Lightwater valley is following in the footsteps of American Adventure I give it 2 years before the place goes under. The park is a big space with next to no attractions. The new rides they have put in are lower cost options and really nothing worth mentioning it's all the signs of a park struggling to survive.
I grew up close to the park and worked there in 2001/2002 season as a ride attendant it was fantastic times the park was booming! I used to work on the ultimate a lot and the sewer rat as it was known back then. Also the bat flyer which went through the forest and the train was a cushy number riding around on the back of it all day 😄 sad to see the demise of the park but I think the ultimate is now probably plagued with too many problems as its old and exposed to the elements even all those years ago they had fatigue problems with the structure. RIP LWV
I'm from Italy. I came to Lightwater Walley in 1990 when I was a student. I will never forget the Rat Ride and, of course, the Ultimate. Hope for a better future for the park. So sad to see it like it's now.
The Rat was fantastic and I believe it will have also been the Super Looper in 1990 which at the time was the only double looped 'coaster in Europe. Heartbreaking to see it like this
The park’s completely ruined now. I heard they’re removing the thrill rides and they’re trying to aim the park at kids now. And wild river rapids was my favourite ride there but it’s completely gone.
Raptor attack has been sold still in excellent condition to COTAland. A new theme park opening at the COTA race track in the US. I am gutted, this place was my childhood. I don't think The Ultimate will reopen and if it does it won't be for very long
The Ultimate has been stood for best part of a year and 1/2. I imagine that it will need some tlc and from what I saw it definitely did. With that comes costs and as the park is moving into the new "family" theme I can't see who would actually ride the Ultimate if they did open it in 2022. The guests would be very young and too small to ride it which would leave just the parents which, I imagine, there wouldn't be much footfall to justify opening it up. There aren't any other Thrill rides there so who would the Ultimate be opening for if it did? I very much doubt (but hoped to be proved wrong) that it will ever open again at Lightwater Valley. Could they make the ride smaller and themed to accept younger riders? Who knows. I honestly think that if you rode the Ultimate in 2020 as I did that, that is the last time you will be on it at Lightwater Valley. Sad really
@@Skyrideradventures last time I rode it was 2016 D: , only thing I was hoping for is them opening for a final week/weekend but if it needs a lot of work then I can't imagine it will :(
update on all of this, I'm hearing some VERY interesting things coming from the park. I can't share anything specific but everything I've heard so far has been good news. Hopefully it keeps coming and the park can pull through this dip
removal of signage from Ultimate is very, very worrying and indicates to me that the only reason they haven't already removed it is because it'd cost more to scrap it than it's worth.
Couldn't see the second drop in the distance when we went easter weekend just gone. I was sure you could make it out in the distance years ago when I last went, but nothing this time. Must be over 30yrs old and h&s laws now from recent years accidents (Alton Towers etc) may have forced the hand of an outdated coaster. I loved that ride too!
This was my favourite theme park as a kid 😔 we went so many times and the ultimate was the first ‘big’ roller coaster I went on with my Dad and boy was I still a kid. Barely tall enough to go on but I did anyway and loved it. Gutting to see what’s happened to it..
Same. Went last week not knowing with my kids and was gutted I couldn't go on either ultimate or raptor/rat with my boy as I did all those years ago with my father. 4yr old loved the day out but 10yr old was left wanting more... 😔
@@simedracing that’s sad. Can imagine it was very disappointing going without actually knowing what it had turned into. Wonder how long it will be before it closes for good..
Couldn't see the second drop in the distance of The Ultimate when we went easter weekend just gone. I was sure you could make it out in the distance years ago when I last went, but couldn't see anything more than first drop and a bit of track from tunnel to station this time. Ride must be over 30yrs old and h&s laws now from recent years accidents (Alton Towers etc) may have forced the hand of an outdated coaster to close. I loved that ride too!
I used to work here :( it’s sad seeing it in this state. The rapids were owned by someone else and they decided to move the attraction to Fantasy Island in Skegness now!
If I had the finance I would buy this park and restore it to its former glory. Pipe dream but man its sad to see it has fallen so far :( Especially since it is the closest park to me, If it wasn't for flamingo land there would be nothing worth in the north east UK. (not counting Alton Towers as north east)
For the 2021 season LWV has decided to retire a number of thrill rides what included Apollo Raptor Attack Black Pearl Wild River Rapids Eagles Claw (Still Operating Until Sold) The Ultimate is set to remain SBNO throughout the 2021 season while that helps the park limit guest numbers due to COVID. Great video 👍
Not much left after those are all gone. On the flip side you can see why they are getting rid, they are all quite old rides now and money is probably tight after Covid, Still changing the age is a little drastic. What does SBNO mean btw?
If this was 10-15 years ago, and you told me about light water valley and described what it had to offer at that moment, I would have went for a day out and I would have enjoyed it because of the fun rides it had at the time. But fast forward to 2021, what is there to do? Hardly any rides, the place looks abandoned, am I really getting my value for money? No. This park was fun. And now it’s been stripped of its identity.
I wouldn't say its dead it just is in my video probably because of the weather. If you look at other videos from this year (the sunny days ones) there are quite a few people there. My video was showing the far side of the park on a dark very wet day. This part is where most rides are missing now thus why it was deserted. Why would you be in this section if there's no rides? The new rides are based around where the Angry Birds section used to be and it's been changed quite a lot. This video shows you the changes th-cam.com/video/9exwukGYC0s/w-d-xo.html I think that if it was dying then the owners wouldn't have invested into the park and I believe they are investing in the future. Who knows, this park could do very well as a younger guest park but the days of Thrill rides are probably over for now. They do have, for 2021, the new (old) Tree Top Trials which is the rope in the trees area at the beginning of the park near the entrance. This used to be a separate paid for attraction which is now part of the entrance fee and is very good. Take it from a 55 yr old that I really enjoyed this part even though it was hammering it down with rain. Not saying that it would be worth the entrance fee on its own but it is great fun to be on and I stayed in it with my kids for over an hour.
I remember the sewer rat as a boy I loved going underground in the dark it was absolutely brilliant so unique to have a roller coaster underground in a real sewer . So sad to see the demise of lwv believe me in my memories it looks nothing like this nor in thy memories of thee
I have a theory that it’s being run down on purpose. It’s a brown field site and as such could easily get the planning for housing development. Given the cost of land round here (I live 5 miles away) they would make an absolute fortune!
I'm interested to see what there "future development plan" they claim to have which apparently includes the ultimate but the park havent decided what to do with the ultimate yet according to a news report when they spoke to the park about it
From what I understand it needs a tonne of money spent on it and they can't afford it, so have decided to abandoned it, I should think they couldn't even afford to take it down.
@@interceptor-ss8kb it was only originally planned to be closed for a year then reopen (so they did some work like wood replacing)but covid just kept coming and social distancing never went away and now they have got rid of the big rides they dont have a clue what to do.
@@themeparkkieran4573 I think the park is financially barely hanging on, you walk around it loads of open spaces next to no attractions. They probably couldn't afford to keep up with maintenance on The Ultimate which is the main reason its not running, the pandemic is just a pathetic excuse to hide why it's closed. It wouldn't make any sense to re-open it anyway now its completely moved away from the thrill seeker market and closed all it's big rides. The park is now a little kids park. Very much following the American Adventure death road I doubt it will survive. The new rides they bought are really low cost things the new train ride was literally the most painfully bad thing I've ever seen.
Yea i went yesterday it kinda sucked not having the black pearl and other big rides. It feels like a family park but it was better as it was before ngl.
Such a shame what is happening there. I really wanted to go on the Ultimate but alas that ride has been demolished now since this video was taken. There is no reason for me to visit this place now.. Terrible management and soon will close for good. A good park gets repeat custom, I doubt very much people would return to this lame effort
I’m not to sure what they’re doing to the park but its absolutely painful to watch. I haven’t been since 2015 but even before covid they were replacing rides with absolute garbage attractions like them naff waltzers taking the black windows web. I heard from another TH-camr that Raptor attack is not coming back. But it certainly looks like they’re just letting the ultimate sit and decay. I swear this parks going to end up like Camelot. I think they’ll either ditch half the park and sell it off. Or this will be the last operating season of Lightwater Valley.
I haven't shown the rest of the park just focusing on the stuff that's gone but they are investing in new rides, all be it under 12 Yr old rides at the beginning of the park. A few new stuff for 2021 but not aimed at a more mature audience. They've added Tree Top Trails at the beginning of the park (previously paid for) as part of the entrance free now which is very good. However I believe its days of attracting anyone over 12 are now in the past. I don't believe the Ultimate will be back if I'm honest. We'll have to see.
@@Skyrideradventures I hope so. I went a few times between aged 10-15. I always loved the thrill rides like Whirlwind, The ultimate, Eagles claw and Raptor attack. The place had great potential for loads of new thrill rides. But things have been slowly disappearing for years not being replaced by anything new. Especially in the last year. It sounds like the park is financially struggling.
@@KH-mu2yx I think they are struggling but I may be wrong (investment in new rides suggests otherwise). If the Ultimate disappears off site then I'd tend to agree they have money worries. Talking of the Ultimate, I can't see how that will fit in their young family theme. No one would be able to ride it and there wouldn't be enough people there with small kids to utilze it. As I said in the video I think it's (Ultimate) done. I think they have a problem because Flamingoland isn't that far away from them and that's gotta hurt their footfall and probably has for a long time. Who knows? Personally I always found the place quite magical and personal where as Flamingoland and Alton Towers feel corporate. I liked Lightwater and will be sad to see its demise.
I loved Camelot back in the day. I really loved the fact that it was themed and had all the cast of people it had. Sure it didnt have many thrill rides but the layout and the atmosphere it created was magical. I'd love to see this it open again
When I last went to the light water valley in August 2016 there was quite a few rides in attractions not operate in five years ago so I think like you say they’re getting ready so shut up shop forever
This is such a waisted opportunity. So much space. The potential for the right operator and lots of investment. But question is could it ever make money for the level of investment needed .
Seems like they are completely running it into the ground. A family orientated theme park? How's that going to work out when the kids are in school during the week? Absolute bloody idiots. I think they are planning on running it into the ground so they can build houses on the land. Although apparently the bloke who used to run the park still owns the actual land. Who knows but this is a crying shame as this was one of the best theme parks - The Ultimate was one of my favourite coasters!
It's just a picnicking place by the looks of it, cant be called a theme park at all . I give it 2 years max , you cant remove it's most popular rides and expect people to return. How much is entry now .
Lightwater valley is following in the footsteps of American Adventure I give it 2 years before the place goes under. The park is a big space with next to no attractions. The new rides they have put in are lower cost options and really nothing worth mentioning it's all the signs of a park struggling to survive.
I grew up close to the park and worked there in 2001/2002 season as a ride attendant it was fantastic times the park was booming! I used to work on the ultimate a lot and the sewer rat as it was known back then. Also the bat flyer which went through the forest and the train was a cushy number riding around on the back of it all day 😄 sad to see the demise of the park but I think the ultimate is now probably plagued with too many problems as its old and exposed to the elements even all those years ago they had fatigue problems with the structure. RIP LWV
What a shame... My local theme park gone to be a kiddies 'soft play'. There's too many kids attractions these days.
I just came a few hours ago the only thrill ride left is eagles claw and isn’t even shown on the website
@@albro666 probably planned to be removed
@@colemason1623 it's staying until someone buys it which is really sad.
Theres goods news. Another group from Brighton have bought Lightwater. Let's hope they can fix it.
They killed The Ultimate for good so it's going to shite
I'm from Italy. I came to Lightwater Walley in 1990 when I was a student. I will never forget the Rat Ride and, of course, the Ultimate. Hope for a better future for the park. So sad to see it like it's now.
The Rat was fantastic and I believe it will have also been the Super Looper in 1990 which at the time was the only double looped 'coaster in Europe. Heartbreaking to see it like this
The park’s completely ruined now. I heard they’re removing the thrill rides and they’re trying to aim the park at kids now. And wild river rapids was my favourite ride there but it’s completely gone.
Raptor attack has been sold still in excellent condition to COTAland. A new theme park opening at the COTA race track in the US. I am gutted, this place was my childhood. I don't think The Ultimate will reopen and if it does it won't be for very long
The Ultimate has been stood for best part of a year and 1/2. I imagine that it will need some tlc and from what I saw it definitely did. With that comes costs and as the park is moving into the new "family" theme I can't see who would actually ride the Ultimate if they did open it in 2022. The guests would be very young and too small to ride it which would leave just the parents which, I imagine, there wouldn't be much footfall to justify opening it up. There aren't any other Thrill rides there so who would the Ultimate be opening for if it did? I very much doubt (but hoped to be proved wrong) that it will ever open again at Lightwater Valley. Could they make the ride smaller and themed to accept younger riders? Who knows. I honestly think that if you rode the Ultimate in 2020 as I did that, that is the last time you will be on it at Lightwater Valley. Sad really
@@Skyrideradventures last time I rode it was 2016 D: , only thing I was hoping for is them opening for a final week/weekend but if it needs a lot of work then I can't imagine it will :(
Rip
update on all of this, I'm hearing some VERY interesting things coming from the park. I can't share anything specific but everything I've heard so far has been good news. Hopefully it keeps coming and the park can pull through this dip
What a mess I was there a few years ago looks as mess now what a load of crap
removal of signage from Ultimate is very, very worrying and indicates to me that the only reason they haven't already removed it is because it'd cost more to scrap it than it's worth.
Couldn't see the second drop in the distance when we went easter weekend just gone. I was sure you could make it out in the distance years ago when I last went, but nothing this time. Must be over 30yrs old and h&s laws now from recent years accidents (Alton Towers etc) may have forced the hand of an outdated coaster. I loved that ride too!
This was my favourite theme park as a kid 😔 we went so many times and the ultimate was the first ‘big’ roller coaster I went on with my Dad and boy was I still a kid. Barely tall enough to go on but I did anyway and loved it.
Gutting to see what’s happened to it..
Same. Went last week not knowing with my kids and was gutted I couldn't go on either ultimate or raptor/rat with my boy as I did all those years ago with my father. 4yr old loved the day out but 10yr old was left wanting more... 😔
@@simedracing that’s sad. Can imagine it was very disappointing going without actually knowing what it had turned into. Wonder how long it will be before it closes for good..
Couldn't see the second drop in the distance of The Ultimate when we went easter weekend just gone. I was sure you could make it out in the distance years ago when I last went, but couldn't see anything more than first drop and a bit of track from tunnel to station this time. Ride must be over 30yrs old and h&s laws now from recent years accidents (Alton Towers etc) may have forced the hand of an outdated coaster to close. I loved that ride too!
I used to work here :( it’s sad seeing it in this state. The rapids were owned by someone else and they decided to move the attraction to Fantasy Island in Skegness now!
If I had the finance I would buy this park and restore it to its former glory. Pipe dream but man its sad to see it has fallen so far :(
Especially since it is the closest park to me, If it wasn't for flamingo land there would be nothing worth in the north east UK. (not counting Alton Towers as north east)
The ultimate is getting took down this winter 😢
For the 2021 season LWV has decided to retire a number of thrill rides what included
Apollo
Raptor Attack
Black Pearl
Wild River Rapids
Eagles Claw (Still Operating Until Sold)
The Ultimate is set to remain SBNO throughout the 2021 season while that helps the park limit guest numbers due to COVID.
Great video 👍
Not much left after those are all gone. On the flip side you can see why they are getting rid, they are all quite old rides now and money is probably tight after Covid, Still changing the age is a little drastic. What does SBNO mean btw?
Standing But Not Operating 😀
Technically speaking Apollo raptor attack wild river rapids weren’t scrapped, Apollo on loan, raptor attack sold to America , rapids back to mellors
i cant believe the ultimate is gone..
If this was 10-15 years ago, and you told me about light water valley and described what it had to offer at that moment, I would have went for a day out and I would have enjoyed it because of the fun rides it had at the time.
But fast forward to 2021, what is there to do? Hardly any rides, the place looks abandoned, am I really getting my value for money? No.
This park was fun. And now it’s been stripped of its identity.
I wouldn't say its dead it just is in my video probably because of the weather. If you look at other videos from this year (the sunny days ones) there are quite a few people there. My video was showing the far side of the park on a dark very wet day. This part is where most rides are missing now thus why it was deserted. Why would you be in this section if there's no rides? The new rides are based around where the Angry Birds section used to be and it's been changed quite a lot. This video shows you the changes th-cam.com/video/9exwukGYC0s/w-d-xo.html
I think that if it was dying then the owners wouldn't have invested into the park and I believe they are investing in the future. Who knows, this park could do very well as a younger guest park but the days of Thrill rides are probably over for now. They do have, for 2021, the new (old) Tree Top Trials which is the rope in the trees area at the beginning of the park near the entrance. This used to be a separate paid for attraction which is now part of the entrance fee and is very good. Take it from a 55 yr old that I really enjoyed this part even though it was hammering it down with rain. Not saying that it would be worth the entrance fee on its own but it is great fun to be on and I stayed in it with my kids for over an hour.
@@Skyrideradventures This aged well, look at the state of the park now. The Ultimate is gone.
I remember the sewer rat as a boy I loved going underground in the dark it was absolutely brilliant so unique to have a roller coaster underground in a real sewer . So sad to see the demise of lwv believe me in my memories it looks nothing like this nor in thy memories of thee
They’ve changed it into a “family park” so all the big rides are closed or being removed :(
Yep it would seem so. Shame, this used to be a great park
Here's a video we did the year before th-cam.com/video/Q9HC6RdggvQ/w-d-xo.html . You can see the changes straight away
I have a theory that it’s being run down on purpose.
It’s a brown field site and as such could easily get the planning for housing development.
Given the cost of land round here (I live 5 miles away) they would make an absolute fortune!
Jesus this is so sad, used to go to LWV many times on school trips and with family during the 90’s.. it’s finished by the looks of things 😞
If the Brighton pier group can’t fix it this could be the next park to close down
I'm interested to see what there "future development plan" they claim to have which apparently includes the ultimate but the park havent decided what to do with the ultimate yet according to a news report when they spoke to the park about it
From what I understand it needs a tonne of money spent on it and they can't afford it, so have decided to abandoned it, I should think they couldn't even afford to take it down.
@@interceptor-ss8kb it was only originally planned to be closed for a year then reopen (so they did some work like wood replacing)but covid just kept coming and social distancing never went away and now they have got rid of the big rides they dont have a clue what to do.
@@themeparkkieran4573 I think the park is financially barely hanging on, you walk around it loads of open spaces next to no attractions. They probably couldn't afford to keep up with maintenance on The Ultimate which is the main reason its not running, the pandemic is just a pathetic excuse to hide why it's closed. It wouldn't make any sense to re-open it anyway now its completely moved away from the thrill seeker market and closed all it's big rides. The park is now a little kids park. Very much following the American Adventure death road I doubt it will survive. The new rides they bought are really low cost things the new train ride was literally the most painfully bad thing I've ever seen.
Yea i went yesterday it kinda sucked not having the black pearl and other big rides. It feels like a family park but it was better as it was before ngl.
Lightwater Valley is going to close down - plain and simple. It’s an absolute disgrace! 😢
I wish I went to another theme park that is filled with thrill rides not this baby stuff smh
Such a shame what is happening there. I really wanted to go on the Ultimate but alas that ride has been demolished now since this video was taken. There is no reason for me to visit this place now.. Terrible management and soon will close for good. A good park gets repeat custom, I doubt very much people would return to this lame effort
I’m not to sure what they’re doing to the park but its absolutely painful to watch. I haven’t been since 2015 but even before covid they were replacing rides with absolute garbage attractions like them naff waltzers taking the black windows web. I heard from another TH-camr that Raptor attack is not coming back. But it certainly looks like they’re just letting the ultimate sit and decay. I swear this parks going to end up like Camelot. I think they’ll either ditch half the park and sell it off. Or this will be the last operating season of Lightwater Valley.
I haven't shown the rest of the park just focusing on the stuff that's gone but they are investing in new rides, all be it under 12 Yr old rides at the beginning of the park. A few new stuff for 2021 but not aimed at a more mature audience. They've added Tree Top Trails at the beginning of the park (previously paid for) as part of the entrance free now which is very good. However I believe its days of attracting anyone over 12 are now in the past. I don't believe the Ultimate will be back if I'm honest. We'll have to see.
@@Skyrideradventures I hope so. I went a few times between aged 10-15. I always loved the thrill rides like Whirlwind, The ultimate, Eagles claw and Raptor attack. The place had great potential for loads of new thrill rides.
But things have been slowly disappearing for years not being replaced by anything new. Especially in the last year. It sounds like the park is financially struggling.
@@KH-mu2yx I think they are struggling but I may be wrong (investment in new rides suggests otherwise). If the Ultimate disappears off site then I'd tend to agree they have money worries. Talking of the Ultimate, I can't see how that will fit in their young family theme. No one would be able to ride it and there wouldn't be enough people there with small kids to utilze it. As I said in the video I think it's (Ultimate) done. I think they have a problem because Flamingoland isn't that far away from them and that's gotta hurt their footfall and probably has for a long time. Who knows? Personally I always found the place quite magical and personal where as Flamingoland and Alton Towers feel corporate. I liked Lightwater and will be sad to see its demise.
I loved Camelot back in the day. I really loved the fact that it was themed and had all the cast of people it had. Sure it didnt have many thrill rides but the layout and the atmosphere it created was magical. I'd love to see this it open again
I think Raptor Attack is completely gone, like I think the track is no longer there inside the building and it’s been sold to another park already.
When I last went to the light water valley in August 2016 there was quite a few rides in attractions not operate in five years ago so I think like you say they’re getting ready so shut up shop forever
Flamingo park it is then I was legit about to go LWV on Saturday
Flamingo is upto 50 bar a person
@@an7xxx1 ano and when you get in its like 2 hr wait for a ride
seems thats the end of it
This is such a waisted opportunity. So much space. The potential for the right operator and lots of investment. But question is could it ever make money for the level of investment needed .
Seems like they are completely running it into the ground. A family orientated theme park? How's that going to work out when the kids are in school during the week? Absolute bloody idiots. I think they are planning on running it into the ground so they can build houses on the land. Although apparently the bloke who used to run the park still owns the actual land. Who knows but this is a crying shame as this was one of the best theme parks - The Ultimate was one of my favourite coasters!
House's soon 💰
It's just a picnicking place by the looks of it, cant be called a theme park at all . I give it 2 years max , you cant remove it's most popular rides and expect people to return. How much is entry now .
Ye new rules in theme parks in England for some fucking reason and there’s loads of rides getting shut down because of the new safety rules
It is rubbish it only let's 12u go in rubbish
Anyone can go in, I've a 16yr old and a 10yr old and we've never been stopped.
It's just sad, the rides there are gone, it's going to shit and getting kiddyfyde and removing it's identity
Rubbish park it was good before they got rid of all the good rides