Blackpool Pleasure Beach (BPB) Discussion Thread

by **southpuddle** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 3:51 pm

Ed wrote:I'm mainly bummed about not being able to sit sideways now!

Wow. You're the kind of idiot these Health and Safety people go apeshit over and implement crazy rules that don't make your average guest any safer. Thanks.

by Ed » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:02 pm

^ And you're a dumbarse with no sense of humour.

verticalzero wrote:No coaster in England makes you lift / float out your seat.

Grand National, Irn-Bru, Big Dipper, Rita, Stealth.

Although it depends what you're defining "proper" airtime as. Personally it's as soon as my arse leaves the seat.

by **verticalzero** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:43 am

Looking nice with it's new paint-work, I wonder if the fish pond in the centre of the ride is getting cleaned and painted..

Updated Pic's below as from the end of March:

by **verticalzero** » Sat Apr 12, 2008 8:58 am

New Pic's as of 1st week April.

Looking good

But no confirmed date of when it re-opens.

by **vekoma_fan** » Sun Apr 13, 2008 5:08 am

Look so much better than last year, hehe

by **verticalzero** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:56 am

After a few years of being left to rust thanks to the Irish sea-salt, the Whip is finally being removed from the park. I never got to ride it.

1st was the "Turtle" and now it's the "Whip" turn to go. Both are "Classic" rides which should be saved at all costs.

This is 1 piece of BPB history Amanda (CEO of BPB) should not destroy.

How many "operational" versions are there left..? Kennywood...

Some sad pictures below:

Photos From BPB Guide Forums <- Please click for even more info.

Youtube · by **robbalvey** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 1:10 am

While it might be a bummer that this old ride is going, like it or not, it has been a trend in the amusement business lately to "retire" older flat rides that have a lot of wear and tear on them, or rides where the parts are harder to come by.

For example, Magic Mountain just removed 5 flats this year, some of them over 30 years old. How many of the first generation Free Falls are left now? Etc, etc...

And if I remember correctly, hasn't this ride not run in about 10 years? Last time I remember seeing it operate was in 1999. I can only imagine the cost of rehabbing a nearly 100 year old ride that has sat idle for 10 years.

Sure, it's not going to be a popular decision by a lot of us theme park enthusiasts, but I saw this one coming a long time ago. Just be happy that parks like Kennywood, Dorney, Lakemont, and Knoebel's still run theirs today.

--Robb

by **Purplepills** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 2:39 am

Where I can see why people would like to see old rides saved, I think you have to accept that times do move on, the ride has served its purpose and run the course of it's life. As Robb said, the amount of money required to rehab something like this and keep it running is probably very high, and if it's been sat idle for several years then why not retire it? Unfortunately nostalgia and old rides probably don't sell tickets as much as the more modern thrill/family rides that will appeal to newer generations of visitors.

At the end of the day the park is a business, and they have to do what is in the park's interests. They still have several old rides and obviously intend keeping some of them for quite some time, hence the rehab of the wild mouse and suchlike.

Facebook · by **Gsus** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:06 am

Am I right in thinking that this, along with the turtle, where acquisitioned for the proposed heritage park at Margate?

by **jamesdillaman** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:57 am

While it's sad to see any old ride go, at least the one near me (Kennywood) is still operating...

-James Dillaman

Blackpool Pleasure Beach (BPB) Discussion Thread

Whip at BPB finally being dismantled

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