Blackgang Chine facts for kids
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Entrance to Blackgang Chine amusement park
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| Location | Blackgang, Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom |
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| Coordinates | 50°35′20″N 1°18′52″W / 50.58889°N 1.31444°W |
| Status | Open |
| Opened | 1843 |
| Owner | Alexander Dabell/Vectis Ventures Ltd/The Dabell Family |
| General manager | Dan White |
| Slogan | The Land Of Imagination |
| Operating season | March to November |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 5 |
| Roller coasters | 0 |
| Water rides | 1 |
| Website | Blackgangchine.com |
Blackgang Chine is the oldest amusement park in the United Kingdom. It first opened its doors way back in 1843! The park is named after a "chine," which is a special type of coastal ravine that used to be here but has since been worn away by the sea.
You can find Blackgang Chine on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight, about 6 miles from Ventnor. The Dabell family has owned the park since it began. It has many fun themed areas like Pirate Cove, Restricted Area 5, Fairy Land, and Cowboy Town. Because the land here is always moving, the park has had to move its attractions further inland many times to keep them safe.
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History of Blackgang Chine
In the early days, Blackgang Chine was a deep, wild valley leading down to the sea. It was a quiet place, mostly visited by local fishermen. There were even rumors of smugglers using the area, which is now a fun theme in the park! A ship called the Clarendon was wrecked here in 1836, and many people were lost.
During Victorian times, people loved to go on healthy holidays, especially by the coast. As railways made it easier to travel, the Isle of Wight became a popular holiday spot. Alexander Dabell, who started the park, saw a great business chance. In 1839, he became friends with a hotel owner in Blackgang. This hotel is now the Chine Cafe and park offices.
Alexander realized that he could create beautiful gardens that Victorians would love. He leased the land in 1842 and opened Blackgang Chine amusement park in 1843. Paths were built down the valley, and gardens were made on the cliffs. Steps were also added to reach the beach. The Dabell family has owned the park ever since. One of its most famous attractions, a huge whale skeleton, washed ashore in 1842 and is still on display today.
The Chine Today
Because of constant landslides, the original chine (ravine) has been destroyed. The coastline is still eroding a lot today. Now, the park focuses on themed fun for families with young children. Lifesize moving dinosaurs are a very popular feature! The same family also owns Robin Hill, another adventure park nearby. You can take walks along the clifftops here and see amazing views of the English Channel and the Isle of Wight coast.
The name "Blackgang" likely means "black pathway," referring to how the chine looked. However, the park likes to tell stories about smugglers, and visitors are greeted by a giant statue of a smuggler at the entrance.
Blackgang Chine is mentioned in a funny book about "uncommonly British days out." It was chosen because it seemed so unique. The park was also featured in a documentary based on that book. In 2010, Rupert Grint, who played Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter films, said that visiting Blackgang Chine was his family's favorite holiday.
People often talk about ghosts at the park, especially smuggler ghosts. There have been tales of sightings, and in 2008, a video seemed to show a ghost of a girl in a blue dress.
Park Attractions
The park covers over 40 acres of cliff-top gardens and themed areas. It has outdoor rides, walkthrough attractions, and historical displays. Here are some of the attractions you can enjoy:
| Attraction | Date opened | Description | Image |
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| Blackgang Beach | 2024 | A fun beach-themed area with palm trees, pretend washed-up cargo, and an interactive pool you can walk on without getting wet! It is located where the Cliffhanger ride used to be. | |
| The Jolly Robin | 2025 | A spooky pirate ship ride in the expanded Pirate Cove area. This ride used to be called Colossus at Robin Hill park. | |
| Extinction | 2023 | A thrilling pendulum ride that spins you 360 degrees and does a full loop-the-loop! It reaches a height of 18 meters. | |
| Evolution | 2022 | A 12-meter-tall drop ride that looks like an observation tower. It overlooks a dinosaur dig site. A car with ten riders is lifted to the top and then drops quickly several times. | |
| Shipwrecked | 2022 | A ride shaped like a huge wrecked pirate ship. A gondola with seats spins around in a vertical circle, reaching about 10 meters high. This ride was closed for a while in late 2022 but reopened in 2024. | |
| Water Force | 1998 | A 100-foot-long water slide with three different chutes. You go down in small boats. Two chutes are open, and one is enclosed and called the 'Plughole'. | |
| Pirate Barrels | 2006 | A pirate-themed version of the classic fairground teacup ride. | |
| Pirate Cove | 2012 | A pirate-themed area with two play ships, 'The Flying Raven' and 'L' Mistral'. You can aim water cannons at the other ship! It also has the Crossbones play area with climbing nets and slides. | |
| The Vortex | 2011 | A spinning tunnel that makes you feel dizzy and disoriented. It creates an optical illusion! It has had a few different names over the years. | |
| Giant Smuggler | 1987 | A huge fiberglass statue of a smuggler located outside the park's entrance. | |
| Shop and Entrance | 1986 | The park's main shop and entrance are designed to look like the inside of an old galleon ship. | |
| Underwater Kingdom | 2017 | An outdoor trail that feels like you're walking underwater. It has animated creatures like Giuseppe the talking crab and a giant whale. | |
| Talking Telescopes | 1990s | Coin-operated telescopes that tell stories about smuggling and local legends when you look through them. Some have been moved or removed over time. | |
| Cowboy Town | 1994 | A full-size Old West town with a saloon, jail, and covered wagons. You can find a café and a shop selling cowboy-themed items here. | |
| Restricted Area 5 | 2014 | A dinosaur trail with animated dinosaurs that move and roar as you get close. It was updated from the older Dinosaurland. New pathways and dinosaurs were added in 2022 and 2025. | |
| Mouth of Hell | 1972 | A giant head you can explore and climb inside. It was moved to a new spot in 2016. | |
| Dinostore | 2016 | A dinosaur-themed shop. As of 2025, it is now an amusement arcade. | |
| Boot Hill | 1976 | A collection of wooden crosses with funny names and made-up causes of death. It was moved and expanded when Cowboy Town was created. | |
| Rumpus Crypt | A crypt located near Rumpus Mansion. | ||
| Pirate Blasta | A pirate-themed water cannon shooting game. | ||
| iScream | An ice cream shop that serves treats for both people and dogs! | ||
| Chocobloc | A shop selling sweet treats. It used to be called the Waffle House. | ||
| The Quack Shack | A small arcade in Pirate Cove with crane grab machines. | ||
| Treasure Cove Shooting Gallery | A shooting gallery in Pirate Cove with interactive pirate characters. | ||
| Way Out West Shooting Gallery | A shooting gallery with interactive cowboy characters. | ||
| Rumpus Mansion | 1993 | A haunted walkthrough attraction inside an old manor house. It's filled with goblins and other creatures from old stories. | |
| The Musical Pet Shop | 1992 | A funny "pet shop" where animated animals sing when you press buttons. It was updated in 2020. | |
| Valley of the Dodos | 2013 | An outdoor trail with animated Dodo figures that squawk. The story is that they hatched from eggs left by pirates! | |
| Crooked House | 1968 | A small walkthrough attraction with slanted floors and funny scenes that make you feel disoriented. It was completely redone in 2022 with new animated characters. | |
| Moby Dick's Revenge | 1974 | A giant whale that squirts water at visitors inside. It was moved and repainted in 2024. | |
| NurseryLand | 1974 | A wooded trail with scenes from nursery rhymes, many of them animated. You can see Humpty Dumpty, The Three Little Pigs, and more. There's also a wishing tree with musical pixies. | |
| Fairyland | 2011 | A Fairy Village area with the Fairy Castle, which shows scenes from the story of Sleeping Beauty. | |
| Snakes and Ladders | 1990 | A giant version of the board game built on a hillside, with steps leading to big slides. | |
| Captain Jack's | 1992 | A shop in Pirate Cove selling food, drinks, toys, and souvenirs. | |
| New Chimney Pot Walk | 2025 | A new walkthrough area featuring original chimney pots from an older attraction. | |
| Arcade | 2025 | A selection of coin-operated arcade games. | |
| Talking Rubbish Bins | 1990s | Rubbish bins shaped like faces that talk and ask you to put your trash in their mouths! | |
| Hall of Mirrors | 2016 (in present form) | This classic attraction has been at the park since 1933! It has mirrors that make you look funny. It moved to a new spot in 2016. | |
| Hedge Maze | 1963 | A large hedge maze where you can try to find your way out. There's a platform for people to watch and help. | |
| Giant Bug Walk | 2009 | A trail with huge models of insects and spiders. It also has an oversized garden shed with talking gnomes! | |
| Whale Museum | 2010 (in current form) | This exhibit features the park's original 19-meter-long whale skeleton, which has been on display since 1843! You can also find an old wooden wishing chair here. | |
| Chine Valley Gardens and Musical Bridge | 1987 | A short, pretty walkway through a natural stream. It includes a small bridge that plays peaceful music. | |
| The Disappearing Village Exhibition | 1994 | This exhibit shows the history of Blackgang's landslips using old photos and newspaper clippings. It also has a simulator room that makes you feel like you're in a landslide! |
Former Attractions
Many attractions at Blackgang Chine have changed or been removed over the years due to the moving land. Here are some of the past favorites:
| Attraction | Date opened | Date closed | Description | Image |
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| Chine Cliff Steps | 1843 | 1960s | These were steps that led down to the beach from the top of the cliff. They closed permanently due to coastal erosion. | |
| Jurassica Dinosaur Encounter | 2023 | 2023 | This was a seating area for interactive shows, located where Cliffhanger used to be. | |
| Pirate Bounty | ? | 2024 | A small arcade with a crane game to win soft toys. | |
| Chimney Pot Walk | mid 1960s | 2024 | A short walk featuring old chimney pots of different shapes. This area closed due to cliff erosion. | |
| Crackerjack Amusement Arcade | Unknown | 1980s | A small arcade that used to be at the front of the park. | |
| St Catherine's Quay | 1984 | 2016 | A maritime exhibit that showed a real lifeboat and other items related to the island's sea history. | |
| Cliffhanger | 2005 | 2022 | A rollercoaster that was once located very close to the cliff's edge. It reached 11 meters high before dropping and twisting. The ride was moved to Dreamland Margate in 2023. | |
| Aviaries | Unknown | 1980s | A small bird enclosure that was near the Model Village. | |
| Fort Buffalo | 1985 | 1989 | A large wooden play-fort with towers and rope swings. It was removed because of coastal erosion. | |
| Jungleland | 1978/9 | 2008 | A walkthrough attraction with lifesize fiberglass jungle animals and sounds. Some of these animals are now at Robin Hill. | |
| Adventureland | 1970 | 1986 | This area closed due to coastal erosion. It had old military vehicles and a replica of a spacecraft from a Disney movie. |
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| New Adventureland | 1986/87 | Unknown | This area replaced the original Adventureland after erosion. It featured a "Lunar Base" and play equipment. | |
| Smugglerland | 1978 | 2011 | This area had a play ship, a tree-top walk, and the 'Smugglers' Cave' with animated scenes about a shipwreck. It was moved and changed after landslides. |
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| Fantasyland | 1991 | 2016 | A themed area with attractions like 'The Weather Wizard' and 'The Angry Dragon'. This area was completely changed to become the 'Underwater Kingdom' in 2017. | |
| Dinosaurland | 1972 | 2013 | An outdoor trail with lifesize fiberglass dinosaurs. This area was updated to become 'Restricted Area 5' in 2014. | |
| Buffalo Creek | 1976 | 1994 | A full-size Wild West cowboy town with an Indian village. It was built by Pinewood Studios. Parts of it were moved uphill to become Cowboy Town after a landslide. | |
| The Triassic Club | 1994 | 2016 | An animated walkthrough attraction where talking dinosaurs invited you to join them for lunch. This area now holds the Mouth of Hell. |
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| Smugglers Cave | 1954 | 2016 | A themed walkthrough with animated displays telling the story of the Clarendon shipwreck. The empty inside of this cave now forms the entrance to the Underwater Kingdom. | |
| Fort Tortuga | 1997 | 2007 | A pirate-themed play area with slides and climbing nets. This area was replaced by 'The Wight Experience'. | |
| Rumpus Clock Tower | 1994 | 2005 | An animated clock tower where monsters and goblins appeared. Some parts of it can still be found in the park today. | |
| Water Gardens | 1962 | 2017 | A series of ponds, waterfalls, and fountains. They were partially redeveloped and then completely filled in due to being too close to the cliff edge. |
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| Floodlights | 1936 | early 2000s | Thousands of colored lights used to light up the gardens and pathways at night. | |
| Floodlights (LED) | 2015 | 2017/18 | A newer version of the floodlit evenings using modern LED lights. | |
| Butterfly Walk | 2008 | 2017 | A trail with larger-than-life butterflies. |  |
| Chine Cascade | unknown | 1970s | An area with a small waterfall and garden gnomes. It was lost to coastal erosion. | |
| Magical Music Factory | 2007 | unknown | A walk-in experience that only opened for a couple of seasons. | |
| Myths and Legends | 2001 | 2013 | A film show that told stories of local legends, including the Giant of Chale, smuggling, and shipwrecks. | |
| The Wight Experience / The Picture House | 2009 | 2017 | A film show with aerial views of the island from a helicopter. | |
| Gnomes Garden | 1934 | 2014 | A collection of garden gnomes doing daily chores. It was moved a few times and is now mostly in storage, though some gnomes can still be found in the park. | |
| Museum | 1958 | c1984 | This museum held items from shipwrecks, ships in bottles, and the giant whale skeleton. | |
| World of Timber / Blackgang Sawmill | 1981 | 2016 | An award-winning exhibit that told the story of timber in an old water mill setting. It had workshops, engines, and gardens. All its exhibits were removed in 2016. |
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| Castle | unknown | 1972 | A small square castle with a cannon inside. It was an early version of the Fairy Castle. | |
| Astro Glider / Orbiter V | 1987 | 1990 | A space rocket ship simulator that took you on a trip around the island and into space. It was removed due to high costs and safety rules. | |
| Model Village | 1953 | 1989 | A collection of models of famous buildings from around the Isle of Wight. It closed due to landslips. |
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| Stocks & Pillory | unknown | 2019 | A set of stocks and a pillory where visitors could take funny photos. They were removed from the park. | |
| Tornado | Never opened | 2004 (removed) | This ride was removed because it never passed the required safety tests. | |
| Bazaar / Ship Shop / Entrance | 1842 | 1988 | This was the original entrance and shop building, which was once the home of the park's founder. It was demolished in 1989 due to coastal erosion. | |
| BBC Coast | 2010 | 2015 | An exhibit based on the popular BBC TV show Coast. It explored the geology of Blackgang and the coastline. | |
| Bodger the Badger & Bronty the Brontosaurus. Mr Fox the Customs Officer. | 1990 | 2018 | These were park mascots who made special appearances. They made a final return for the park's 175th birthday in 2018. | |
| Shipwreck Collection | unknown | 1960s | A collection of cannons, bells, and other items salvaged from local shipwrecks. | |
| Baby Whale Skeleton | 1890s | late 1960s | A real baby whale skeleton that was displayed outdoors. It was removed after it broke down from being exposed to the weather. | |
| Mill Pond Gardens | 1980s | 2017 | A short walk around fish ponds and grassy areas behind the Blackgang Sawmill. | |
| Observatory Platform | 1960s | unknown | A tall metal observatory tower that was removed after landslips. It is now at Robin Hill park. | |
| Observatory Platform | unknown | 1980s | A white metal observatory located on top of one of the entrance buildings. It was removed due to coastal erosion. | |
| Observatory Platform and Talking Telescope Nursery Land | 1990s | 2025 | This lookout platform and talking telescope in Nursery Land were removed due to ongoing cliff erosion. |
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Park Updates and Changes
The park is always changing and adding new things!
In 2010, a new section called "Blackgang's Disappearing Village" opened. It was made with the BBC show Coast and told the story of the island's changing coastline. Part of this exhibit was later turned into the new Hall of Mirrors in 2016. The remaining part still has the park's original 19-meter-long whale skeleton and a simulator that makes you feel like you're in a landslide.
In 2011, a 'Fairy Land' area was created next to the Fairy Castle. The next year, the pirate ship play area was redesigned as 'Pirate Cove'. It got two new pirate ships and other themed buildings, including 'The Sailors Return' (now 'The Vortex'), which is a spinning tunnel that makes you feel dizzy.
'Restricted Area 5' opened in 2014. This was an updated version of the park's old 'Dinosaurland'. It has new animated dinosaurs that move and roar when you get close. Some of the original fiberglass dinosaurs are still there too.
In 2015, Cowboy Town was updated with new buildings and scenery. A family of animated Triceratops dinosaurs was also added to Restricted Area 5.
In 2016, 'The Triassic Club' attraction was removed. That area was then redeveloped to create a new, larger space for 'The Mouth of Hell'. This attraction is now surrounded by a new walkway with statues and spooky sounds.
For the opening of the 'Underwater Kingdom' attraction in 2017, the Fantasyland area was completely changed. Attractions like 'The Weather Wizard' and 'The Angry Dragon' were removed. The animated 'Smugglers Cave' walkthrough was also removed, and a new structure was built in its place to form the entrance to the 'Underwater Kingdom'.
As of 2018, the Water Gardens are no longer part of the park after 56 years. The area was demolished starting in 2016, and the last remaining ponds were filled in during the winter of 2017.
For the park's 2022 season, two new rides opened: a drop ride called 'Evolution' and a spinning boat ride named 'Shipwrecked'.
For the park's 2023 season and its 180th anniversary, a new 18-meter, 360-degree pendulum ride called "Extinction" opened.
In December 2023, Blackgang Chine opened its doors for the first time ever on selected dates for Christmas. It had a pop-up Christmas shop with decorations and gifts, but the main park attractions were not open to the public.
Accidents
- In summer 2022, the 'Shipwrecked' ride had a problem where its hydraulic arm collapsed while it was running. The park closed for the rest of the day, and the ride was closed while they investigated.
