Pleasurewood Hills facts for kids
| Previously known as New Pleasurewood Hills | |
Pleasurewood Hills ski lift, in the 1990s
|
|
| Location | Lowestoft, Suffolk |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°30′25″N 1°44′40″E / 52.50707°N 1.74443°E |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | 1983 |
| Owner | Looping Group |
| Area | 24 ha |
Pleasurewood Hills is a fun theme park located near Lowestoft, Suffolk. It covers a large area of about 59 acres (24 hectares). The park is a great place for families to enjoy exciting rides and attractions.
Contents
Park History and Changes
Pleasurewood Hills first opened in 1983. It was started by Joe Larter as a small park with an American theme. Back then, it had a miniature railway, a special movie theater called Cine 180, and an adventure playground. Over the years, the park grew bigger and added more fun attractions.
In the mid-1990s, a famous TV presenter named Noel Edmonds helped change the park's Haunted Theatre. It became Crinkley Bottom Castle. Characters like Mr Blobby also visited the park, making it even more popular.
The park changed owners a few times. In 2000, Peter and Peggy Hadden, who knew the park well, bought it. They changed its name to New Pleasurewood Hills. Later, in 2004, a French company called Grévin & Cie took over. They changed the name back to Pleasurewood Hills.
The new owners invested a lot of money to make the park better. They repainted rides and gave them new names. A big new ride, Wipeout, was added in 2007. This was the park's first roller coaster that goes upside down!
In 2011, the park was sold to a new company called Looping Group. They bought seven parks across Europe, including Pleasurewood Hills. This new ownership brought even more exciting changes. They added five new attractions in 2012 and four more in 2013.
Exciting Roller Coasters
Pleasurewood Hills has several thrilling roller coasters for you to enjoy.
Marble Madness
- Opened: 2014
- Marble Madness is a "wild mouse" style roller coaster. It has sharp turns and drops, but the cars do not spin. This coaster used to be at another park called Flamingo Land Resort.
Wipeout
- Opened: 2007
- Wipeout is the biggest roller coaster in the area. Riders are pulled backwards 34 meters (112 feet) into the air. Then, they are released to speed up to 50 miles per hour! You will go through three loops and then do it all again backwards. You need to be at least 1.3 meters (4 feet 3 inches) tall to ride.
Cannonball Express
- Opened: 1995
- This roller coaster has been known by a few names, including 'Enigma'. In 2017, it went back to its original name, 'Cannonball Express'. It is a unique ride, being the only one of its kind made by the company Schwarzkopf. You need to be at least 1.25 meters (4 feet 1 inch) tall to ride.
Egg-Spress
- Opened: 1986
- This ride has also had several names, like 'Ladybird' and 'Rattlesnake'. It closed for repairs in 2016 but reopened in 2019 as 'Egg-Spress'. Children need to be at least 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) tall to ride with an adult, or 1.25 meters (4 feet 1 inch) to ride alone.
Thrilling Rides
Besides roller coasters, the park has other exciting rides.
Hyper Drive
- Opened: 2015
- This is a classic dodgem ride, where you can bump into other cars.
The Jolly Roger
- Opened: 2012
- The Jolly Roger is a tall drop tower. It lifts you 131 feet (40 meters) high. Then, it drops you at 60 miles per hour in less than a second! You must be at least 1.4 meters (4 feet 7 inches) tall to ride.
Fireball
- Opened: 2004
- Fireball is a spinning pendulum ride. It swings you high into the air while also spinning around. It was previously called Wizzy Dizzy. You need to be at least 1.4 meters (4 feet 7 inches) tall to ride.
Fun Water Rides
Cool off and have a splash on these water rides!
Water Fun Factory
- Opened: 1992
- This is a log flume ride that is 235 meters (771 feet) long. It has been known as 'White Water Falls' and 'Timber Falls'. In 2020, it was updated with new decorations and renamed Water Fun Factory. You need to be at least 1.25 meters (4 feet 1 inch) tall, unless an adult is with you.
Wavebreaker
- Opened: 1996
- Wavebreaker is a two-lane slide where you ride down in a dinghy.
Other Rides to Enjoy
There are many other rides for all ages at Pleasurewood Hills.
- Safari (1984): A gentle ride in vintage cars on a themed track.
- Small Train (1984): A small railway with three carriages, seating about 15-20 people.
- Big Train / Suffolk Punch (1984): A larger railway with three carriages and benches, seating about 30 people.
- Shiver m' Timbers (1985): A swinging pirate ship ride. You need to be at least 1 meter (3 feet 3 inches) tall with an adult, or 1.3 meters (4 feet 3 inches) alone.
- Chair Lift (1987): A chairlift that takes guests from one side of the park to the other.
- Woody's Driving School (1995): Another fun dodgems ride.
- Double Deck Carousel (2001): A two-story carousel.
- Kite Flyer (2004): A ride where you lie down and spin around. You need to be at least 1.05 meters (3 feet 5 inches) tall.
- Balloon Rays (2004): A hot air balloon-themed ride that spins. You need to be at least 0.9 meters (2 feet 11 inches) tall.
- Woody's Funky Flyers (2008): A plane-themed ride that spins.
- The Pleasurewood Pony Rail (2012): A gentle ride on a pony track.
- The Lighthouse (2012): A children's lift and drop tower ride.
- Moby Dick (2013): A flat ride shaped like a whale.
- Pleasurewood Paddlers (2013): Pedal boats you can use on the park's lake.
- Woody's Tea Party (2013): A small tea cup ride.
- Waveswinger (2016): A classic swing ride that spins you around in the air.
- Rootin Tootin Target Trail (2017): A dark ride where you shoot targets with a laser. It's a family-friendly ride.
Past Rides of the Park
Some rides that were once at Pleasurewood Hills are no longer there.
Tales of the Coast
- Opened: 1983
- Closed: 2016
- This was a boat ride through a cave. It told ghost stories and local legends using special effects and figures. The ride was removed because it was very old.
Hobs Pit
- Opened: 2013
- Closed: 2017
- Hobs Pit was an indoor ride that was known for being very intense. It was replaced with the 'Rootin' Tootin' Target Trail' to make the park more focused on family fun.
The Tide Traveller
- Opened: 2005
- Closed: 2017
- This ride was previously called Thunderstruck. It was a spinning ride that used to lift up. After 2014, the lifting part stopped working, and it operated as a regular spinning ride for a few more years.
Images for kids
-
Woody Bear, the park's mascot.
