What's new
By:
FORUMS - COASTERFORCE

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Lightwater Valley - Future?

Days after Pleasurewood Hills' sale, RideRater have found that Lightwater Valley is/was listed for sale at a guide price of £3 million.

The listing has since been pulled, but you can still view it here, including an attached PDF.

The PDF provides an interesting look at the visitor numbers since 2018 - showing that they didn't particuarly have much of an attendance hit following the removal of the thrill rides:

Attendance.png

Brighton Pier Group bought the park back in 2021 for £5m, suggesting their management of the park has decreased its value by £2m (their only actions of notoriety being the short-lived Zyklon coaster, removing Eagles Claw and destroying the Ultimate). The holiday lodges STILL haven't materialised, which they gained planning permison for years back, and from statements at the time, were a big reason why the group bought the park.

The dream would be for a European operator such as Compagnie des Alpes or Grupa Ptak to see development opportunity and gain a foothold in the UK... but realistically I suppose a more local name is more likely, similar to the Stokes family taking over PWH. Mellors could be good? I hope the future is bright.
 
JMW said:
Days after Pleasurewood Hills' sale, RideRater have found that Lightwater Valley is/was listed for sale at a guide price of £3 million.

The listing has since been pulled, but you can still view it here, including an attached PDF.

The PDF provides an interesting look at the visitor numbers since 2018 - showing that they didn't particuarly have much of an attendance hit following the removal of the thrill rides:

Attendance.png

Brighton Pier Group bought the park back in 2021 for £5m, suggesting their management of the park has decreased its value by £2m (their only actions of notoriety being the short-lived Zyklon coaster, removing Eagles Claw and destroying the Ultimate). The holiday lodges STILL haven't materialised, which they gained planning permison for years back, and from statements at the time, were a big reason why the group bought the park.

The dream would be for a European operator such as Compagnie des Alpes or Grupa Ptak to see development opportunity and gain a foothold in the UK... but realistically I suppose a more local name is more likely, similar to the Stokes family taking over PWH. Mellors could be good? I hope the future is bright.
Click to expand...
Another company asset stripping the park, Livingstone 2.0. I hope an investor buys the park who will put it back on the map and not make it worse than it already is. It’s like the removal of The Ultimate & Eagles Claw has come back to bite once again.
 
Has anyone ever thought of a fan owned park? The concept is familiar with sports teams, we’d need a consortium of a few thousand thoosies to invest a few thousand pounds. 3000 members each contributing £2000 would be enough to buy the park and capital to start investing. The idea might sound ridiculous but happens often in other industries. A real life Katie’s Dreamland…
 
  • Like
Reactions: JMW
Coaster Cam said:
Has anyone ever thought of a fan owned park? The concept is familiar with sports teams, we’d need a consortium of a few thousand thoosies to invest a few thousand pounds. 3000 members each contributing £2000 would be enough to buy the park and capital to start investing. The idea might sound ridiculous but happens often in other industries. A real life Katie’s Dreamland…
Click to expand...
Interesting... I'd probably get involved to be fair!
 
Lightwater Valleys listing has been uploaded today confirming the park is for sale. Hopefully gets sold to someone who’s gonna put it back on the map 🤞will the thrills return to the valley let’s hope so

A Leisure Property For Sale In North Stainley, HG4 3NB | For Sale | 182 Acre

Speak to our commercial property experts for info & related market insights about this leisure property for sale in North Stainley, HG4 3NB occupying 182 Acre
propertylink.estatesgazette.com propertylink.estatesgazette.com
 
This would probably be perfect for the likes of mellors or the group who bought PWH where they have existing rides that they can repopulate the lineup quickly. It's also worth remembering that the park has electrical supply issues so even the type of rides which are built for travel might be a pragmatic answer.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk
 
Thid
slappy mcguire said:
This would probably be perfect for the likes of mellors or the group who bought PWH where they have existing rides that they can repopulate the lineup quickly. It's also worth remembering that the park has electrical supply issues so even the type of rides which are built for travel might be a pragmatic answer.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
This explains why the place doesn’t really get permanent installations
 
funfairsthemeparks said:
Thid

This explains why the place doesn’t really get permanent installations
Click to expand...

Not really - these things have solutions. It doesn't get permanent installations because the park has been in decline since the late 90's!
I also don't think the solution is more hired in fair rides. The whole place needs a lot of investment; but Flamingo Land has always been the thorn in LWV's side.

Flamingo Land has a Zoo, more and better rides, the holiday park and nowadays live entertainment etc. Both LWV and Flamingo Land relied a lot on Scottish and North-Eastern visitors coming down, and Flamingo Land has been the better offering to the average person for decades.

I would love to see this park bounce back but I think it would need a holiday park type thing and a massive amount of investment.
 
Just remember, that price is for the business and the lease of the land. The business doesn't own the land, the Stavely's still own it!

But I do want to see some investment, need to bring it back to the wider eyes
 
Mushroom said:
Just remember, that price is for the business and the lease of the land. The business doesn't own the land, the Stavely's still own it!

But I do want to see some investment, need to bring it back to the wider eye
Click to expand...

Mushroom said:
Just remember, that price is for the business and the lease of the land. The business doesn't own the land, the Stavely's still own it!

But I do want to see some investment, need to bring it back to the wider eyes
Click to expand...
Imagine if they got it back after all these years lol, would be a dream come true
 
Mushroom said:
Just remember, that price is for the business and the lease of the land. The business doesn't own the land, the Stavely's still own it!

But I do want to see some investment, need to bring it back to the wider eyes
Click to expand...

Yeah I had a feeling it was this sort of setup. Robert is very old now and i'd guess his younger family can't/don't want to take over it - might make it complicated for a potential buyer I imagine.

Part of me just sees the whole thing being redeveloped into a big housing project of some kind; the site is absolutely huge and most of it is completely unused now. Realistically you could even move some rides and have a smaller separate park and use the rest of the land for something else. Whether you'd get planning for that out there i'm unsure, Ripon gives me the feeling they'd probably be strict about this.

What would be great is the lodges being built and the park having a couple of permanent, decent rides added.
At the moment, to me, it feels like it's teetering on the edge of being closed and left to rot for a decade, ala Pleasure Island.

1760542181304.png
Red = Known park land that is now unused
 
AidanCKY said:
Yeah I had a feeling it was this sort of setup. Robert is very old now and i'd guess his younger family can't/don't want to take over it - might make it complicated for a potential buyer I imagine.

Part of me just sees the whole thing being redeveloped into a big housing project of some kind; the site is absolutely huge and most of it is completely unused now. Realistically you could even move some rides and have a smaller separate park and use the rest of the land for something else. Whether you'd get planning for that out there i'm unsure, Ripon gives me the feeling they'd probably be strict about this.

What would be great is the lodges being built and the park having a couple of permanent, decent rides added.
At the moment, to me, it feels like it's teetering on the edge of being closed and left to rot for a decade, ala Pleasure Island.

View attachment 39732
Red = Known park land that is now unused
Click to expand...
I feel like the park is on its last legs and also believe that the BPG regret taking out The Ultimate (it’s obviously had an impact) and they don’t have the funds to move the park forward anymore. I just hope they take nothing else out during the winter (aka Splash Falls, Skyrider etc)
 
Michael89 said:
It does sound to good to be true , I honestly don’t know what to expect. I have a feeling nothing much will change with rides if I’m honest
Click to expand...
Whoever the new owner is has got to invest in bigger rides for all ages again tbh I strongly believe that the park cannot continue the way it is.
 
Hmm seems odd unless the park has infact been sold already? On the post it mentions slide complex and ‘major coaster’ I know a small park that has just closed with a couple of ‘slide complex’s’ And coasters, could we be seeing some old ride from Oakwood turn up here? As for coasters I’m sure I’ve seen treetops coaster is been refurbished somewhere in the uk, sure lwv would count that as a major coaster these days.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top