The Lost American Adventure Theme Park - Part 1
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- Опубликовано: 5 авг 2023
- Exploring the remains of the former Theme Park The American Adventure, that stood on this site from 1987 - 2006. A firm childhood favourite of mine. Let's talk a journey into nostalgia and look for any remains today.
Camelot Theme Park Series:
Part 1 - • What Remains of Camelo...
Part 2 - • What Remains of Camelo...
Part 3 - • What Remains of Camelo...
Expedition Theme Park - Full History of the park:
• The Abandoned History ...
VIDEO INFORMATION CREDITS & THANK YOU'S
Tyler B
Heanor & District Local History Society
American Adventure Facebook Page
Britain From Above
Picturethepast.org.uk
oldcolorimages.com
nothingbutnostalgia.com
Martyns.blog
ukrides.info
/ 2ombieboy
/ travelshorts
RideMad
Leicester Mercury
Nottingham Post
BBC Radio Derby
BBC East Midlands
Kevin Parkinson
Theme Park Tourist
UKParkNews
John Rigby
Rik Engelen
PsycloneSteve
Martin Valt
William Squires
Richard Butter
CoasterMadMatt
Matthew Wells
Michael Patenburg
Garth Newton
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My dad used to take me and my brother here in the early 90s. They are some of my fondest childhood memories. I visited the site about 10 years ago and it was a strange feeling to walk around the empty park.
Fab Sunday night viewing as always Darren - who needs a TV licence when we have your fantastic videos - love them! ❤
I always watch RUclips over TV haha
@@AdventureMe me too these days lol 😂
I agree, tv license is a massive con in the modern world with fantastic RUclips channels like this one.
Same, I rarely look at a Tv screen. Unless I switch youtube over to my big screen. Darren you're not bad looking close up!😮
Honestly, RUclips content is FAR better than anything on TV these days
I've noticed a pattern with Trevor Hemmings, the billionaire guy who took over this park. It happened here, it happened at Pontins Hemsby, Pontins Wall Park, Pontins Tower Beach, Pontins Middleton Tower. Pontins Blackpool. He runs something into the ground then applies for planning permission to cover it with housing. The planning is rejected so he closes the park and leaves it sitting there forlorn and abandoned for a few years until the local council get fed up and eventually agree to his planning application. The only time it failed was at Pontins Jersey.
Yeah sounds like they have a track record for this. If only we knew back then
its sad really how many of our theme parks we have lost. I went to American adventure on a school trip and loved it. thats gone, frontier land in morecombe gone and lightwater valley as we knew it gone.
Fantastic video, we are pretty local and have so many memories of the place. It's really sad to see it becoming such a sterile suburban nothingness.
Couldn't agree more!
It is so sad, quite emotional looking at the before and now. All that excitement and fun, just vanished like it never existed. Thank you for restoring, long lost memories
The collioery was always the bit that confirmed to the excited childhood me that we were there, I was lucky enough to have gone 4 times during the 90's, some of the best memories of my childhood, life even, are based there. I remember it incredibly well, may as well have been yesterday so it's scary to know it's been 19 years since it shut. So many memories.
It was good that at least urban explorers got to see a fair bit before it was lost for good so it's demise is well chartered.
Quite an emotional watch to be fair!
I used to love this place. They sold The Missile ride to Pleasurewood Hills In Norfolk. It’s still there now.
Love these nostalgia resort videos. Thank you and keep up the good work!
Glad you like them!
Yes mate... Love a theme park video.
Theme parks are my true passion. Probably can tell. Thanks matey
@@AdventureMe I like all your videos but the theme park ones seem to be just that little bit betterer. You got anything in the works for pleasure island, Cleethorpes?
Yes. When I get there one day soon. Plenty of others too.
Ace video Darren. Absolutely breaks my heart seeing the housing estate there instead. I loved that place, so many great memories.
You and me both!
Fantastic video Darren! Really loved this, its made my sunday, I'm really excited for next weeks episode and the week after! Your lost theme park content is some of the best work I've seen on RUclips!
Ahh thanks mate. That means a lot. I did put some hours into this.
I went there a few times when they had movie days etc with a costuming group, dress as a Stormtrooper etc. It was a lovely place and its really sad its gone.
Great video! Mr Broome owned Trentham Gardens for a period, a short distance from Alton Towers. He had grandiose plans for the site, and put forward proposals in 1982 which would see it transformed into an 'American style' park based on 'Wet'N'Wild' in Florida. The plans never materialised, and he sold the site to the NCB. Mining subsidence was in part blamed for the collapse of his vision.
Broome had grandiose plans for Battersea, Trentham and American Adventure but it all came to nowt.
Very enjoyable and interesting exploration of what was and what might have been with more investment and imagination. It seems. as so often in the UK, that a mixture of short-terminism, greedy asset-stripping (and possibly, inflexible local planning regulations) sealed its fate. From the video footage, the concept and the original attractions looked very impressive and popular. But, when things begin to look run-down and uncared for, then interest fades and people look for alternatives. Thank you. Look forward to the next instalment.
O how wonderful. Just happened on this. I visited the park in July 2000. It was my hubbies surprise 50th birthday outing. We had already done the "Driving a Steam Train" bit & this was the continuation of the day of childhood dreams - "Cowboys & Indians"!!!We lived near Castle Donington airport & took our 2 grown dayghters & 1 future son in law for the day out- Hubby had no idea what was planned! We managed to get hubby on that big swinging drop! We had a fab time. Some sections were not quite like Alton Towers but we still remember a fab day. Dont even know where the photos have gone. 23 yrs gone since then & still a fab memory Thank you so much. I shall have to save this & get hubbg & the family to watch. Good job!!! Xx
Would love to have all those clips of the rides together on one access point.
I did visit the park once in 2004 for my sister's birthday. From about 2020, I contemplated coming to the site to see what became of it.
So, I briefly came here at the beginning of last year and yeah, it was pretty fascinating to see some remnants of the park and I could recognise some areas.
Still, in a way, it's good to see this area having new development but still kind of sad in another way.
Great video as usual. I love how much effort goes into your videos - especially matching the historic photos with present day, and the hours of research that clearly go into finding the facts. I went to the American Adventure in the early 90s and remember looking at their website in 2006 but being underwhelmed by the list of attractions by that point, so never revisited before it closed.
Thank you very much! Yes it did take me a few weeks to make these ones.
Still got the picture that was taken of me aged 19 on the Missile ride,i'm 52 now!
Local Derby girl here, saw it as Brittania Park twice and as American Adventure several times. Lots of memories for myself and family and friends, great to see this on your channel.
Thanks for sharing!
Fantastic video, you would have thought the council would let the park be expanded and welcome the revenue. Real shame as it was quite a cool place, I remember the super looper was always closed!
Also, the editing at the end with the drone, and the fading of the old photo’s is absolutely amazing. Your editing really is something else. Thank you for taking the time.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks Darren. Been waiting for this one! Such great memories there and such a shame its gone.
Yes it was
Great video. I worked there for the 1993 season in the stores keeping all of the food outlets stocked up. It wad a great park then.
Smashed it again Darren brilliant watch can’t wait for part two I never got to visit it
the missile was my first proper roller-coaster cried my eyes out on that late 90's.
That was excellent and brought back some memories.
That's made me so emotional..had so many many memories..really sad that's its gone ...but like u said ..it still lives on in so many hearts
Fantastic video. Used to love this place as a kid and watching this video i feel like I was almost back there
Glad you enjoyed it
Brilliant and informative video as always ❤
Thanks so much!
Unlocking some core childhood memories for me there of my dad taking me and my brother to all the theme parks throughout the 90s & 00s. Keep up the good work mate 🙏👌
Thanks bud. Yeah my dad took me too
This is amazing! Some amazing memories of The American Adventure. Thank you for this
Glad you enjoyed it!
Yet another well crafted and put together video, thank you Darren. I loved this park when it was open, many happy memories there. I’ve still got a souvenir guide and some of the old park maps/leaflets.
RIP John Broome
Thanks 👍. Yes sad news about John
Nice one Darren! it was quite a park. Cheers!
Love these trips down memory lane, had been a few times but struggling to remember much beyond going on the slight shot bungee, one of the highest around from memory? Thanks for the effort you put in to the still shots fading in / out, always a highlight
Yeah the highest in Europe if I recall
Couldn't click on this quick enough, Darren, I love these types of video & you make them to perfection, this park was one we used to frequent a lot as it was only an hour away, I loved the different levels tbh, esp the walk down to the bridges & that little stream below it that ran over the rocks, very picturesque site, your fades are kind of eerie but lovely at the same time, can't wait for part two, they're so good, a great watch, tfs 👍😊
Thanks. I did put some hours into these.
Another great video, thank you! It does sadly, make me feel melancholic when I think of all we have lost. This was a great park, many happy memories!
Glad you enjoyed it
Another great video Darren 😊
Thanks again!
Great content as always Darren, yes very sad seeing the area now compared to all the fun and joy which went on all those years ago.
Tell me about it ☹️
Fascinating that. Nice one 👍
Another great video !!
Amazing video, thanks Darren. So many great memories here.. sad to see it’s gone now. The missile was my first ever roller coaster.
And mine as you will see in the next episode
Thank you for the sad, but realistic video today. See you on the next, Darren. Cheers mate! 😮
This was great a great video. I love the then/now shots! I only went there a couple of times in the early 90s but it's crazy how much I remember about it - including the 'mall'! It's also a little crazy how much nostalgia I feel for the park. On to part 2 - Thanks so much!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Another good one Darren, I can only endorse the other comments made praising your productions, always well thought out content , interesting historical background and, as always, a liitle soft spot of nostalgia as we look back on these reminders of the family recreation days we all so fondly remember - happy days Darren , happy memories - great work.
Much appreciated!
Brilliant absolutely class publication m8
I really enjoy the work, effort and production of these videos. You mention Chessington in this video as being maybe first or a bit later. Technically Chessington Zoo opened in 1931 which a small part of what is now Chessington World of Adventures, which did open it's door fully in 1987 as a 'theme' park. As a kid Chessington was my growing up area. I'll look forward to any productions on our old sites. Thank you!
I think the new John wardley themed Chessington opened the month after this park did.
Gutted! I never went here but frequently went to Camalot! Its so sad to see childhood memorys gone forever👍
So sad
Great video Darren very interesting I do like these old videos bit of history I can't wait for part 2
Thanks 👍
Excellent as always, the flying island fades were especially good. I'd never even heard of the park before.
Kann mir gut vorstellen, das war eine schöne Zeit. Voller Abenteuer 😂.
Danke Darren war ein großartiges Video 👍👍❤
Great as always bud !
Thanks again!
I used to visit my Aunt in Nottingham every summer holidays in the late 80s and The American Theme Park was always the highlight of the trip for me. I think that's why I still have a strong interest in the American West. Great video!
Absolutely loved it here 😢❤
How tragic and sad to see what has been lost. Those men and the council should be ashamed. Thank you Darren for telling its story and history. You are keeping it alive in people’s memories.
Thanks Shirley
The council are nasty and arrogant.
I cried pretty much the whole way through this, being from Derby we went here often as a family and my Dad died 2 years ago, something about closed theme parks just makes me very sad and nostalgic. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching
Fantastic video. My mum and dad used to take us here in its hay day and I remember riding the missile for the first time. It was unlike anything in the UK. Looking forward to part 2, I’m hoping you will visit the old Frontierland site in Morecambe whilst it’s still a derelict site. Keep up the great work.
Hoping to
Superb...also sad remembering the times i visited the park
Brilliant video, I remember by dad taking me in the mid 90's, I remember 'how bizarre' being on the radio on the way, which was new at the time. I also remember it being the first place I was ever served fish with skin on! I think it was in one of the blue buildings that were in your video at the end. It's strange what you remember, other than the log flume and rapids I don't remember many of the rides. It's a shame it closed, sounds like the council didn't really want it there and made it impossible to improve it to survive.
Yes the blue fin I think it was called.
Really good video Darren. Great coverage of the history and the blending of the old and new photos is second to none. I went here in its early years and loved it, although I was very young and I only had lightwater valley as a comparison. From what you say, it had a rocky start but that expansion plan could have set something really strong in motion for a large and healthy theme park. It's really strange that it wasn't supported at the time. There must have been some egos and emotions on the councils side of things, given they were the ones who had stepped in a few years earlier to support it becoming AA after the failed brittania land. Thinking in the present mindset and how long its been gone, at least there's some silver lining that it's been developed into much needed housing
I think they got a lot of flack over the Britannia park fiasco and they never liked it after that.
Fantastic video this. I visited the American Adventure Theme Park on four occasions and this video gave me such a nostalgia fix. I felt sad too because this park could have been immense and seeing the plans for what could have evolved there made me even sadder. Once houses go on land we will never turn it back. Thank you.
Thanks. Part two is out now
Brilliant video
My dad took me when I was younger loved the park wish it was still there and get some child memories back so sad seeing how it is now every time I see a video of it, another great video I'm looking forward to the next one, of American Adventure would be nice if they built a similar one somewhere in the UK.
Great video brings back some great memories thankyou
You're welcome
Fantastic video yet again! You are getting better every-time if that is even possible
Thanks again!
Your photo fades are superb as always Darren, and they really bring back the atmosphere of the way things were. I never visited the place myself sadly, but this is the next best thing. Well done lad!
Many thanks!
Never went there, but still a fascinating video, can't wait for part 2
The photo fade king is back in action!
Haha. Even more in the next parts
Just found your channel and I'm amazed! Fantastic video work, fantastic commentary, and some fantastic ambient music thrown in. So yeah, fantastic haha.
Thank you very much! Welcome aboard
I fitted all the draught drink equipment into the kiosks across the park. I remember it all being turned into the American Adventure Park. Happy memories here.
Thanks for watching
Wicked video 📸✌🏼👌🏻🙏🏻💯 as Always 👌🏻 Never went here, heard of it!
Brilliant fade ins and Outs 💯 hope this week finds you well ✌🏼🙏🏻
Thank you 🙌
Thanks for doing the look bk video on the theme park, I loved it there
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very well edited. Love the contrast between old and new
Much appreciated!
I'd never heard of this theme park but the video is really interesting! I remember taking my children to Alton Towers about 1987 for the first time and it seemed quite developed.
Yes Alton towers came first. But it was more of a fairground. No theming. Until the 90s.
Never had the chance to visit any of those parks owned once by Granada, some of the theming looked world class, I know we have parks that are vulnerable right now, but I don't think they are on the same level as the American Adventure, as always your wonderful faded in footage especially from the drone shots, allowing us to relive what it would have been like to visit. Outstanding work, thank you
Thanks. Some better ones in the next episodes.
I love the music and fade ins .gives it a special nostalgic feel ..your research must take time ..love it
Excellent, your videos just get better, love the fade ins. Never went to any of these, lone parent in the 80's/90's couldn't afford these. Looks like a missed opportunity definitely though, some great rides 😂❤
Glad you enjoyed
Superb! Really interesting 👍
Thank you! Cheers!
Hi Darren. Excellent post as usual. Would love you to do a video of the old Belle Vue amusement park/zoo that we used to have in Manchester. Just a distant memory now but fondly remembered by many.🙂
Yes. On my list. Keep your eyes peeled
I used to walk my dogs around the derelict site after the park had closed, it was so eerily quiet yet peaceful. There were plenty of remnants left and ex-staff members had left home-made plaques marking the positions of the rides and buildings etc.
Wish I'd gone to see. But I would have been even more gutted
Did you get any photos etc?
Like stepping back to a really happy time of my life . Loved this video 18:14
I used to live a couple of miles away from American adventure in ilkeston and went a good 100 times it was brilliant thanks for the trip down memory lane it's a real shame it went epic video mate😊😊😊😊
Glad you enjoyed it
My kids and I would go there every weekend with my mum who had vouchers to get in free, I can remember going when it was just Britannia park and being local it was easy to get to, having been there a few times before the houses being built after closure and seeing parts of the buildings still there was very weird, my mother loved the flying island, I loved the Missile ride, the locals never wanted a theme park there and got a petition up to try to stop it. Great video.
I remember going the one time in the Mid 90s. The Missile was my favourite thing, even though it wrecked my shoulders. Years later I looked for the area after seeing pictures on an Urbex site. I found it, and the whole site was fenced off, but you could see in from the footpath that surrounded it. I'd seen the plans online about turning it into Shipley Lakeside a long time ago.
This was a brilliant watch, I never got to visit American Adventure, amazing how many parks now have changed to "children's focus" and failed. Would love to have gone here.
You would have loved it. In its early days it was so good and probably better themed that the merlin parks today. But it didn't last long.
It really did look it, the Log flume looks insane. Glad i've got on most the moved rides but that is one park that got away. Can't wait for part 3!@@AdventureMe
Such a blast from the past, so many memories of this place from the rodeo shows to being tricked by my aunt to go on my very first rollercoaster, i remember going to see the last firework show of the year, i also remember mot knowing the park had closed and making the bus trip from Derby to Ilkeston so spend a Saturday there with a school friend and being utterly heart broken when we got off the bus and the place was deserted and closed.
Sad times
Awesome video as ever, love the drone stuff and photo fades. I never got to go here 😢 but it looks like such a rural peaceful place, not somewhere to build houses 😤. I suppose it was quite near Alton Towers and Drayton Manor Park, so probably survival of the fittest. Pray for Lightwater, RIP John Broome.
It's not rural. Just a few miles from Nottingham and in some very built up towns.
I used to visit as a kid and loved it. My last visit was as an adult in 2001 , it was a dull windy school day and I think there where probably about 6 visitors in the park.
Fantastic video, but it also made me so sad. I never truly appreciated this place until it was gone. I remember Aliens at Motion Master and also Robocop and, my favourite, Secrets Of The Lost Temple.
really really interesting well done and thanks for what you find out as well,,great
Glad you enjoyed it
Amazing photo fade’s with the drone.
Thank you 🙌
Fantastic video but also very sad. I remember the park well from 90,s to 00’s. It’s also a shame that MFN has now gone too. 😢
Great vlog miss the park and adventure
Glad you enjoyed it
Loved going here,it had the only triple drop log flume I seem to remember
This place was always our end of year trip at primary school I remember going on the massive log flume and am I right in thinking that they had a large cinema screen ride withe the moving seats🤔 brilliant video and thanks for bringing back some awesome memories 👍🏻
Yes the Motion Master
Hi I would just like to say many thanks for your video . Because my late Dad Brian Carter of Derbyshire County council was one of the people responsible for the Shipley land , and yes I can remember my dad taking me on the site . So many thanks . All the Best Simon Carter
Thanks Simon
Great video. Brings back some great memories, but also a feeling of sadness and lost nostalgia. I worked there for a season in 1994. The uniform was horrendous and the pay even worse. Something like £2.06 per hour 🤣. One of my best memories was meeting Wolf from Gladiators. He was a top bloke, nothing like his TV persona. I was always gutted that I never got to meet Jet though 🤣😭🤣
Glad you enjoyed it
Thought the video was really good , reminding me of when we used to take my son Shawn there when he was young . Great to see the pictures , over the top of the scenes as they are now . Really well presented video and very informative . Enjoy watching theme park videos from different vloggers as my son has made a huge success of his channel too . Just found your channel , so will be watching keenly on your content . Keep up the good work.
Hi Alan, I know who you are. As soon as I saw Sanbrooke, it clicked. Hope Shawn hasn't worn you out with that giant shed? I met Shawn & Charlotte at the Pleasure Beach last year, we spent the evening together at the Horror event. The way Shawn talks about you taking him to these places is very similar to me, my dad did the same with me. Touring all the UK parks. And thanks to him, I have this passion too. I have loads of old videos on here similar to this, and from other parks you probably went to with Shawn. Hope you enjoy them.
Hi , Thanks for your reply . Watched all 3
episodes of American Adventure last night . Pity about it's demise as it was in a stunning location too . Didn't know about the local community etc. being against it . Would have made a great holiday park also , creating a lot of employment for the area . I will keep an eye out on your videos , might spot ourselves on any old footage , you never know . Cheers , Alan.
@@alansanbrooke I've done Camelot, Marvel's in Scarborough, The Ultimate, History of the Pleasure Beach etc. Already online. Say hi to Shawn for me.
New subscriber here. I e never heard of this park, although in the 1990s I was living in France working at a rather famous theme park back then, I always get a twinge of sadness when I see abandoned theme parks
Thanks. Welcome aboard
Didnt know this place existed,but seems like it was a great place for a good few years.Shame the vision for it didnt materilize.
Brill video as always.Thank you,😅.
Glad you enjoyed it
Great video as usual I love the content. I ran what was the Ridemad site, I had to give it up due to work commitments but I do have a heap of photos from the final year if you ever wanted to use any in the future, im happy to share. Sadly no video just stills.
I used to frequent ridemad back in the day. Yes that would be awesome, I haven't finished part three yet. darren@adventureme.co.uk
@@AdventureMe Just dropped you a note with a link. Thanks.
I remember when Camelot first opened, they had a section with Wild West theming. I wonder if that was moved here? I only visited once in the early 90’s. Great video, looking forward to part 2.
I'm not sure. maybe