Bernie's Wild Wild West
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Introduction:
 Howdy Folks:
Welcome to 'Bernie's Wild West' Web Site, on Communigate.
These web pages are dedicated to all the fans of what was once Granada's 'American Adventure Theme Park'. The stories and pictures cover a period of time when the theme park was operated by Granada, between 1991 and 1997.
All the photographs on the web site are Copyright, and the site was up-dated on 22/4/07. Look for more pictures and news soon.
The e.mail for contact bmbgat@tiscali.co.uk and a new links page has recently been added.
Well pardners that about sets the record straight, on what this site is about, so let's stepback in time, as we enter into 'Bernie's Wild West' set in the heart of South Derbyshire. |
The Early Years:
I first became a visitor to the area, when the property came up for lease from Derbyshire County Council. The site which was part of a reclamation scheme, of the former Woodside Colliery, belonged originally to the National Coal Board (British Coal).
The park first opened in 1985 as Britannia Park, which closed down after only 12 weeks. In 1986, Granada bought the 345 acre site and opened as 'The American Adventure'. Rides such as the 'Missile' and 'Rocky Mountains Rapids' ride, were early attractions.
The park was bought from Granada in 1997 by Venture World, a little-known company which employed former Alton Towers supremo John Broome as consultant. Broome promised major investment in new rides and attractions, including the world's biggest wooden roller coaster, and a name change to Adventure World.
Since 1997, little investment has occurred, the name has been changed back and John Broome has left the company. In recent years the park has tried to attract more visitors by holding Sunday markets and car boot sales, but the local council has banned this.
At its peak in the late 1980s/early 1990s, 'The American Adventure' attracted 1 million visitors annually, more than Drayton Manor and Thorpe Park. Since 1995, visitor numbers have declined by one third, from 600,000 to 425,000 in 1999. Visitor numbers for 2000 were around 375,000.
*Info supplied by Joyland Books*
The history 'Britannia Park' can be found elsewhere on the Internet at :
http://www.berniebumpkin.co.uk
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View Across the Lake:
| The shape of the lake had been altered, and made more shallow for safety reasons. In the short time before development, the lake was used for boating, and also re-stocked with fish. |  |
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Once a Part of Shipley Country Park:
All these photo's were taken before the development of 'Britannia Park'.
After years of polution by coal tip waste, the whole of the area was re-seeded, and became popular with wildlife once again. |  |
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The New Layout of the Lake:
Taken from the area which later became 'Pioneer Playland'.
Some new features such as islands were made,and these were to provide a natural settings for the future. |  |
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A New Dawning:
With the failure of 'Britannia Park', the site was purchased by Granada, who decided to create an American Wild West Theme Park; it was to become
'The American Adventure'
In a beautiful setting surrounded by open fields and woodland. As dawn brings a new day, we begin our scrapbook, so please continue to the next page.....
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