It'll be a real shame if it doesn't re-open. Classic dark water rides like this are fantastic, Around the World in 80 days used to be one of my favourites at Towers when I was a kid and River Caves gives me similar vibes. Along with Ghost Train and Alice, River Caves should never be removed, but given the season PB are having nothing is impossible sadly.
They should have kept the the goldmine too loved how river caves and goldmine both used to come out into the public restaurant area and you could wave to everyone, just greed now the current owner will learn the hard way
As for the PR side of things. We don't need them to make an immediate statement, but they do need to tell us before the start of 2025 season what their long terms plans are for it.
Not sure if I've mentioned this before on your channel Scott. Back in the early to mid 1980's I remember the River Caves being crafted into its current flavour from the old version. I distinctly remember being at the Pleasure Beach one day whist on Holiday and there was a workman jumping up and down on the water wheel trying to get it turning with no success. Its going to be interesting to see what happens here. Thanks for another great video.
For me it would be a new facade and refresh of the old scenes but wouldn't like to see new scenes as i love what they have and would hate to see i full re-theme.
Pleasure Beach can be their own worst enemy at times by not communicating with the public. That's how the rumour mill starts going into overdrive. Treat them mean, keep them keen must be their motto. I always find that when they say 'Waiting on Parts', what they really mean is - mothballed and consigned to the scrapheap. I've cancelled my planned visits this month and in September because of the rides that are closed. I'll try again next summer if the park gets its act together. 😞
I'll be giving the place a miss while River Caves is shut. Hopefully they can get ready by next season. Personally, I hope it gets refurbished and re-imagined. If I was a betting man I think it will reopen in the summer of 2026.
I completely agree with you Scott with what you think will happen to the river caves. I think pleasure beach are being quite silly with the lack of information they are releasing about the closed attractions. Yes they don't have to tell us everything but the attitude that the management have taken has been quite appalling and of they are not careful will start to turn guests away. I go back to someones statement earlier in the year with don't ask. Without guests then there is no park. As for what I'd like to see happen is a complete refurb of the river caves and replace iceblast with a different flat ride and with all the space round there possibly a couple of flat rides. Make the most out of the area.
The comments in March were unjustified, us fans ask questions and speculate because we’re interested in the park. We may seem like nuisances but it’s never the intention to be one.
@@yourexperienceguide See, this is where I completely disagree. The Flying Machines, for example, should be preserved for as long as possible and Pleasure Beach should never be allowed to demolish it. However, I think they should be allowed to donate it or move it elsewhere to other organizations for safe keeping. No new thrill ride is worth more than preserving historic contraptions such as this.
@@teachtoolThey’re not a museum. Noah’s Ark is listed which means they’ve got a tired old building full of bird poo over their park entrance. It’d be better remembered as it was not how it is now.
That’s pleasure beach fault for not cleaning and maintaining it properly I agree with certain listed rides 100% otherwise the charm and nostalgia which attracts people over and over will fade away and will just become another faceless cooperation, can you imagine no big dipper or Alice in wonderland etc slowly becoming that allready disgusting they don’t allow non riders in either even charge a fee like they used to and might bring back more atmosphere to it
They missed that trick when they reimagined the Goldmine!! That would have been a better option for the indy theme, I remember as a kid imagining I was indiana Jones when going on this ride in the eighties😁
The likelihood is the area is slowly being rundown. This might be because the owners have different plans. they are not really spending much money anymore and in the post pandemic with towns like Blackpool slowly getting worse you would really fear for the future.
It all boils down to bad management, the amount of rides that have fallen into dis repair all at the same time is an insult to Amanda's parents and grandparents who helped build the the park up to what it used to be. If the ice rink or hotels needed repairs they would be done straight away, she has got here priorities completely wrong.
I remember going to BPL pleasure beach in 2020 and this ride was very unique to me and instantly sold me on the park and it's appeal. Sad it's gone for now?
I would like to see new boats, and just a spruce up and modernisation of inside. As for ice blast I would like them to work with S&S to come up with a new experience or even get the uk’s tallest ride by installing a sky jump
Your thoughts the infusion wheel flying off when it got back in the station and nearly hitting a woman the head. That paired with other things like the shaft snapping mid ride on w&g is starting to make me worried to go pleasure beach
Good video as always, I’ve heard multiple rumours like the ones mentioned in this video as well as one which said River Caves is closed because the roof caved in? I don’t believe there is much weight to that one as if that were to have happened it would likely have caused disruption to Wallace & Gromit. Like you said in the video, I also believe that it will either never reopen full stop or reopen following a major refurbishment like Valhalla did.
I think just getting it open as a working heritage ride will be enough really - if a complete refurb/retheme would cost millions I’d rather see that invested elsewhere in the park. Going big on the coaster in the Grand Prix space would attract more visitors I think?
I agree a re-theme would be cool, it would be a shame to lose the original version but at least it had a good run, and it would mean it doesn’t have to just lie dormant or close altogether. At any rate I really wish the park would just be more transparent about what’s going on with it.
Pleasure Beach major fail is charging full ticket prices and not allowing the ‘walkers’ even £10 which it used to be (still think that’s too much) would allow the grandparents, parents and general non riders to come along with riders and put money into the food/arcades/stalls….huge mistake I feel
Was there today .. river caves is one of are favorite rides..totally agree with the re imagining. Make it more of a family friendly version of valhalla .. could add an extra few foot to the drop at the end.. it could be called RIVER CAVES around the world in 80 days.
@@Deli_And_Bestie yea I seen them testing in the morning .. was expecting It to open in the afternoon but it just never did.. we try to go once a year so very disappointed
Its a bit of a catch 22 for PB, if they revamp it like you suggest with Sally dark rides (I think thats what you said), then its likely to cost millions, bearing in mind they have the unexpected expense of the playstation / ice blast ride which has probably gone end of life and will need removed. There is two rides which weren't budgeted for that need replaced / major work done, as well as the commitment to replace Grand Prix with something. Grand prix wasn't the highest throughput or most reliable of rides but its footprint is quite significant so it may of been on the drawing board for replacement however when it failed they took the deciscion to offer one more go, wit hthe repairs being offset by the seperate ticket price (to be honest how many of us would of jumped at the chance to have one final ride on the wild mouse) and the cost of repairs was partially met by the £50 ticket price for those wanting one more go. PB could of kept Grand Prix open for the season but then there is the risk of running rides that out of manufacturer support, if something were to happen then they find themselves not covered under their liability insurance. Finally when we talk about financials at PB, we don't mention the suppliers - keeping old rides going just isn't cost effective for them and the staff that did know these systems will be retiring, i've seen thisquite often so it makes sense for someone high up in the vendor to say we are discontinuing support for this ride system, we recommed that you replace it. P.S. PB should be more transparent regarding the issues its facing
They need to be reinvesting, it’s not and never has been a museum. They’ve made it clear they’re not “relying on their history or heritage” anymore so things like this are a good chance to modernise an existing attraction without binning it.
@@yourexperienceguide no one mentioned it being a museum, buts it's not simple to have the funds needed to upgrade / replace multiple rides in consecutive years.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach just needs to come back to life now a lot of ppl will still have much love for the park but i have seen that how the park is right now with its rides capability a hand lot off ppl can easy get the park done within 3-4 hrs from opening times but i am hoping that with the new Intimin Gyro swing ride! coming soon it mat boost up and shed some light back in to the park
Maybe it’s going to be another hotel 😉 Would be sad to see it not reopen as I love the ride. Fond memories especially when it met the Gold Mine and the cafe, which underpins how close it is to the Thrillomaric.
Maybe its just cheaper to keep it closed. With the River caves, ice blast, grand prix and dodgems closed imagine how much money they are saving on electricity. Without reducing ticket prices.
That side of the park just looks in a sorry state with so much gone. Lines have been very heavy during school trips and the start of the holidays but it doesn’t seem to be due to excessive crowds more a lack of attractions that once filled the park making it ride intensive plus attractions SBNO and the inability to meet capacity. They really need to have some urgency to get these attractions open.
I'm beginning to think the writing's on the wall for BPB. The place looks scruffy and run down in places , much like Blackpool itself, rides are dropping like flies and it's a massive mistake not to have a non rider ticket option. If things don't rapidly improve I'll give the place two to three years at most, and, if by some miracle BPB is still open 5 years from now, that (subject to it being green lighted) would be when Universal GB is scheduled to open in Bedfordshire, and for people like me who live in the Midlands, kind of half way between BPB and Universal GB which way do you think we'll be heading...North or South?....Here's a clue, it won't be North!
To have one ride closed throughout the season is bad enough, but to have 2 rides closed is disgraceful. BPB is dying slowly and needs massive investment. River caves needs attention or taken away. Personally, I don't think Amanda Thompson cares enough about this historic ride.
I simply don't understand why PB aren't saying anything, it's really strange. It would be good for them to refurb, but like you say it'll be expensive and with whatever is going where Grand Prix is can they afford it. It's not been busy any time I've been this year so not a lot of money around I'd say. Ice Blast inthink they should convert to a shot and drop
I’m in that dilemma too and would normally defend it myself, however for me personally I probably would renew my pass for 2025 for the sole purpose of having more of an opportunity to go to parks like Europa Park & Liseberg, even if I wasn’t to go to Pleasure Beach at all you still get one free visit to Liseberg, Europa Park, Portaventura, Emerald Park & Isla Magica.
Normally I would defend the Pleasure Beach but agree it has been awful this year. Not sure it is worth the renewal cost as I don't go to parks abroad x
@@bevking5787 In that regard I suppose it’s subjective whether or not you can deem it worth renewing your season pass, if you don’t travel abroad nor think Pleasure Beach has been that good this year then it’s understandable to not want to renew a season pass for 2025, especially with no update regarding issues with the park such as what’s happening with Ice Blast or River Caves. All we got was a passive aggressive tweet at the start of the season saying “the play station or as you all call it the ice blast. That will be operating later this season we are awaiting parts. So stop guessing and listening to ridiculous rumours. I know the facts” A professional up to date statement would be much appreciated but I doubt we’ll get one unfortunately.
I’m a keen Theme Park goer. My family have motion sickness issues however so roller-coasters can be challenging. Because of this, BPB is the only major UK theme park I’ve visited. Because it’s the only UK theme park that has any sort of decent selection of Dark Rides. I’ve spent tens of thousands visiting California, Florida, France, Spain and even Hong Kong Theme Parks. (Sesame) Street Mission (by Sally Dark Rides) at PortAventura in Spain is my favourite interactive Dark Ride in the world. This is coincidentally what I believe BPB needs most. Like every Uk theme park - it has coasters. An abundance of them. It does not need more coasters. Neither does Alton Towers. If UK theme parks want to compete on an international stage, they need to stop building roller coaster after roller coaster and start building entertaining world class dark rides. Trackless Dark Rides like Rise of the Resistance. Kuka arm rides like Forbidden Journey or Knight Flight. Interactive dark rides like Street Mission, Web Slingers or Knotts Beary Tales. Hell, even flying theatres. There’s only one of those in the UK. The most visited theme parks in the world are Disney ones and people aren’t going to those for coasters. They’re going for IP based Dark Rides. Turning the river caves into an interactive dark ride would be a great idea. If Gullivers Valley in South Yorkshire can manage an interactive firing ride, I’m sure BPB can. River caves could make a great one.
Pleasure Beach have built one new roller coaster in 30 years, so they absolutely need to be putting 2 or 3 new coasters in, either in the dead spaces they’ve got or to replace some of the existing rides. I’d not complain at them getting a new dark ride, but certainly wouldn’t prioritise them over coasters.
I do think that the river caves will reopen hopefully this year. As you mentioned I do not think it will close as it would be a logistical nightmare trying to replace it and a empty ride would not look good it looks pretty sad right now being closed.They are photos on social media of staff cleaning the ride which would suggest it is not going to close and that there has been some major issue with it since opening weekend. As the ride is coming up 120 years old next year I imagine it must have been a nightmare if they need parts etc to fix it. I love the river caves as it is and all the scenes but it would be fantastic to see the facade given some TLC as well as some maintenance inside the ride. With a Gyro swing confirmed to go in the park there is certainly new things coming by the looks of it and the park is ready to spend again so with that said I will definitely renew for next season. I did ask the park when it would reopen a while ago and they said they did not know and would communicate as and when but I agree that it would be good to know even whether it will reopen this year.
@@yourexperienceguide I think the fact that workers have been seen cleaning on the outside of it and a rumour online that they have found where the leak is and are looking into it means that they are going to fix it and it will hopefully reopen soon. I doubt the park want the ride closed and it is going nowhere IMO this looks like it has been a major issue and has taken a long time to fix
@@jackhodgson8605 They used to clean RollerCoaster’s station when it was SBNO. Doubt anyone wants it to be closed, and it won’t be removed (said this in the video), but also doubt it’ll reopen this year.
Just to add, Amanda Thompson has crazy hotel ideas at the top of her list, so it's really looking bleak regarding river caves. If she had any respect for all the people that pay stupid prices to enter BPB, she would at least put out a statement to say what her intentions are regarding the park.
Don’t think we will be renewing our season passes. The park has felt like a real let down this year. Lack of updates about rides or forthcoming plans for the park. We have had season passes for quite a few years but can’t justify the same price as last year or more if they put up the cost with the lack of rides, poor communication and the shorter opening hours.
Structure, enclosure & layout is already there. So should cost a fraction of the cost of a brand new ride - " providing they don't attempt to do anything too clever aka Vallhalla with it. 🌊
I'd love to see River caves back open next season it's upsetting to see that and ice blast SBNO Amanda Thompson needs to just explain to us what's going on I feel sorry for everyone who's brought a annual pass this year tbh
@@yourexperienceguide true... but it should leave some classics alone in memory of peoples childhoods.......magic mountain....lost......alice in wonderland...and ...river caves...... just them three gems........ but.... some people have no sentiment.
look what they did in the past... got rid of a Gem...... the magic mountain ride.....the history that ride had....1932..... and they replaced with that boring dora rubbish..... the magic mountain ride had charm and character...... so if they could do that.....who knows the fate of river caves.???...... if they close another Gem down like river caves...well.... it will be an outrage......
I certainly hope that they give it a reimagining!🤞🤞🤞🙏🙏🙏 If there is any dark ride that needs money spent on it even before it closed it’s the river caves. I hope they would still have the waterfalls in the dinosaur season though!
@@yourexperienceguide oh absolutely, I just mean that’s the one feature that should stay whatever they do with that scene, everything else if it’s done to a high standard and no budget cuts then should be great🙂
Just an idea, how about turn into Charlie and the chocolate factory river ride, make the water brown, keep the same layout but completely transform the inside to a complete magical experience
River Caves remains the best family ride on the park its vital they reopen it
The River Caves is an enchanting experience. The eighth wonder and one of the few reasons I still feel drawn to Pleasure Beach.
If pleasure beach aren’t careful, it will end up like it’s sister park in Morecambe.
So terrible went last season polo rower abandoned
That’d be awful
@@Lee-o8fI thought the tower had been demolished a few years ago now?
@@ridetechnicalpolo tower has been gone for years as you say, the Frontierland plot is still empty however but there’s no trace of
The lack of communication from BPB is incredibly frustrating
Definitely
It is frustrating
Why dont they reopen the cafe that overlooked the river caves and the goldmine used to go past....I really miss that to be honest.
They can’t, they repurposed the space
It'll be a real shame if it doesn't re-open. Classic dark water rides like this are fantastic, Around the World in 80 days used to be one of my favourites at Towers when I was a kid and River Caves gives me similar vibes.
Along with Ghost Train and Alice, River Caves should never be removed, but given the season PB are having nothing is impossible sadly.
I’m hopeful they’ll get it back up and running
They should have kept the the goldmine too loved how river caves and goldmine both used to come out into the public restaurant area and you could wave to everyone, just greed now the current owner will learn the hard way
As much as those boats are unbearably uncomfortable, it's a wonderful little dark ride and I hope to see it operate again soon.
As for the PR side of things. We don't need them to make an immediate statement, but they do need to tell us before the start of 2025 season what their long terms plans are for it.
They don't need to tell you anything.
@@richardwilliams4900Why not?
Pass holders don’t *need* to renew if BPB won’t confirm if all these closed rides will be back in action.
Not sure if I've mentioned this before on your channel Scott. Back in the early to mid 1980's I remember the River Caves being crafted into its current flavour from the old version. I distinctly remember being at the Pleasure Beach one day whist on Holiday and there was a workman jumping up and down on the water wheel trying to get it turning with no success.
Its going to be interesting to see what happens here. Thanks for another great video.
Interesting stuff thank you 🙏
For me it would be a new facade and refresh of the old scenes but wouldn't like to see new scenes as i love what they have and would hate to see i full re-theme.
In the video I mentioned along the lines of keeping the same vibe and theme but modernising the scenes.
Pleasure Beach can be their own worst enemy at times by not communicating with the public. That's how the rumour mill starts going into overdrive. Treat them mean, keep them keen must be their motto. I always find that when they say 'Waiting on Parts', what they really mean is - mothballed and consigned to the scrapheap. I've cancelled my planned visits this month and in September because of the rides that are closed. I'll try again next summer if the park gets its act together. 😞
That’s the thing, if they communicate with us all then people will stop asking and move onto the next subject 😅
I'll be giving the place a miss while River Caves is shut. Hopefully they can get ready by next season. Personally, I hope it gets refurbished and re-imagined. If I was a betting man I think it will reopen in the summer of 2026.
That’d not be a bad thing if they let everyone know beforehand
I completely agree with you Scott with what you think will happen to the river caves. I think pleasure beach are being quite silly with the lack of information they are releasing about the closed attractions. Yes they don't have to tell us everything but the attitude that the management have taken has been quite appalling and of they are not careful will start to turn guests away. I go back to someones statement earlier in the year with don't ask. Without guests then there is no park. As for what I'd like to see happen is a complete refurb of the river caves and replace iceblast with a different flat ride and with all the space round there possibly a couple of flat rides. Make the most out of the area.
The comments in March were unjustified, us fans ask questions and speculate because we’re interested in the park. We may seem like nuisances but it’s never the intention to be one.
I'm surprised it's not listed like other older attractions at the pleasure beach. It's certainly older than most of the other listed ones.
In my opinion no rides should be listed
@@yourexperienceguide See, this is where I completely disagree. The Flying Machines, for example, should be preserved for as long as possible and Pleasure Beach should never be allowed to demolish it. However, I think they should be allowed to donate it or move it elsewhere to other organizations for safe keeping. No new thrill ride is worth more than preserving historic contraptions such as this.
@@teachtoolThey’re not a museum. Noah’s Ark is listed which means they’ve got a tired old building full of bird poo over their park entrance. It’d be better remembered as it was not how it is now.
That’s pleasure beach fault for not cleaning and maintaining it properly I agree with certain listed rides 100% otherwise the charm and nostalgia which attracts people over and over will fade away and will just become another faceless cooperation, can you imagine no big dipper or Alice in wonderland etc slowly becoming that allready disgusting they don’t allow non riders in either even charge a fee like they used to and might bring back more atmosphere to it
it's a fave ride for many people and holds many memories if it is to be reimagined an indiana jones style ride would go down well.....
Hopefully it doesn’t stay closed for good
They missed that trick when they reimagined the Goldmine!! That would have been a better option for the indy theme, I remember as a kid imagining I was indiana Jones when going on this ride in the eighties😁
Don’t think they have anywhere near the cash for a Lucasfilm licensed rebrand 😂
Snake River Falls at Cedar Point is closing after this summer. Something planned for that area.
Hopefully they get a high capacity water ride
The likelihood is the area is slowly being rundown. This might be because the owners have different plans. they are not really spending much money anymore and in the post pandemic with towns like Blackpool slowly getting worse you would really fear for the future.
It all boils down to bad management, the amount of rides that have fallen into dis repair all at the same time is an insult to Amanda's parents and grandparents who helped build the the park up to what it used to be. If the ice rink or hotels needed repairs they would be done straight away, she has got here priorities completely wrong.
I remember going to BPL pleasure beach in 2020 and this ride was very unique to me and instantly sold me on the park and it's appeal. Sad it's gone for now?
It has been closed since March sadly with no communication as to why or the future of it
I hope it comes back and has a refurb. It is poor on the parks park with the lack of communication.
The lack of communication is frustrating
I would like to see new boats, and just a spruce up and modernisation of inside. As for ice blast I would like them to work with S&S to come up with a new experience or even get the uk’s tallest ride by installing a sky jump
Agreed
Your thoughts the infusion wheel flying off when it got back in the station and nearly hitting a woman the head. That paired with other things like the shaft snapping mid ride on w&g is starting to make me worried to go pleasure beach
I’d prefer not to speak about this publicly
@@yourexperienceguide why not?
Good video as always, I’ve heard multiple rumours like the ones mentioned in this video as well as one which said River Caves is closed because the roof caved in? I don’t believe there is much weight to that one as if that were to have happened it would likely have caused disruption to Wallace & Gromit.
Like you said in the video, I also believe that it will either never reopen full stop or reopen following a major refurbishment like Valhalla did.
I’ve not heard that one, but let’s add it to the rumour list 🥲
I think just getting it open as a working heritage ride will be enough really - if a complete refurb/retheme would cost millions I’d rather see that invested elsewhere in the park. Going big on the coaster in the Grand Prix space would attract more visitors I think?
Gyro swing, new coaster and reimagined dark ride should keep everyone happy
I agree a re-theme would be cool, it would be a shame to lose the original version but at least it had a good run, and it would mean it doesn’t have to just lie dormant or close altogether. At any rate I really wish the park would just be more transparent about what’s going on with it.
Pleasure Beach major fail is charging full ticket prices and not allowing the ‘walkers’ even £10 which it used to be (still think that’s too much) would allow the grandparents, parents and general non riders to come along with riders and put money into the food/arcades/stalls….huge mistake I feel
Was there today .. river caves is one of are favorite rides..totally agree with the re imagining. Make it more of a family friendly version of valhalla .. could add an extra few foot to the drop at the end.. it could be called RIVER CAVES around the world in 80 days.
I went also I can’t believe the big one was shut all day
@@Deli_And_Bestie yea I seen them testing in the morning .. was expecting It to open in the afternoon but it just never did.. we try to go once a year so very disappointed
@@Deli_And_BestieMay have been due to the weather
Its a bit of a catch 22 for PB, if they revamp it like you suggest with Sally dark rides (I think thats what you said), then its likely to cost millions, bearing in mind they have the unexpected expense of the playstation / ice blast ride which has probably gone end of life and will need removed. There is two rides which weren't budgeted for that need replaced / major work done, as well as the commitment to replace Grand Prix with something.
Grand prix wasn't the highest throughput or most reliable of rides but its footprint is quite significant so it may of been on the drawing board for replacement however when it failed they took the deciscion to offer one more go, wit hthe repairs being offset by the seperate ticket price (to be honest how many of us would of jumped at the chance to have one final ride on the wild mouse) and the cost of repairs was partially met by the £50 ticket price for those wanting one more go. PB could of kept Grand Prix open for the season but then there is the risk of running rides that out of manufacturer support, if something were to happen then they find themselves not covered under their liability insurance.
Finally when we talk about financials at PB, we don't mention the suppliers - keeping old rides going just isn't cost effective for them and the staff that did know these systems will be retiring, i've seen thisquite often so it makes sense for someone high up in the vendor to say we are discontinuing support for this ride system, we recommed that you replace it.
P.S. PB should be more transparent regarding the issues its facing
They need to be reinvesting, it’s not and never has been a museum.
They’ve made it clear they’re not “relying on their history or heritage” anymore so things like this are a good chance to modernise an existing attraction without binning it.
@@yourexperienceguide no one mentioned it being a museum, buts it's not simple to have the funds needed to upgrade / replace multiple rides in consecutive years.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach just needs to come back to life now a lot of ppl will still have much love for the park but i have seen that how the park is right now with its rides capability a hand lot off ppl can easy get the park done within 3-4 hrs from opening times but i am hoping that with the new Intimin Gyro swing ride! coming soon it mat boost up and shed some light back in to the park
The gyro will be an excellent addition
Imagine how good the park would be if Scott was in charge 😂
Gutted about River Caves but excited for the Gyro swing!
Haha 😂
Maybe it’s going to be another hotel 😉
Would be sad to see it not reopen as I love the ride. Fond memories especially when it met the Gold Mine and the cafe, which underpins how close it is to the Thrillomaric.
Haha, we all know where the hotel is going 😅
Maybe its just cheaper to keep it closed. With the River caves, ice blast, grand prix and dodgems closed imagine how much money they are saving on electricity. Without reducing ticket prices.
Cheaper, but makes the guest experience worse and that’ll stick with people
That side of the park just looks in a sorry state with so much gone. Lines have been very heavy during school trips and the start of the holidays but it doesn’t seem to be due to excessive crowds more a lack of attractions that once filled the park making it ride intensive plus attractions SBNO and the inability to meet capacity. They really need to have some urgency to get these attractions open.
North Park is in need of 3/4 new attractions to give it a lift
I'm beginning to think the writing's on the wall for BPB. The place looks scruffy and run down in places , much like Blackpool itself, rides are dropping like flies and it's a massive mistake not to have a non rider ticket option. If things don't rapidly improve I'll give the place two to three years at most, and, if by some miracle BPB is still open 5 years from now, that (subject to it being green lighted) would be when Universal GB is scheduled to open in Bedfordshire, and for people like me who live in the Midlands, kind of half way between BPB and Universal GB which way do you think we'll be heading...North or South?....Here's a clue, it won't be North!
Maybe ensuring their is enough support to put the gyro swing ontop of it where the dome arcade currently is
Gyro isn’t going there lol
River caves are a fan favourite
Yeah it is
To have one ride closed throughout the season is bad enough, but to have 2 rides closed is disgraceful. BPB is dying slowly and needs massive investment. River caves needs attention or taken away. Personally, I don't think Amanda Thompson cares enough about this historic ride.
Does this happen at the bigger theme parks where rides close for so long without reason? Is this normal or have Blackpool run out of money? 😞 x
Magnolia cafe and gold mine track refurb would be good
Protected as a heritage ride
Magnolia Cafe was destroyed when they used some of that space for W&G
I simply don't understand why PB aren't saying anything, it's really strange. It would be good for them to refurb, but like you say it'll be expensive and with whatever is going where Grand Prix is can they afford it. It's not been busy any time I've been this year so not a lot of money around I'd say. Ice Blast inthink they should convert to a shot and drop
The perfect solution is new coaster to replace Grand Prix, the Intamin Gyro Swing into an empty space, and the River Caves & Ice Blast get fixed.
3 possible season passes lost for next year from me pb has been aweful this season I've been so shocked and I'd normal defend the place to death
I’m in that dilemma too and would normally defend it myself, however for me personally I probably would renew my pass for 2025 for the sole purpose of having more of an opportunity to go to parks like Europa Park & Liseberg, even if I wasn’t to go to Pleasure Beach at all you still get one free visit to Liseberg, Europa Park, Portaventura, Emerald Park & Isla Magica.
@McPizzaPerson totally worth getting one then for sure
Normally I would defend the Pleasure Beach but agree it has been awful this year. Not sure it is worth the renewal cost as I don't go to parks abroad x
@bevking5787 nah save your money I was done when I seen so many staggered openings everywhere
@@bevking5787 In that regard I suppose it’s subjective whether or not you can deem it worth renewing your season pass, if you don’t travel abroad nor think Pleasure Beach has been that good this year then it’s understandable to not want to renew a season pass for 2025, especially with no update regarding issues with the park such as what’s happening with Ice Blast or River Caves. All we got was a passive aggressive tweet at the start of the season saying “the play station or as you all call it the ice blast. That will be operating later this season we are awaiting parts. So stop guessing and listening to ridiculous rumours. I know the facts”
A professional up to date statement would be much appreciated but I doubt we’ll get one unfortunately.
I’m a keen Theme Park goer. My family have motion sickness issues however so roller-coasters can be challenging. Because of this, BPB is the only major UK theme park I’ve visited. Because it’s the only UK theme park that has any sort of decent selection of Dark Rides. I’ve spent tens of thousands visiting California, Florida, France, Spain and even Hong Kong Theme Parks. (Sesame) Street Mission (by Sally Dark Rides) at PortAventura in Spain is my favourite interactive Dark Ride in the world.
This is coincidentally what I believe BPB needs most. Like every Uk theme park - it has coasters. An abundance of them. It does not need more coasters. Neither does Alton Towers. If UK theme parks want to compete on an international stage, they need to stop building roller coaster after roller coaster and start building entertaining world class dark rides. Trackless Dark Rides like Rise of the Resistance. Kuka arm rides like Forbidden Journey or Knight Flight. Interactive dark rides like Street Mission, Web Slingers or Knotts Beary Tales. Hell, even flying theatres. There’s only one of those in the UK. The most visited theme parks in the world are Disney ones and people aren’t going to those for coasters. They’re going for IP based Dark Rides.
Turning the river caves into an interactive dark ride would be a great idea. If Gullivers Valley in South Yorkshire can manage an interactive firing ride, I’m sure BPB can. River caves could make a great one.
Pleasure Beach have built one new roller coaster in 30 years, so they absolutely need to be putting 2 or 3 new coasters in, either in the dead spaces they’ve got or to replace some of the existing rides.
I’d not complain at them getting a new dark ride, but certainly wouldn’t prioritise them over coasters.
I've heard rumours of an Intimin Gyro Swing coming to BPB
It’s happening (video coming soon)
I do think that the river caves will reopen hopefully this year. As you mentioned I do not think it will close as it would be a logistical nightmare trying to replace it and a empty ride would not look good it looks pretty sad right now being closed.They are photos on social media of staff cleaning the ride which would suggest it is not going to close and that there has been some major issue with it since opening weekend. As the ride is coming up 120 years old next year I imagine it must have been a nightmare if they need parts etc to fix it. I love the river caves as it is and all the scenes but it would be fantastic to see the facade given some TLC as well as some maintenance inside the ride. With a Gyro swing confirmed to go in the park there is certainly new things coming by the looks of it and the park is ready to spend again so with that said I will definitely renew for next season. I did ask the park when it would reopen a while ago and they said they did not know and would communicate as and when but I agree that it would be good to know even whether it will reopen this year.
We’re 5 weeks into peak season and it’s not changed since March, what makes you think it’ll reopen?
@@yourexperienceguide I think the fact that workers have been seen cleaning on the outside of it and a rumour online that they have found where the leak is and are looking into it means that they are going to fix it and it will hopefully reopen soon. I doubt the park want the ride closed and it is going nowhere IMO this looks like it has been a major issue and has taken a long time to fix
@@jackhodgson8605 They used to clean RollerCoaster’s station when it was SBNO.
Doubt anyone wants it to be closed, and it won’t be removed (said this in the video), but also doubt it’ll reopen this year.
Some great points well made as usual 👍
Thank you 🙏
Hate to see it close but just needsxa good refurbishing. Plus they have bought an intamin gyro swing
Be a good if they take the opportunity to refurb it
Just to add, Amanda Thompson has crazy hotel ideas at the top of her list, so it's really looking bleak regarding river caves. If she had any respect for all the people that pay stupid prices to enter BPB, she would at least put out a statement to say what her intentions are regarding the park.
Don’t think we will be renewing our season passes. The park has felt like a real let down this year. Lack of updates about rides or forthcoming plans for the park. We have had season passes for quite a few years but can’t justify the same price as last year or more if they put up the cost with the lack of rides, poor communication and the shorter opening hours.
I was on the fence, will see if they confirm the new ride for next year
it needs a huge refurbishment, i adore it but after the 2020 update it felt a bit disjointed. just needs a huge refresh
New scenes in there would be great, but I’d like to see an external creative agency take on the project
I always liked the river caves and the one in Southport back in the day until it was set on fire.
Southport’s closed in 2006 I think?
High maintence given how old it is, is it worth them spending a lot of money into it i hope they do but who is to know.
Structure, enclosure & layout is already there. So should cost a fraction of the cost of a brand new ride - " providing they don't attempt to do anything too clever aka Vallhalla with it. 🌊
@@andrewbrazier9664 Time will tell, its hard to judge what they will do.
If not, it’s another ride closed which adds to the tally of 20+ attractions closed since 2000
Can you all send the owners a generic email asking the owners what is going on with the park all you season ticket holders
We’ve asked the question publicly and privately
Is ice blast been replaced by a swing ride and I'd like see mad mouse a ride there ????
I really hope River caves is overhauled and reopened in some form or other
Margate had river caves got rid of it 20 years later Dreamland closed down
Did you see that Pleasure Beach have filed a registration of charge for an Intamin Gyro Swing?
Yeah, away from home at the minute so not had chance to do a video
I find it hard to understand with today's worldwide CAD & tooling capabilities why they can't get custom components manufactured.
There’s probably more to it
Just seen gryo swing been confirmed for blackpool
Not confirmed but leaked 😅
I'd love to see River caves back open next season it's upsetting to see that and ice blast SBNO Amanda Thompson needs to just explain to us what's going on I feel sorry for everyone who's brought a annual pass this year tbh
It’s now going to be interesting to see what happens with Ice Blast following the leak about the new ride
change is not alway's a Good thing.
BPB isn’t a museum
@@yourexperienceguide true... but it should leave some classics alone in memory of peoples childhoods.......magic mountain....lost......alice in wonderland...and ...river caves...... just them three gems........ but.... some people have no sentiment.
The new ride is coming in to Blackpool pleasure beach is
Gyro swing
Intamin
Either remove ice blast or re do it as a new version it’s outdated and just like any other drop tower
Crowd pleaser though
What happen in them first 2 days, ride too great to give up on it
6:57 “make sure it isn’t going to offend anyone” eh???? How the hell can a ride offend anyone? Wtf
I’d love to see a Jurassic park type ride like universal , obviously not Jurassic park IP but dinosaur themed would be awesome to see
There’s a dinosaur section in there lol
I would really like to see a retheme on river caves
Same theme but would love to see it modernised
It's a sad world when some animations might upset people's fi fis
2024
look what they did in the past... got rid of a Gem...... the magic mountain ride.....the history that ride had....1932..... and they replaced with that boring dora rubbish..... the magic mountain ride had charm and character...... so if they could do that.....who knows the fate of river caves.???...... if they close another Gem down like river caves...well.... it will be an outrage......
Dora is terrible, it was meant to be an indoor attraction I believe
Make it the The Flintstones Bedrock River adventure Ride at World Abu Dhabi... DONE
Interesting idea 😅
Do you know If Icon still runs on 3 trains?
See our recent BPB vlog 👀
Think they might take out a loan to do alot over the winter......?
They’ve got a loan for a new ride
Why is BPB communicating so poor 🤷♂️
Sadly been like this for a long time now
I certainly hope that they give it a reimagining!🤞🤞🤞🙏🙏🙏
If there is any dark ride that needs money spent on it even before it closed it’s the river caves.
I hope they would still have the waterfalls in the dinosaur season though!
Keep that scene but modernise
@@yourexperienceguide oh absolutely, I just mean that’s the one feature that should stay whatever they do with that scene, everything else if it’s done to a high standard and no budget cuts then should be great🙂
Read alot of good stuff about Sally Dark Rides 👍
They’re excellent
Just an idea, how about turn into Charlie and the chocolate factory river ride, make the water brown, keep the same layout but completely transform the inside to a complete magical experience
IP would likely be to expensive for BPB (R)
Not sure they’d get return on investment
i think building another hotel is a vey bad idea. invest money on the park.
They’re huge revenue streams for the company
U repeat to same thing
@@GgG-ko1ll what do you mean?