Major enhance for UK theme park as proprietor admits ‘Disneyland vision’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

The new proprietor of a North Yorkshire theme park has revealed his excessive hopes for the location. James Mellors mentioned he and his staff have “so many great ideas” for Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, close to Ripon.

Mr Mellors mentioned the “vision” consists of it being akin to a Disneyland, though admitted they have to be “realistic”. Lightwater Valley opened in 1969 and was as soon as dwelling to the Ultimate, the world’s longest rollercoaster between 1991 and 2000. On Friday, the park opened its newest rollercoaster, the Spinning Racer, as a part of its “new era”.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Mellors shared new particulars about his plans for the journey park.

“If you can imagine it almost being like a Disneyland, that’s where our vision is,” Mr Mellor laughed.

“We should be reasonable, although, we do not have the budgets of Disney, we do not have the backing of cartoons and characters like these enormous parks do.

“It’s very difficult because the vision is unaffordable at the moment but we’ve got so many great ideas, things we want to do with the park, utilising more of the space to its full potential.”

Mr Mellors is managing director of the Mellors Group which purchased Lightwater Valley earlier this 12 months after it was put up on the market for £3 million in October final 12 months.

The Nottingham-based household enterprise additionally owns the Fantasy Island theme park close to Skegness, Lincolnshire.

Mr Mellors mentioned he used to go to Lightwater Valley as a baby together with his aunt and uncle.

According to the BBC, the park was rebranded to cater to kids underneath 12 after the Ultimate rollercoaster was dismantled in 2023.

Mr Mellors mentioned the park has “changed massively”, including: “In my opinion, the previous owners really went in the wrong direction and went down to more of a younger age group.

“You should keep in mind that the 12 and unders nonetheless have dad and mom which are of their mid-20s, 30s, 40s they usually nonetheless need to have a good time as effectively.”

Referring to the opening of the Spinning Racer, he told the BBC: “We knew we wanted to vary issues fairly rapidly to get off for the 12 months, in order that was why we needed to introduce a coaster.”

The Mellors Group promised to convey new rides and points of interest to Lightwater Valley after finishing its buy.