shortly after again the following years, Missile was probably my first big coaster but it was pretty rough, my head bashed so much around it was more painful than fun (weird to learn it still operates to this day). It was sad to hear them shutting their doors but i used to visit Shipley park a lot and seeing it waste away and slowly be overgrown by nature hurt too. Last time i went to Shipley park i wandered down to the fenced off areas, the building hadn't begun on houses then and it was likely the last i would see of the grounds where this park stood. Shame, in age i of course grew to love places like Alton towers and such but this was a local bit of fun so seeing it die hurt.
The theme park that forged my love of theme parks is Knoebels in Pennsylvania. My grandparents owned a summer house in the Poconos and we would spend a lot of summers there and Knoebels was only like an hour and half drive from the house. I rode my first roller coaster (The Phoenix) there and that's where my love of all things amusement parks was forged. First wooden and first steel coaster (Whirlwind). Great great memories there. Haven't been there in nearly 20 years but would love to go back
That was so sad to watch. I went twice and the second time in 2005 was frankly sparse and depressing. RIP American Adventure. 😔
Was so good. Loved the live shows when I was a kid. Cowboys 🤠
Great Video of what was my local theme park went quite a bit in the early days (being local we got cheap entry) but had a preference for Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Park, can remember opening day of Britannia park and yes it was a mud bath and the station for the peddle boats on the lake was even made of mud with a trench lined with old railway sleepers running through it and crossed with a bridge also made of railway sleepers and was very makeshift, as I remember Britannia park could be entered by simply walking in as the security fencing only ran half way around the park thankfully when The American Adventure first opened think they got it right and it was certainly well worth a visit
went here loads of times as a kid, wish time travel was possible so I could experience it again
We did several "movie" days there with a UK costuming club. Stormtroopers, Vader etc, lots of car clubs and a simulated lightsabre fight in the area they did the western show in. It was great fun for us and being local easy to get to. I never went to Britannia Park but miss the western one and it's mine train, fort and gold panning. A shame it closed.