A lost 'Wild West' theme park would have been high on the list of places to visit during the summer holidays for many a kid from Greater Manchester. Many will recall the now-defunct American Adventure theme park, which was just a few miles from the ever-popular Alton Towers.
Built in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, The American Adventure was an attraction popular during the '80s and '90s. Famous for its thrilling rides, the park rose from the ashes of another doomed themed park which had only lasted for 10 weeks.
In June 1985, Britannia Park theme park opened as a 'showcase of Britain'. But despite the massive fanfare of its initial launch, which included a spectacular Concorde flypast and a grand opening by boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper, the park went bankrupt just two months later.
READ MORE:The 'concrete washing machine' estate where Manchester's homeless wound up
READ MORE:A single day at Manchester Airport in the 1980s in candid photos
Derbyshire County Council purchased the land the Britannia Park had occupied in 1986 and sold it to Manchester-based Granada. Granada had also acquired the Camelot theme park around the same time, as well as launching the now-defunct Granada Studios theme park in Manchester in 1988.
Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and, Breaking News group by clicking this link
Unlike Granada's other theme parks, American Adventure boasted an Old West theme. And despite competing with nearby attractions like Alton Towers, American Adventure initially proved popular with its rollercoasters, thrill rides, and even its own town - Silver City, complete with a saloon - Lazy Lil's - that staged spectacular shootouts.
Some of the park's most unforgettable attractions included the Runaway Train, The Missile, and the Rocky Mountain Rapids. In 1989, the Wild West theme expanded to incorporate other aspects of North American culture and history, the Manchester Evening News previously reported.
Join our Greater Manchester history, memories and people Facebook group here.
This included a space-themed area, featuring The Missile roller coaster. This ride was officially inaugurated by Apollo 11 lunar-module pilot Buzz Aldrin and was voted the best roller coaster in the UK at that time.
Other notable attractions included the Water Rapids and Nightmare Niagara log flume, which had the highest drop of any in the country. There was also the enormous Flying Island which was launched by pop heart-throbs Boyzone.
Love Greater Manchester's past? Sign up to our new nostalgia newsletter and never miss a thing.
A 200ft roller coaster ride without tracks called The Skycoaster was also a must for thrill-seekers. It was the largest ride of its type in the world outside of the US and would propel its passengers, attached by a harness, at speeds of up to 80mph just a few feet from the ground before launching them skyward.
But, from 1996 onwards, the park began to experience a downturn, and in 1997, Granada sold it to Ventureworld. Despite efforts, the park's fortunes could not be reversed and it permanently closed its doors in 2006 with owners announcing in 2007 that it would not reopen and the rides would be sold off.
Months later, an auction containing a whopping 1,300 lots sold off items from the park including rides, props and outfits. Following its closure, the site became a vacant wasteland.
After years of standing derelict and abandoned, the land which once housed the resort, is now being developed into a housing estate. A petition to resurrect American Adventure had garnered over 10,000 signatures in 2018, as reported by the Derby Telegraph, but would prove unsuccessful.
Many M.E.N readers remember the Wild West themed attraction fondly. When we last ran a story on The American Adventure in 2022, people took to the comments on the M.E.N's Facebook page to share their memories.
Christine Apted said: "My children loved it there. They loved 'panning for gold'."
Jackie Dowler said: "Got videos of the days we went, especially the sling-shot which flew you through the air... such language coming from it, so funny!"
Sue Clements said: "Loved it here. The rapids had a sign saying 'you will get wet on this ride', and as you left, [it] said 'we warned you, didn't we?' It was the wettest ride I'd been on and [I] had been to all the UK parks."
Nick Johnson made a bold claim saying he "loved it," while adding he "preferred it to Alton Towers."
Alan Pinchbeck said: "Loved taking the children here in the '90s. Less queues than Alton Towers."
Meanwhile, Clyde Hog said: "Used to go to theme parks a lot back in the day. This place didn't have the rides of Alton Towers, but it was cheaper and often more fun."
Does The American Adventure theme park awaken any memories for you? Let us know in the comments section below.
