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Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo

File:Flamingo land logo new.jpgFlamingo Land logo
Location
Opened	1959
Owner	Gordon Gibb
Slogan	"Wild Animals, Wilder Rides."
Operating season	March to October
Area	375 acres
Website	http://www.flamingoland.co.uk

Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo is a popular English amusement park.

Contemporary Overview

The park is set in 375 acres of North Yorkshire countryside, in the Ryedale district with views of the Yorkshire Moors. The park is adjacent to the small village of Kirby Misperton and can be located off the A169, almost immediately between the towns of Malton to the south of the park and Pickering to the north of the park.

Flamingo Land is noted for being the only site in the country which contains a theme park, a zoo and a holiday resort all in one location. Flamingo Land's theme park area contains more than one hundred "white knuckle" rides and slides, there are at least five shows (including the favourite sea lion and parrot performances) and the zoo displays wildlife from all over the world. With over 1,000 exotic animals of all varieties, the zoo claims to be the largest of its kind in Europe.

As well as being the largest amusement park in North England by quite a size, the park is also the largest and most popular privately-owned amusement park in the whole United Kingdom, and relies solely on its own revenue (in competition with larger English theme parks that are owned by national corporations and which rely on capital raised by stock market flotations, such as Alton Towers and Thorpe Park.)

During the 2005 season (April until October) the park attracted over 1.4 million visitors (up 11% on the previous season); mostly visitors from the North East of England but also including many from the rest of the country and abroad. At any one time were an estimated 4,000 holidaymakers staying in the holiday village.

Park History

The Flamingo Park Zoological Gardens were founded within nine acres of land in 1959 by a resident of Scarborough; an entrepreneur in the cinema and theatre industry by the name of Pentland Hick. Hick has been described as both an eccentric and a visionary by his critics. Hick organised expeditions to many locations around the world to capture bottlenose dolphins and sperm whales, including to the Indian Ocean and off the coast of Greenland. Hick was commended for his treatment of the animals, which were fed well and kept in expansive enclosures.

A colony of pink flamingos were among the first animals to be housed on site and, remaining one of the most popular group of animals in the zoo, the flamingos became a kind of mascot for the entire park (hence Pentland Hick's choice of name for the park.) The descendants of the original flamingos are still resident in the zoo today, and the flamingo colony at the park remains the largest in the country.

Throughout the 1960s a small fun fair began to be held on the site, only to steadily gain momentum and bring more and more visitors to the site. In the 1970s, the fun fair was well established and amusement rides had become a permanent fixture of the park simultaneous to the zoo.

The ownership of the site began to shift about with the steady growth of the park. Pentland Hick sold the site in 1965 to Pleasure Parks Ltd, who officially renamed the site Yorkshire Zoo on Monday July 12, 1968. Again, with the continued growth of the park, the site was sold again, this time to Scotia Leisure, a company which dealt mainly with bingo halls and package holidays.

However a director of that leisure company was Robert Gibb, who cared for the park greatly and decided to buy the park from the company in 1978 and set up his own board of directors. Gibb renamed the park Flamingo Land and developed the complex so that it was more suited to be a nation-wide instead of a local tourist attraction, including developing the growth of the amusement rides and the uniqueness of the animals cared for in the zoo. It was slow process, but a successful one.

The year 1991 (whilst still under Robert Gibb's management) was one of the most productive in the park's history; it was in this year that the famous rides Bullet and Thunder Mountain were constructed.

Robert Gibb died in a car accident in 1995, and his nineteen-year-old son, Gordon Gibb, became chief executive of the park. Gordon Gibb is currently overseeing some sweeping developments to the site for the 2006 season (which is part of a five year plan on the part of Mr Gibb.)

Zoo

For a time the Yorkshire Zoo, Flamingo Land's zoo claims to be the largest of its kind in Europe, housing over 1,000 animals. This zoo is widely praised and houses exotic birds, rare fish and sea-life, mammals and reptiles. Examples of animals kept there are camels, zebras, bison, guanaco, red deer, hippos, giraffes, meerkats, monkeys, lions, rhinoceros, tigers, sea lions, birds of paradise, peacocks and penguins. The animals are of course treated with exceptional care and many of the animals are endangered species and would be threatened in the wild.

Flamingo Land's zoo has a few connections to the largest zoo in England, Chester Zoo (which itself houses over 7,000 animals.) Many years ago one of the older Flamingo Land elephants, Jangoli (now deceased), went on to give birth to calves at Chester Zoo. In this manner the elephants at Chester Zoo are descendants of Flamingo Land's elephants.

Historically speaking, Neville Wilby was the chief curator of the Zoo from the 1960s onwards, and held this position for 34 years, until he retired in 1996. He then returned for a few years as a consultant before his death in 2004. Sean Drayton was the keeper for over thirty years also, roughly simultaneous to Wilby's career. Drayton died in November 2005. These men, among others, are well known amongst park staff and more established visitors to the park alike, many of the latter having had the childhood experience of feeding the animals or taking care of them under the supervision of these men.

Amenities

There are a number of facilities around the park including a first aid centre manned by an on-site doctor; toilets with disabled and baby changing facilities; themed gift shops; food outlets and a number of themed diners, the most famous of which is a 1950s themed diner. Four entertainment venues provide entertainment and host all manner of shows, catering to different audiences, throughout the day and into the night. There is also a fast food outlet near the holiday village. Within the holiday village there are leisure facilities including a leisure centre, a swimming pool and a café.

On the outskirts of the park lies a nine-hole golf course. Also adjacent to the park runs Costa Beck, a stream with noted crystal-clear water and fly fishing is available by arrangement, usually free of charge. Trout, Dace, Grayling, Salmon, Kingfisher and Pike can all be found in Costa Beck.

Current areas

Plaza

The Plaza is the entrance area to Flamingo Land and is often used as a meeting place. It contains a number of features such as snack bars, gift shops, cash machines, general fun stalls and shooting galleries. Also in the Plaza are such rides as The Wave Swinger, as well as one of the clubs which regularly holds the popular Professor Bubbles Jungle Jive Show.

Metropolis

This area is themed as a busy city. It contains such rides as Velocity, Navigator, and Corkscrew. Corkscrew was first built in 1980 with a design similar to the Corkscrew at Alton Towers before being relocated to Flamingoland where it has operated since 1983.

Seaside Adventure

This area is themed on the ocean and a seaside resort with such themed stores and a seafood restaurant. It contains Europe's highest drop tower, Cliff Hanger, which is themed as a lighthouse. Over the past years it has been called naked because of it lack of panels (Ryedale Council considered it an eyesore which spoilt the image of the countryside), but the park has recently won the right to again cover up the ride with bright red and white panels.

Carnival Fair

Temporary area, this has such rides as the Sky Flyer. The Wagon Wheel is returning after years at Flamingo Land's sister park Pleasure Island Family Theme Park in Cleethorpes. Also new for the 2006 season is Corporate Hospitality Tent. Sadly though, the park's one time signature rides - the Bullet and Magnum Force which were housed on this site have left the park.

Little Monsters Den of Mischief

This area is mainly aimed at children, including the Little Monster's Wacky Races and Mischief Mansion. There is also a Transylvanian-themed diner. New for 2006, in the same area, is the Muddy Duck Farm which will contain a tractor ride. The famous Dead Man's Drop, a giant indoor slide, was also once in this area (next to the small fish and chip shop) but eventually removed due to safety fears.

Lost Kingdom Reserve

Holds Flamingo Lands most ambitious projects ever with such rides as Lost River Ride and Voodoo. In 2006 Kumali was built in this area.

African Planes

An all Zoo area

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Previous attractions

The face of the park is constantly changing; with old amusement rides being removed and new ones being constructed in their place on a regular basis. Top thrill rides of yesteryear (rides which remain well recognised despite having been dismantled) include:

• Magnum Force (2000-2005)
• The Bullet (1991-2005)
• Thunder Mountain (1991-2004)
• Top Gun (1996-2004)
• Klondike Creek (unknown-2003)

The Terroriser was not actually removed - it is still at the park under the name of Circulator. The ride was re-located, re-painted and re-named for the 2005 season. It was previously located in the center of the Plaza by the park entrance. It now forms one of the attractions in the Metropolis area which was new for the 2005 season. In the plaza now, where the ride once stood, is the Wave Swinger Ride.

Current Attractions

Current prominent rides at Flamingo Land are:

• Cliffhanger (2002-) the UK's tallest free falling tower ride, it is themed as a lighthouse

• Velocity (2005-) the UK's only motorcycle themed roller coaster. The ride is the second of its kind in the world, is the tallest and has the fastest launch of its kind in the world.

• Navigator (2005-) is the world's largest Zamperla "Disk 'O'" type of ride.

• Kumali (2006-) is currently the biggest and most elaborate ride ever constructed at Flamingo Land

A number of popular attractions are still operational after many years, such as:

• Corkscrew (1983-) - A Vekoma Corkscrew roller coaster.

• Dragon Coaster (1988-) - A small family coaster.

• Wild Mouse (1997-) - A steel Wild Mouse roller coaster.

2007 Update

This article contains promotional content. Please help improve it by removing promotional language and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic text written from a neutral point of view. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The following is a quote from "Flamingoland Force". Retrieved 2007-02-06. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help).

"We will be seeing a very varied and diverse range of attractions at the park for 2007; including a Splash Battle water ride, Mini Mine Rush coaster, 4D Cinema and dodgems.
The Splash Battle will be similar to the one at Walibi World made by Preston & Barbieri. Essentially ride cars with water guns travel allong a track, with the objective of riders being to soak those in other cars while staying dry themselves. There is also the option for 'land based' cannons, so those watching the ride can fire at ride cars themselves.
The Mini Mine Rush is a small Zamperla coaster, located from the now closed American Adventure Theme Park. This is to be located close to the park entrance where the Kiddies Kingdom playground was located.
The 4D cinema too is a purchase from AA. This is due to be located in the right hand corner of Metropolis (when looking from within the area towards Cliff Hanger).
The fourth new ride, the ex AA dodgems, will be located where the Billy Bobs Rokafire Explosion Show was previously housed in Metropolis. The facades of this building are to be removed and when the park opens its gates for the 2007 season will look very different - with a reported 'floating roof'.
The new attractions are due (all going to plan) to be open for the first day of the season, with the exception of the 4D Cinema which will have a mid-season opening (the date TBC)."

Flamingo Land in the Media

Television Docusoap - "Theme Park"

'Theme Park' is an ITV docusoap shown in the Yorkshire and Tyne Tees Regions, following the behind the scenes activities of Flamingo Land.

The first series was broadcast in 2001 and a prominent part of the show was the building of new area "The Little Monsters Den of Mischief" including attractions such as "Mischief Mansion".

The series in 2004 particularly followed the development of the new water ride, The Lost River, which replaced the previous log flume Klondike Creek. The Lost River was Flamingo Land's most ambitious project ever when it was undertaken in 2004. The water ride was a concept attraction which was to form the center piece of the Lost Kingdom themed area of the park. The idea was to create a safari style ride which also had a thrill element.

2006 saw the third series of the popular ITV1 show. This particualrly followed the construction of the parks new coaster for that season, Kumali.

Accidents

2004

A male worker on the Magnum Force ride was critically injured on June 1 2004, after jumping over the safety railing so that he could take a shortcut to the toilet over the track. The man was hit by a carriage at 54 miles per hour. A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance service said the man had been treated at the scene by the on-site doctor, before being air-lifted by helicopter to the The James Cook Hospital on Teesside.

Fortunately, the story didn't have a tragic ending. The man made a full recovery and a year later and met up with the emergency service workers who had saved his life. BBC news article

2006

The cable car transport ride at Flamingo Land, which takes passengers over Carnival Fair and to the other side of the Lost Kingdom, had an accident on the 7th April 2006. It is believed that one of the cars collided with a support post near the station.

Earlier reports indicated that the visitors were swinging the car from side to side, although it is now believed a sudden gust of wind of some force rocked the car (the ride does not normally operate in windy weather). The roof broke off the car in the accident, but the incident was not treated as serious and only a small cut was sustained by a visitor. An investigation was launched, repairs were made to the ride and it is now operational again when conditions permit.

See also

• List of theme parks in the United Kingdom
• Lightwater Valley, Ripon, North Yorkshire - a similar theme park around half the size of Flamingo Land.
• Pleasure Island Family Theme Park, Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire - often referred to as Flamingo Land's 'sister park'. It has been owned by Flamingo Land Plc since 27 May 1993.

External links

• Official site - note that the official site is fairly minimal.
• Talk Flamingo - an active discussion forum were you can talk about the park.
• Flamingo Land Force - the largest and longest running Flamingo Land site. Contains news of upcoming events, history of the park, pictures and more.
• Flamingo Land Guide - an extensive Flamingo Land fan site.
• Flamingo Land Crazy Forums - Forum owned by Flamingo Land Crazy
• Flamingo Land Crazy - Flamingo Land Fan Site

• Flamingo Land at Theme Park Junkies
• Flamingo Land at RollerCoaster Database

• Multimap.com 2002 aerial view of the park

• Amusement parks in England
• Zoos in England
• Visitor attractions in North Yorkshire
• Theme parks in England
• 1959 establishments