Hidden Valley Discovery Park facts for kids
| Previously known as Tredidon Trails | |
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| Location | Tredidon, Launceston, Cornwall, England |
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| Coordinates | 50°38′13″N 4°26′7.2″W / 50.63694°N 4.435333°W |
| Opened | 1994 |
| Owner | Pete Jones |
| Operating season | April to October |
| Area | 60 acres (240,000 m2) |
| Website | www.hiddenvalleydiscoverypark.co.uk |
Hidden Valley Discovery Park is a fun place for families to visit in Cornwall, England. It's close to the town of Launceston. Pete Jones started this park in 1994. It began as a simple treasure hunt and a play area. Now, it has grown a lot! You can explore a "Forbidden Mansion" filled with mazes and exciting team treasure hunts. There's also a cool miniature railway that goes all around the park. About 11,000 people visit Hidden Valley every year!
Park History
Hidden Valley Discovery Park first opened in 1994. Back then, it was called Tredidon Trails. It only had a treasure hunt and a play area for kids. The park's founder, Pete Jones, studied engineering. He was inspired by a famous British engineer named Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Brunel built amazing bridges and railways.
Today, the park welcomes around 11,000 visitors each year. It offers several treasure hunt trails and fun mazes. The main entrance area looks like an old-fashioned pumping station. It has a restaurant and a gift shop.
The Forbidden Mansion
One of the main attractions is the Forbidden Mansion. This building looks like an old house from the Victorian era (a time in history from 1837 to 1901). But it's full of surprises! It has secret passages and even upside-down rooms. Inside the mansion, you can join different treasure hunts. Teams work together to find a special crystal. It's a bit like the TV show The Crystal Maze.
Miniature Railway
The park also has its own miniature railway. It's called the Porterswick Junction Light Railway. This tiny train line was built in 2002. It was made longer in 2003 to create a full loop of about 900 yards. The railway now goes over two bridges. It also has a shed for the engines and a special pit for checking them. Two locomotives (train engines) run on the track.
Our Locomotives
Here are the trains you might see at Hidden Valley:
| Type | Number | Name | Wheel Arrangement | Builder | Built Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | - | William | 0-6-0 | Frank Birchall | 2008 |
| Diesel | 01 | Albert | 0-4-0PH | Roanoke of Barnstaple | 1998 |
