US-themed adventure park with rocket ship coaster & its own MALL left abandoned – despite fans begging for it’s return
A US-themed adventure park with a rocket ship roller coaster and its own mall has been left abandoned despite fans wanting it to return.
The American Adventure theme park in Derbyshire was once a hit for families wanting to experience the Wild West.
The park was open between 1987 and 2006 and had roller coasters, actors recreating gunslinger fights, and bizarre giant Native American heads.
Now the site lies abandoned and vacant with new build housing being on part of it.
The American Adventure was bustling throughout the 80s and 90s with several different sections for attendees to enjoy.
YouTuber Darren, known as AdventureMe, labelled The American Adventure as “Britain’s first real theme park”.
He said the par opened to a lot of fanfare: “It was truly themed, the rides, shops, costumes, and even the bins.
“One thing the park focused on beside the rides was major character stunt shows, they were like nothing else in the UK at the time.”
The cowboys shows would dramatise a shootout and the outlaws falling off buildings and horses on to hidden crash mats.
Park goers could explore Silver City, Pioneer Playland, New England Village, San Francisco Wharf, El Paso Arena, Snake Island and Medicine Man Island.
Rides included a log flume, roller coaster, a covered wagon themed Ferris Wheel, and even a ‘New Orleans’ mall.
Other rides were called the Buffalo Stampede, the Runaway Train, and the Santa Fe Railroad.
Despite being a Wild West theme park, The American Adventure had a rocket ship themed roller coaster.
The Missile was opened in 1989 by the second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin.
Attendances dropped in the mid-2000s with adult rides shut down as the park tried to pivot towards children.
But, the theme park shut in 2006 and most of the site was swiftly cleared away.
In 2019 the land was bought by a developer planning to build 300 homes, a hotel, a retirement village, leisure facilities and offices.
Much of the iconic site was demolished and the land has been flattened and modified to make it suitable to housing.
The small islands inside Shipley Lake have been filled in and are now connected to the shore.
Fans of the derelict theme park have launched a petition to restore the site to its former glory.
It currently has more than 11,000 signatures which is above the amount needed to elicit a response from the government.
Declan Salmon, who wrote the petition, said: “Nightmare Niagara was the best log flume in the UK at one time but it got demolished in the 2000s.
“The American Adventure was my and quite possibly a lot of people’s childhood.
“Me and my friend have come up with a new design and plan for the return of The American Adventure Theme Park with modern roller coasters and attractions.
“So sign this petition and let’s see if we can get The American Adventure Theme Park Back open for business with brand new attractions and coasters.”
Several fans commented on the petition and shared their reasons for wanting their beloved park back.
“I want the theme park to be back I loved the rides,” cried a user.
Another added: “I’m signing this petition because I used to go to American adventure when I was a kid.
“I loved it then.
“Now I have a son and another on the way so this would be great for my family.”
A third commented: “It would be great to see it back plus look at all the job opportunities it would put up for local people.”
Abandoned Wild West theme park left to rot
A BELOVED theme park where wannabe-cowboys lived out their Wild West fantasy has got a new lease on life after being left to rot.
Photos of the abandoned Wild West town show the fake general store, Sheriff’s office, a jail, and a gallows set up for hangings, all falling apart.
The park was a popular destination in the early 2000s and recreated “the American frontier as it was, and how it will never be again”, Cornwall Live reported.
When the park was running actors would act out scenes from the Old West, including a gun fight, arresting outlaws, and delivering justice.
The audience watching the show stand inside the town and get a close look at a Hollywood-style Wild West.
The Spirit Of The West theme park in St Columb Major, Cornwall, was closed in 2009 and redeveloped into Retallack Resort & Spa.