The Long History of The River Caves at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

[@ZEK.0]

Finally! The video I’ve been waiting for! I LOVE this ride! I’ve done research into this ride in the past but this video added so much! I have so many memories of this ride, I have to go on it every time I visit the park. I’ll never forget the first time I went on, seeing the cafe and the mine train passing overhead, sad that is no longer a part of the ride :/ anyway, keep it up guys!

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thanks Zak, glad you enjoyed it 😀

[@Fire_Animates_]

So u like it but don’t but me in it I hate it just seeing this video scared me

[@ZEK.0]

@@Fire_Animates_ you were in the video? Your reply is a bit confusing, please explain more

[@yourexperienceguide]

@@Fire_Animates_ What do you mean?

[@GarryWilliams555]

God, I adore The River Caves. I do think it needs a lot of enhancements when it comes to the animatronics but at the same time I don't want the ride to lose its charm. It's one of the many rides at Pleasure Beach I could easily sit on for hours and not get bored. I love all the dark rides.

[@yourexperienceguide]

Yeah I can definitely agree about the animatronics, I’d love it to get new boats too

[@janeth8506]

This ride is what I love about Pleasure Beach - the history and the rides still operating many years later. Thank you, Scott, for the great information.

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thanks Janet

[@alexgray7422]

Great video! I have happy memories of sitting in the Magnolia Cafe as a child watching the Goldmine and River Caves 😊 the music always takes me back 🎶❤️

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thanks Alex! :)

[@ChrisHewitt16]

This is my absolute favourite ride in the whole park, I’d forgotten the gold mine used to run over head in the Antarctic section!

[@yourexperienceguide]

It’s such a classic, thanks for watching

[@michaelk8405]

The internet only scratches the surface to the amazing history of the River Caves. Unless recounts from riders were documented, I'm sure we'll never know exactly how the scenes changed over the century. I know from looking at a picture that was a Japanese scene. I would love to see plans of the layout and have a backstage tour. The scale of the theming in the Egypt scene and how it all fits in that underground area is fascinating.

[@yourexperienceguide]

Mike None of the information in this video came from internet searches, the scenes were changed a lot between its opening year and the 70’s, changes haven’t been quite as frequent since.

[@michaelk8405]

@@yourexperienceguide Thanks Scott for this video! Really liking all this history content of my favourite UK park. There are a lot of BPB fans like myself in Northern Ireland!

[@ZEK.0]

I really hope that the whole ride gets an overhaul, bringing the facade back to its former glory and bringing back the grotto, even if it only interacted with the cafe :/

[@yourexperienceguide]

Sadly the cafe is long gone, that’s usually part of the BPB Christmas Grotto these days

[@jamespulman138]

@@yourexperienceguide I can’t quite remember where the cafe was? Also is there a route online as to where the river caves goes under park?

[@yourexperienceguide]

James Pulman Opposite the Arena, next to the Ghost Train

[@ZEK.0]

Pleasure Beach Experience what! I never realised! It’s pretty tucked away, and I haven’t been in since I was a lot younger so I’ve never realised! I know there’s nothing that can done and I love Wallace and grommit but that scene really was so magical and it’s probably my first memory of the pleasure beach so I’d love to see it back, but it’s not happening :(

[@ZEK.0]

James Pulman I’ve wondered this for a long time, I’d say it goes under Wallace and grommit and the raised part of the park where you look over revolution and avalanche, icon etc... Although I’d love to see an actual track plan

[@RogEdwardsTV]

Great video. In 1994 I was a Cub Scout in Blackpool and we released helium balloons for the launch of the Space Tower ride. To say thanks we also all got to ride, just, the River Caves! I was about 7 years old. Apart from the Magnolia Cafe/Goldmine part - I don’t think much has changed inside (I’m probably wrong). But one thing I do (think) I remember is that the boats were more like Valhalla’s than the ones we have now (or actually thinking about it - more like Venetian Gobdolasj.

[@yourexperienceguide]

The magnolia cafe is now used for BPB’s Christmas Grotto, the scene for the Ricer Caves was mostly removed to make way for the scene in W&G where Gromit is in his plane.

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

You mean gondolas lol

[@kevinseymour8793]

These history videos are brilliant, I thought the ride had an interaction with a cafe but couldn't work out where it would be. Missed the Ghost Train video so now enjoyed watching that too. Thank you

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thanks Kevin I was meant to link the Ghost Train video

[@danielbooth2982]

I remember sharing a boat on this with Jon Thompson from the ITV cold feet series and speaking to him afterwards, he was a really nice bloke. I also have fond memories of sitting in the café above as a child and looking out for the boats passing below to wave at the riders of them. Lovely ride.

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thanks for watching and commenting 😀

[@CybesVybes]

Brilliant video, thanks for this. My favourite rides from BPB in the 90s are this one and the sorely missed tagada. ❤️

[@yourexperienceguide]

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you :)

[@LMinett]

I love the grotto music of John Keating's Prelude to Earthrise

[@yourexperienceguide]

Me too

[@ZEK.0]

I just went and listened to it! Omg so iconic I love it! Is that music still used? Or was it removed? It’s been so long since I’ve been to pleasure beach! 🤣 it’s such a surreal piece of music and really did so much for the atmosphere of the grotto...

[@ZEK.0]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWWbmIOdhZWJgtk Absolutely wonderful! Just want to be back there now!

[@LMinett]

It's still used

[@clamchowder5426]

River caves is one of the best rides on the PB. Really miss the UK watching back on your content. Looking forward to more

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you, more coming soon

[@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer]

Another of my favourite rides! Thank you so much for the feature about the magnolia cafe. Wonderful memories. Another ride I hope Blackpool keeps forever.

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you! I under appreciated the Magnolia Cafe when it was there

[@HolyFreakinDragonSlayer]

@@yourexperienceguide not only was it amazing to see the rides go past but it was a great themed bar and restraunt area. I remember there was a robotic man dressed as a chef climbing to the roof in the centre of the food court bit which was under some rather cool arched brick work. The food was simple, good value and very good. I wish it was still open 😢

[@yourexperienceguide]

Holy freakin' Christmas Baubles! Totally agree, looking back on how it was I certainly do miss it

[@Disneythroughourveins]

one of our must do's when visiting Blackpool Pleasure Beach x thanks so much for sharing - we enjoyed watching x

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you, love going on this when I take my son to BPB

[@leonhutchinson8264]

thank you for taking the time to do this river caves is my favourite pleasure beach ride !! i must of been over a 1000 times in my life and i can say for sure i have never been to to pleasure beach and not been on my beloved river caves . i agree it needs work on the facade but other than general maintenance inside leave it alone that there is over 100 years of charm . thanks again 100 % my favourite video you have ever made keep up the good work .

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you, appreciate your feedback 😀

[@milky6906]

River caves has always been my favourite ride at the pleasure beach

[@yourexperienceguide]

We love it too

[@triplehelix3794]

Good video. Enjoyed watching this as its one of my favourite rides at the Pleasure Beach. I really miss the days when you could see the Magnolia cafe and Gold Mine from the ride. Some of the scenes really need some TLC though. I'd hate for this ride to be removed, but I guess all things have a finite lifespan and parks cannot stand still.

[@yourexperienceguide]

I'd just like to see the ride refurbished every ten or so years like it used to be in its early years

[@prettypinkwitchlaura9213]

Another great video! Thanks Scott and Becca ❤️ Looking forward to more of these. I love learning about the history of the park. Was hoping to meet you at BPB for opening weekend as it’s a few days after my birthday but I think that might not happen now. Maybe one day! I’d love to thank you in person x

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you, appreciate your support and hope you have a great 2021 😀

[@JC-eg7el]

My Gran took me on this when I was little & last year I got to take my wee girl on it 😊 x

[@yourexperienceguide]

Brill 😊

[@zandert8224]

Love this ride. I love how it feels like an old ride that people would have experienced long before I wax born. Sure cosmetic lifts might be nice but keep the turn if the century (which one) coney Island feel to it. Everytime I visit I go on this a couple of times and always, drag the kids on it. Keep up the good work

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you! 😊

[@paulsmith2516]

The soap suds trick is something that happened more than once when I would visit with my folks as a kid. The big problem I remember was the suds turning ANYTHING they touched bright blue, including my Dad's legs 🤣🤣🤣

[@sincerelyinsincere9268]

One of my favourite PB rides as I love themed attractions. I sometimes wonder what park guests must have made of the ride during its first few decades of operation, pre tv, pre internet, pre many people being widely educated etc. Surely it must have been a truly 'WOW!' experience. Although I enjoy the ride as is, I'd love to see it receive some serious investment including theming such as modern animatronics. It has the internal capacity/space to be a modern day 'WOW!' experience once more. Thanks for posting :)

[@yourexperienceguide]

I really do think it’d have been considered as educational and a real insight to other cultures. BPB would be a worse place without it that’s for sure.

[@ZEK.0]

I’ve always thought that it needs more doing to it, to be honest I don’t want an entire ‘reimagining’ I just want the facade fixed and modern effects, it would be great to see. I’d love the facade nice and colourful with animatronics and a waterfall. I’m sure it all started to change around the 2013 season? Because it seems to have got worse every year since

[@metmatt]

Happy that the swoosh noise is used sparingly in this video. My ears are grateful.

[@yourexperienceguide]

Ok

[@chrisjohnsonadventures]

Relaxing ride

[@yourexperienceguide]

Definitely

[@E69apeTheMatrix420]

I would love them to do another documentary. Geoffrey was a PR genius as well as a great businessman with flare. A great time machine to watch. I have never been on the river caves. I will next time 100%

[@yourexperienceguide]

Definitely give it a go the next time you visit the Pleasure Beach :)

[@skyandchip1092]

I love the river caves and this channel 😀

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you

[@TheAdamjwright]

Only went on the River Caves for the first time a few years ago, I think it's great but would like to see it modernised. Shame about the removal of the interaction between the Gold Mine and the Cafe, it looked really cool!

[@ZEK.0]

It was, idk why the scene got dumbed down and interaction with the cafe removed, they could have just covered up the part where the gold mine was :/

[@yourexperienceguide]

Zak Walker It was because of W&G, the “plane scene” takes up most of that area now

[@purpledino7842]

Great video Scott!

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you

[@purpledino7842]

@@yourexperienceguide There awesome like always ♡

[@number6ix929]

I miss the interaction with the old café and the old Goldmine ride, it was quite unique and novel. The music in that part (Prelude to Earthrise) always makes me feel a bit sad for some reason, perhaps feeling a bit sorry for that lonely mannequin in the gondola that used to be stranded off the main boat channel under the Goldmine track? The boats do have grabrails BTW, I need to hang onto them to prevent my back aching on the final boat lift before the exit tunnel and drop (getting an old fart now, lol). Glad they replaced the sudden stop/start drive for the lift conveyor for a soft start inverter too, I used to prepare for the sudden jolt as it started.. Thanks for posting this video!

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thanks for watching Alan, the lack of grab rail at a natural point to hold onto it was more what I meant 🤦🏻‍♂️ Need to pick my wording better 😆

[@MatthewRambles]

I’ve never been on River Caves but it looks really good and relaxing. Hopefully I’ll be on it in Spring.

[@yourexperienceguide]

Definitely give it a try 😀

[@bigdave3289]

Love it!!!

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you 😀

[@annallan8228]

Hi there thank you for the video and happy new year

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you 😊

[@sophiecarey5086]

Love this so much, reminds me of my childhood 🥰

[@yourexperienceguide]

Such a great family attraction for BPB, thanks for watching 😀

[@temperdpizza9509]

Well this is another reason why I need to visit this park.

[@ZEK.0]

temperdpizza never been? You should, best park in the UK if you can get there :)

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you for watching and commenting

[@stuartbrazier2464]

Superb old ride

[@yourexperienceguide]

Definitely

[@deanhowarth3072]

River Caves is a must ride every time we visit. In some ways it's that bad it makes it good. The monkey popping out of the vase near the end never fails to make me laugh.

[@yourexperienceguide]

It’s certainly a must do ride, I do wonder how it’ll look from scene to scene ten years from now

[@bretts1019]

Love these videos, I know it’s not a standing attraction anymore but I’d love you to do one on the old mine train...

[@yourexperienceguide]

Brett Shemwell If I can find enough footage and photos of it, I will do

[@number6ix929]

One of the old Goldmine train cars was used as a big flower planter outside one of the hotels near the Pleasure Beach iirc, I suspect it's still there.

[@Phil_GCI_ALT-TWR]

Brilliant nostalgic ride, I always say they should open up the cafe again, and random question but does anybody know what is beyond them flaps in the splash zone, where you have that wooden clad structure?

[@yourexperienceguide]

The magnolia cafe is now used for BPB’s Christmas Grotto, the scene for the Ricer Caves was mostly removed to make way for the scene in W&G where Gromit is in his plane. I believe it's a service area for the boats.

[@owenbfc1370]

gotta love the river caves

[@yourexperienceguide]

We sure do

[@guitarplayerforu]

Great video, rode this in 2019 with 2 friends, I hadn't been on it for many years before then. I do have a story I could tell you about River Caves from my childhood though 👌

[@yourexperienceguide]

Sounds good, I’m curious to read your story 😀

[@guitarplayerforu]

@@yourexperienceguide One day in the 90's when I was a kid, we were at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, we'd gone on River Caves towards the end of the day, and the operator had forgotten we were on the ride and didn't see us pass through the station after we'd been round once, so unknowingly ended up sending us round again, then our boat stopped on the hill near the end and we could see other empty boats coming up behind us, also stopping and we just wasn't moving and had been sat there ages, so my mum's boyfriend that she was with at the time got out and walked round to tell them we was still in there, then after telling him off for getting out, the operator sent our boat back to the station to let us off the ride, but had it not been for him getting out, we'd have been locked in there on the hill in that boat all night 👍 That's something that will always stick with me and my mum 😂

[@alfnsue]

Love that ride ❤️

[@yourexperienceguide]

Same! Proper BPB classic

[@suitedsteve6383]

So I was watching recent videos from this year of the ride and I noticed some animatronics had been removed. There's none in the valley of the king's! There's usually three and I'm sure some are missing from the start. I'm assuming they're being restored but do you now anything?

[@yourexperienceguide]

They were removed permanently, not sure if they'll be replaced.

[@suitedsteve6383]

@@yourexperienceguide What? They're really old. Don't you just love coming under the watchtower the out of time movements? I wonder if they'll be up for sale because they are too old to use for anything.

[@yourexperienceguide]

suited steve I think it was influenced by remarks made about those scenes on social media

[@suitedsteve6383]

@@yourexperienceguide Yeah probably something to do with racism but it is a historical scene so they'd ant change history. Now that I think about it, the two people may have been black slaves.

[@Guillermoandres07]

Hi! Thanks for the videos!! Your content is really insightful I wanted to know, where do you find the costs of manufacturing these rides, I’ve looking for the cost of ghost train and blue flyer and haven’t been able to find it in any database Thanks!

[@niallh8129]

When Pleasureland was closed in Southport did some of the boats and scenery get moved to the Blackpool caves? I'm sure some of it looks familiar looking at footage of the old Pleasureland caves and the seeing in the Blackpool caves

[@yourexperienceguide]

I don’t think much was moved over from Southport

[@toptiertrips]

One of my favourite rides at BPB. I really hope they don’t do too much refurbishment inside as I think it would ruin the character of the ride. Always wondered what the river caves layout looks like. Great video, really enjoying this series. 😀

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you, many more history videos to come from us and not just from BPB 😀

[@LeShark75]

I remember being very young, early 80's, when the River Caves had a make over. I can remember watching the guys working on the exterior trying to get the water wheel working.... By jumping on it =o

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you for watching and commenting

[@Northernlightshow]

Have always loved the River Caves. Really miss the Gold Mine though😢

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you for watching and commenting

[@izaakz12]

Good video

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thanks

[@campbell123]

wish the ice bit could be opened up again But i do in enjoy a little ride on the river caves

[@yourexperienceguide]

Sadly that’ll never be possible whilst W&G is there

[@campbell123]

@@yourexperienceguide even just for the restaurant side

[@yourexperienceguide]

Andy Campbell It’s used as BPB’s Christmas Grotto now

[@eddienhp]

Now I know why they have that “Tunnel of Love” sign in it! 😂

[@yourexperienceguide]

Every day is a school day 🤣

[@leeannemccourt11]

So was the tunnel of love sign not always there I thought I was lol x

[@willperrysproductions5404]

Could you do a history video on magic mountain?

[@yourexperienceguide]

If I can find some footage of it, I will do :)

[@CamGold]

would love if they updated the facade near the last drop and they added backrests to the boats

[@yourexperienceguide]

Yeah I'd go with that too

[@marilynkennedy8236]

I visited Blackpool in the Fifties every year for holidays when I was a child. I spent many happy hours at the Pleasure Beach but I don't remember the River Caves. That is unusual because they look fascinating they would have been sure to have stuck in my mind. I remember Noah's Ark ,the Fun House and other features but not the River Caves. Strange. M Kennedy.

[@yourexperienceguide]

In truth the facade probably looked a lot different in comparison to how it does in this video.

[@marilynkennedy8236]

@@yourexperienceguide Thank you so much for your reply. There is a possibility that could be the reason. I am sure if I had gone on it I would not have forgotten it.

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

Jeez it’s donkeys years since we rode this one . I feel like having a go now 😁🧱👍🏼

[@yourexperienceguide]

Always worth a go 😆

[@SteveAndAlexBuild]

@@yourexperienceguide 🧱👍🏽

[@drummer2thestars]

I remember that drop from when I was a small kid being a lot bigger 😂

[@yourexperienceguide]

Lol it probably does seem like a big drop to younger guests

[@kofi4759]

its a shame the park is going to be closed for alot of this season (at this rate, we are staying in lockdown), i havent been to a park since 2018 and wanted bpb to be my first in 3 years 😂

[@yourexperienceguide]

We'll probably be out of lockdown in April

[@gradyzyner7423]

Love your history vids (I think I said the same thing last time).

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you 😊

[@kayleighm5838]

There was no queue on the this so my mum and my brother went on it like seven times in a row apparently

[@yourexperienceguide]

It does tend to move the queue quickly

[@jm252]

Wish they would reopen the cafe overlooking the river caves! Loved it in there! Nice food too! You also forgot to mention the off loading was different were you went over a staircase to exit the ride a few years ago now.

[@yourexperienceguide]

I did forget the staircase, totally forgot about it. The magnolia cafe is now used for BPB’s Christmas Grotto, the scene for the Ricer Caves was mostly removed to make way for the scene in W&G where Gromit is in his plane.

[@flamingo_queenx8411]

If it’s just me and my friend that’s going on the boat could it tip because my friend is older than me?

[@yourexperienceguide]

No the boat won't tip up

[@DawsonsMemes]

I’m interested in the old terror towers ride

[@yourexperienceguide]

Trauma Towers?

[@PinkysProductions]

blue grotto used to be my fav cave its not what it used to be like it is now . outside has droped alot it is sad looking

[@yourexperienceguide]

It's very different due to W&G Thrill-O-Matic

[@PinkysProductions]

@@yourexperienceguide ive seen in ur vids how dofferent is now just makes me sad my own kids wont get to exsperence it.

[@kkrispy2009P]

Welcome to 2021 guys and gals bloody Boris put us in another lock down numbed 3 now I don't think pleasure beach will be open in Feb grrrrr

[@yourexperienceguide]

kkrispy2009 P There was no chance anyway whilst in tier 4 unfortunately

[@chfilms1]

I wonder if Jim rowland ever found who was responsible for filling the rivercaves with soap

[@yourexperienceguide]

Without doubt 😅

[@CybesVybes]

I was there at the time - it was the final day of the season - and met the culprit, a proper cheeky fella who was pretending to be Italian so he couldn't understand any of the visitors. I caught him out though, as he was so pleased with his handiwork I overheard him telling another ride operative that the foam was "backed up to the monkeys at Angkor Wat" 🤣(which has been a common phrase in this household ever since, for example: " I'm so full of cake I'm... etc etc etc". Classy, I'm sure you'll agree). Once he knew I'd rumbled him he was a total scream and told me how they'd done it and how a few of the waterways at the Pleasure Beach were interconnected so the foam was affecting other places, too. He also confessed that they hadn't realised how strong the detergent was... There were huge soft piles of foam all over the place, and when the wind caught them it took the floating gossamer clumps of foam flying all over the park that day.

[@Mitjitsu]

Only cost the modern equivalent of 250k to build. Just shows you how much more expensive things have gotten for theme parks in real terms over the years.

[@yourexperienceguide]

Definitely

[@themeparkenthusiast169]

£3000?! 😂🤯 That wouldn’t even cover a basic refurb for the ride these days

[@yourexperienceguide]

Inflation calculator reckons that’d be worth around £367,500 these days

[@anthony2806]

Why to people get ask to sit in the front of the boat?

[@yourexperienceguide]

If people sit in the middle or at the back but not the front, the boat won't be weighed out properly and will struggle to get around.

[@Tom-852]

I don’t know it was opened in 1905!!!

[@yourexperienceguide]

Oh yeah! Proper classic

[@seany84uk]

Great video!!! I like the river caves but its way overdue a retheme or removal sorry!!

[@yourexperienceguide]

No need to be sorry 😁 Thanks for watching

[@handsoffmycactus2958]

It really isn’t. It’s been there since 1905. Stop trying to trash our heritage. If knobs like you had their way we wouldn’t have any history to enjoy.

[@ianofliverpool7701]

Better audio and some Moving characters

[@yourexperienceguide]

Thank you for watching and commenting

[@zoegraham7207]

The last time I went on river caves I was comming up to the lift bit up the boat In front had stopped causing us to crash into them and then the next boat crashes into us and then another boat crashing again. Was stuck for about 20 mins with no staff about.

[@yourexperienceguide]

It’s not unusual for boats to bunch up due to weight differences, but 20 minutes? There’s CCTV everywhere in the ride they’d have been on scene much quicker if needed.

[@zoegraham7207]

@@yourexperienceguide it's all cool cuz we made friends with the people who boat we hit 🤣🤣