Wicksteed Park.

[jonthefox]

Gone into administration . I had many happy memories as a kid there, and took my kids often. I can't help but think that lack of investment over the years has been it's downfall. 

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/one-of-britain-s-oldest-theme-parks-goes-into-administration-because-of-coronavirus/ar-BB15zDts?ocid=spartan-dhp-feeds

[Izzy]

What a shame. I too spent many a happy time there as a kid 

[isaidno]

Uses to go when I was a kid. Don't think it's changed since the 1980's.

[Dr The Singh]

[StanSP]

That's a shame  

 

That bitch Carole Baskin better not be to blame for this!

[Strokes]

Shame, I loved it as a kid and took my kids recently. It’s lacked investment though and was more like a fair than a theme park.

[Tuna]

Must admit I'd never been. Anyone remember American Adventure?

[Julian Joachim Jr Shabadoo]

5 minutes ago, Tuna said:

Must admit I'd never been. Anyone remember American Adventure?

Used to love that place, the Big Missile and log flume were fantastic and the whole thing actually had a theme too. Shame it couldn't keep up with the competition

 

As for Wicksteed, I went a few years back and they hadn't really done anything with it in the last 20 years since I'd been last. It's alright for little kids but not worth a day out, and the price for admission isn't much less than proper theme parks with rides for adults and younger kids

[Paninistickers]

I love it.  A real throwback. Went back about 3/4 years ago for the first time since childhood and loved it. Been back every summer since

 

Unique really.. just a public park anyone can rock up to and have a picnic....then get some vouchers for rides

 

Random banal trivia: I saw Fuchs there with his wife and kids.

[CosbehFox]

The park will remain open as it’s part of a charitable trust. 

[foxile5]

43 minutes ago, Tuna said:

Must admit I'd never been. Anyone remember American Adventure?

Had that mint Alien ride for a bit. Great fun. 

[Bob666]

Fell off a slide in 1972 & have supported City ever since - could have been worse with either the Poppies or Cobblers 

[The Quick Brown Fox]

I live just down the road from it and went regularly as a kid. I have a Friend that I used to go with alot as kids, he went on a holiday to skeggy and went on a mystery tour. The trip was to Wicksteeds park. To say his family were miffed is an understatement 😬.

Such a shame, I hope they get took over and continue to function, I want my kids to get the same memories I got.

[The Syrup]

On the plus side, Twinlakes in Melton reopens in a few weeks. Admittedly it's no American Adventure or Wicksteed Park though.

[Vlad the Fox]

Have I read it right. They’ve formed a new company to run it and are keeping the play park picnic areas open. And are then hoping to open again fully next spring for the centenary year?

 

I went as a kid but haven’t been for years. Then last year my daughter was playing footy in Northampton so we planned on going after the match but the weather was cold, wet and windy so we didn’t bother. Hopefully it’ll open up again and once more I can go on the log flume and show the kids the joy of standing at the bottom of it hoping for a soaking  

[Crinklyfox]

I feel like part of my childhood just died.  I used to look forward to the special occasions when my parents took me to Wicksteed Park for the day.  And the little golf course there was my first experience of the game.

[lcfc278]

I took my little boy here a year or so ago, absolutely loved going on the go kart track and feeling like Lewis Hamilton when speeding past some 7-year olds.

[Christoph]

Didn't do much to upgrade and modernise. It was fine for little children but anyone past the age of 11 is probably going to find the park a little boring. 

[Voll Blau]

Very sad. Family still tell the story every Christmas of how I got stuck with my grandad on the pedal ride there as a toddler.

[RoboFox]

Awh, man. Like many of us, I used to love going there in the summer with my grandparents and cousins. Felt like just the best place.

 

I haven't been since probably about 1997, but looking online there's a number of rides remarkably still going strong. However many of the ones aimed at older kids / adults seem to have been removed and never replaced.

 

Anyone remember the Nautic Jets? Assuming they were demolished, but they were basically a sledge on a ramp and not at all safe.

 

The awesome double pirate ship seems to have been sold a few years ago. The vomit-inducing Rotor ride disappeared. I think there was a large paddle steamer-type boat on the lake at some point, too.

 

Didn't they also manufacture playground equipment?

 

[nnfox]

It is sad to hear about this.  I have really fond memories of the park and enjoyed an afternoon there last year with family.

 

The ejaculating penis island in the lake was genius landscaping.

 

[FoxesDeb]

24 minutes ago, RoboFox said:

Awh, man. Like many of us, I used to love going there in the summer with my grandparents and cousins. Felt like just the best place.

 

I haven't been since probably about 1997, but looking online there's a number of rides remarkably still going strong. However many of the ones aimed at older kids / adults seem to have been removed and never replaced.

 

Anyone remember the Nautic Jets? Assuming they were demolished, but they were basically a sledge on a ramp and not at all safe.

 

The awesome double pirate ship seems to have been sold a few years ago. The vomit-inducing Rotor ride disappeared. I think there was a large paddle steamer-type boat on the lake at some point, too.

 

Didn't they also manufacture playground equipment?

 

The paddle steamer was called the Mississippi if I remember correctly. 

I was brought up in Kettering so spent many an hour at Wickys. I remember when we got the double pirate ship it was the only one of its kind. There was a boat that used to go down a ramp into a pond held on by a rope but I can't remember what it was called. 

 

I also went to my first dinner dance at the pavilion there, I would have been about 15. It was my best friends brothers work do, and I was drafted in as his plus one. I remember having no idea what to order to drink, so I went for cinzano and lemonade, it was the only thing I could think of! 

 

Wicksteed was a really popular brand of playground equipment, no idea if they still manufacture it or not. 

 

So many memories 

[srbfox]

13 hours ago, Tuna said:

Must admit I'd never been. Anyone remember American Adventure?

Hold up, when did American Adventure Shut?

[RoboFox]

19 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

The paddle steamer was called the Mississippi if I remember correctly. 

 

That's the one. It would operate in the same area as the rowing boats, and I can recall kids playing "chicken" with it. It's no wonder it was removed once parks became a bit more safety-conscious.

 

Doesn't seem to be much of an online record of it existing online apart from this picture.

 

 

[The Syrup]

9 minutes ago, srbfox said:

Hold up, when did American Adventure Shut?

About 2007 I think. All the buildings and rides were demolished but the site remains. Can be seen on Google Earth