England’s TROUBLED Royal Safari Park: Windsor Safari Park

Join us on a brand new Expedition Extinct as we look at the troubled history of Windsor Safari Park. A Wildlife park that later became a theme park, extinct and then much more. A story of Clowns, Queens and LEGO.
Join the Expedition
/ expeditionthemepark
/ expeditionthemepark
/ expeditionthemepark
Credits -
T42meister - • 0000f 0002a Billy Smar...
DavideoVisits - • Blackpool Holiday 1960
Jo Penniston - • Windsor Castle early 1...
GuildfordGhost - • WINDSOR, 1970s (8mm Am...
mr scratchy - • BIRMINGHAM ZOO 1960'S UK
Odds and Ends - • Longleat during the196...
riverside retro - • Windsor & Woburn Safar...
Adrian - • 1971 Windsor Safari Pa...
Stephen Headley - • 1980 Easter Windsor Sa...
Ian Guppy - • Windsor Safari Park 1973
Paul Carstairs - • 1971 / 1975
Clifton Richardson - • A Day at Windsor Safar...
Joe Hartley - • A Night At The Bavaria...
/ parkspill

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

What Expedition would you like to see next? Also 1984 is the new 1894.

[@archi.e3]

Sanrio puroland

[@nicktrains2234]

Would love more UK stuff, perhaps the rides at Blackpool similar to your Alton towers series?

[@racheljackson4428]

Cosmic Rewind review.

[@arthur.jaanus]

Warner bros movie world Australia arkham asylum shock therapy

[@23Gaunt]

Dogpatch USA

[@Boom12]

The fact many cars got mangled by baboons, it would've made sense to have a Mechanic Workshop at the end of the attraction, just like how we all end attractions with a gift shop!

[@Mrtfarrugia]

The baboons were running a chop shop.😂

[@kellyweingart3692]

lol

[@Sniperboy5551]

Baboons are assholes

[@bugsburrow]

As someone who is both a theme park/coaster enthusiast AND an orca enthusiast, I really REALLY appreciate you putting such an emphasis on the orca care. From my observations, it seems as though a lot of people in the theme park / coaster community seem to go to parks without care and not really value how those specific parks treat their animals. I understand the animals aren’t their main focus, but still I feel as though they could be a little more responsible. It’s really refreshing seeing a theme park channel that actually acknowledges that kind of stuff :) I adore orcas so much, and it pains me to know how many people don’t know their true intelligence and how being with their families and being social plays a MAJOR role in their life

[@usainengland]

I lost a friend because I refused to watch Shamu 30 years. The sheer amount of ignorance and indifference in animal show audiences is so alarming. Humans are the animals with hubris.

[@SomeOne-zw6kh]

​@@usainengland doesn't sound like much of a friend. What a lame reason.

[@usainengland]

@@SomeOne-zw6kh You are right. Sadly, my friend couldn’t understand why I didn’t follow the group. Maybe my perception is off, but in England folks acquiesce to group norms as a matter of course. Individualism is frowned upon.

[@Larry]

I absolutely loved Windsor safari Park as a kid, went many times over the years. Sega used it for a while to show people new games before the makeover, won a pair of Sega shoelaces in a challenge :D But it did feel so odd they had added so much new stuff, them suddenly closed it. Only been to lego land the once since :(

[@scaryhobbit211]

Ayy Larry!

[@juliagoodwin9510]

'ello Larry!

[@sixpillarsarts]

I used to go! Full of plastic now.

[@TobiasBroad]

I’ve always had this hazy memory of seeing a killer whale show when I was very young… but there aren’t any in England… Thank you, Winnie fills that gap in my memory.

[@Rachael8989]

Same here! I don’t remember seeing it as I would’ve only been 1 or 2, but always looked at my mum’s photos and wondered where they were taken (she has terrible memory! Haha) I thought it couldn’t be in the UK but now I know it was Winnie!❤

[@Croz89]

First and only time I saw an orca was at SeaWorld San Diego. Don't think I ever went to this place until it became Legoland, then we used to go pretty much every year when I was young.

[@destinedpotato1577]

I was born after The Windsor Safari Park closed and frequently visited Legoland Windsor as a child, I know people who have Lifetime Season Passes. I always wondered what the white building was near x-treme team challenge and never knew about its history. Apparently a couple parrots escaped and their descendants can be found in Windsor Great Park. There was also that shot that looked down the hill towards the entrance and I felt I could immediately locate where that was within the park.

[@Croz89]

AFAIK it's not illegal to keep cetaceans in captivity in the UK, it's just the regulations are so strict that it would be nigh on impossible for any dolphinarium to ever operate profitably. It's effectively a ban without actually being one.

[@crcomments8509]

I went to Windsor Safari park, during the final season that the Killer Whale was there, even then my girlfriend and I were surprised at how small the pool actually was. There are at least some really fantastic zoo’s left in the U.K.

[@jonathanmcloughlin2465]

Excellent video, i'm a zoo designer in the UK and love watching videos like this that show the evolution of zoo's, wildlife parks and safari parks. I also managed to visit (as a child) the last summer before it shut down, and i recall all the Egyptian theming and seeing the orca in the sea world show. I remember thinking even then that back then some of the animal areas (chimps in particular) were little more than 360 pens with high walls and nothing for the animals to do. It definitely left a lasting impact on me as a designer, but I'm glad 'good' zoo master planning has moved on since this. Still nice to look back and remember this place.

[@Ganondorfdude11]

I went to Windsor Safari Park when I was 2 years old. One of my earliest memories is the monkeys jumping on the car.

[@Ronika_Nyx]

Loove the series! Just one quick note; Legoland Windsor was actually the second time LEGO ventured out of Denmark. Hansa-Park in Germany used to be Legoland Sierksdorf from 1973-1976 though it wasn't fully operated and owned by LEGO. Anyway, minor detail. You told the story of Safari Park Windsor very well, thank you for introducing me to it!

[@cyberleaderandy1]

I've been in the Mansion a couple of times when we did events there at Legoland. There's a lovely central staircase in the building but the most interesting part is, hidden away in a corridor, a lot of old photos of the building of the wildlife park and also the building of legoland. I consider myself pretty honoured now to have seen these as ive seen and been in somewhere special.

[@Lee-kd3be]

Stumbled across your channel by accident but had to say what a fascinating vlog on Windsor safari park. Not something im proud of but I was actually at the last show Winnie did in 1990. I was only 5 at the time but still remember a bit of it. I also remember the keeper at the time telling us she was heading to America.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Different times really. Thank you so much.

[@snowbeast4463]

Seeing the whales in those tiny pools is horrifying in hindsight.

[@TheBennett271190]

I lived in the park during the closure. My dad was a falconer and we mooved, along with all the birds of prey, to Norfolk in the early 90s after lego land took over. I've heard some amazing stories about the park and have some brilliant photos and a vhs the park did where my dad talks to Terry Nutkins about the birds of prey along with a visit to the baboons and the orka show. Seems like a magical place for every one who was involved with it when they were open

[@weaseal]

I grew up in the area and visited both windsor safari and legoland when young, but never realised it was actually the same site!! I thought at the time the conditions at the safari were bad, and I remember my mum refusing to ever go to any park that homes large marine mammals again. Thanks for the resurfaced memories and keep up the great work!!

[@muppetsretrofan8873]

I love this video, and I'm super glad we've learned more about animals since the 60s/70s. I know this may seem like a weird request for Expeditions, but I'd like to see you tackle restaurants [both defunct and non defunct]. The tragic tales of Burger Chef [who invented the kids meal before Mcdonald's], and Howard Johnson's would be great videos, but I'd also like to see the history of Jack In The Box [the old buildings were super colorful and creative, and the 70s characters were voiced by Paul Winchell, voice of Tigger], and Hardee's [from how it was STOLEN from it's founder, to the mascots Gilbert Giddyup and Speedy Mcgreedy, and finally to the Carl's Jr buyout].

[@ChloeClements34]

Great video and well put together, a nice look down memory lane. My family grew up just along the boundary to the park, some worked there and I even worked at LLW for time. I know information here well researched but its not quite as lovely as its made out here. Lots of animals died here during its time before with animals stored here and when it opened as WSP. Animals would escape quite often to the local surrounding area which can be both funny and scary. Lots of animals are buried on the land too, most were recorded and LLW has a big map of sensitive areas. The 60-80's were a rough time for animal protection laws and any form of enforcement and sometimes actions were taken that would not fly today. There were plenty of issues when the park closed. Staff reported not getting to look after animals because the bank saw only commodities , mistreatment and not every animal got a new home. I know history is a bit white washed and lots of nice things were said and promised but its not the whole truth. On the more lighter side parts of the park infrastructure still has animal themes like the roads. Some of roads still have places to put animal enclosure gates in and a few smaller structures remain on site. The Mansion is quite lovely inside and LLW have looked after it well.

[@intelligentzombie8545]

Hi, that's really interesting! Do you know of any areas that haven't changed since it became legoland windsor or of any Easter eggs that can still be found in the park. Thanks

[@elizabethbuczkowski7188]

Honestly, the thumbnail of this video is easily one of the best things I’ve seen.

[@Ukztoxicswag]

This was a great video, I have worked at LEGOLAND for 5 years and have never really known too much about its history as a safari park but wow I was so engrossed in this video, the history of the mansion was cool as i pretty much go in there once a week and had no idea about its history. Thanks!

[@captainjack8319]

This channel covering an array of topics, not just talking about places associated with that mouse, is great, refreshing, and creative.

[@Northerner_Transport_Hub]

I'm just gonna point out that the bits where we see cars driving through the safari park is an absolute GOLD MINE for petrolheads like me. I spotted: Ford Capri Porsche 944 2 minis Original MK1 Ford Transit Land Rover Series 2 Austin 1100

[@NickiLuv82]

I remember Windsor Safari Park from The Omen. I'm still terrified of Baboons to this day 😂

[@Jungleroomreptiles]

I worked there in 1979 for two years, It was terrible how the animals were treated by some of the rangers and the management, I remember Fiona Smythe She's in this video she was a lovely person

[@Rachael8989]

Thank you for this fascinating video! I feel like not a lot is on the internet about Windsor Safari Park. I have some photos of me visiting the park when I was a toddler. I thought it was 1991, but one photo clearly shows my brother looking into Winnie’s tank (so glad to finally know her name thanks to this vid!) so maybe it was 1990 (I was born 89). We visited Legoland opening year 96 and have been frequent visitors most years since, but I’m glad I can say that I visited Windsor Safari Park once!

[@magnusvontesla]

I am so happy when a new Expedition video drops.

[@dwitefry4157]

"oh I love it when he does these, it's really nice to have our parks and rides treated the same as the American ones, but what's he gonna say about Windsor Safari Park? I went there a bunch of times, it was just a safari park with knobs on, he'll bring up the Winnie and... what? Billy Smart is behind Windsor Safari Park!?! The Guv'nor is the start of Legoland Windsor?!?" Or: these are always worth watching, cheers mate.

[@Pander1985]

Well I’ll be damed! 😮 you learn something new every day!

[@abbiekennedy2861]

Not come across your stuff before and really enjoyed this video! I went as a child, I was so excited about seeing an orca. I remember feeling sad about the tank even as a 6 year old. Why we ever thought this was an okay way to treat animals like that.

[@dawlish81a]

Great video I remember when we were kids we loved going to Chester Zoo but never went to any Safari Parks as as soon as you mentioned it it was well known that cars would get the wing mirrors , window rubber and anything else pullable removed hahahaha

[@synthsol5522]

Wow that pool looks like a standard public pool

[@ThemeParksAndAttractions]

Watched it earlier was a great watch 👌💯

[@shaggytallboy4982]

Great video as usual. Awesome job. I love the care you take in telling a story

[@GlenFair]

Very good. I know I went there as a kid during the 70s but don't remember much about it. It was certainly of its time. The Rigby era was confusing, I guess they were trying to be a theme park and they spent a fortune on cool themed buildings and areas (which were way better than anything Chessington had)...but unlike Chessington they didn't have any rides. Spent all the money on buildings. Weird. I don't think they knew what they were trying to be.

[@cyclingdad6152]

Interesting seeing Terry Nutkins and Chris Packham promoting the safari park. I bet Chris would cringe if he saw this video now. Quite a few things were “ok” in the 60s and 70s which are taboo now.

[@Bucky749]

This one was great .

[@michailokeefeMooMoo]

Great video very informative and interesting. Don’t know how I missed this video 3 months ago

[@matthewmurnaghan2583]

Good work on this Expedition Extinct. Hopefully you'll dive in to more of Legoland Windsor's past attractions!

[@PotooBurd]

This is so informative!!! Fantastic reporting; I enjoy this kind of content!🌻🌼🐝

[@marielayfield2987]

Always interesting history! Thanks Sam!

[@boffyb]

13:17 Nothing says “authenticity” like an AFRICAN Tiki Show 😆

[@markymark-r]

Great upload

[@muppetsretrofan8873]

This was a great, but really bittersweet video. I have mixed thoughts on animals in captivity, on one hand having them in small cages [and tanks] is wrong, but on the other hand, with poachers around, some of these animals need to be preserved in some way. I don't doubt there are good zoos and marine exhibits out there, but the majority of them [LOOKING AT YOU, SEAWORLD] need to do MUCH better, and give more space for the animals, while giving them toys so that they can have fun without being forced to do tricks. On a different theme park note, and I know others have done this before, but PLEASE DO ASTROWORLD. It has such a interesting history, but a sad one. I'd like to see you talk more about the history of Marvel Mcfey, as even Airtime Thrills doesn't talk about him enough. The brief period in 1984 where Marvel and his Enchanted Animals co-existed with Pac Man and Shirt Tales is really interesting. Also also, I'd love to see you do defunct restaurants, and restaurants that have changed so much since they first started. My recommendations for restaurant episodes are Burger Chef [one of the most tragic tales of Defunct restaurants, and they even invented the kids meal before Mcdonald's did. Lionel Wilson, voice of Terrytoons character Tom Terrific did the voice of Jeff], Jack In The Box [not defunct, but the original restaurants had such a unique colorful look, that it makes me wish they STAYED that way. Also the 1970s characters were voiced by Paul Winchell, voice of Tigger. There's a few commercials, and a few of the comics on KZbin], and Hardee's [how it was STOLEN from it's founder, Hardee's 1970s era with Gilbert Giddyup and Speedy Mcgreedy, the Hurry On Down jingle sung by Cass Elliot, the Carl's Jr buyout].

[@jmcmillan1343]

Absolutely amazing vid mate I loved that place So interesting all the history keep up the good work

[@TravNash]

That drunk bear song is high art.

[@oodlesofnoodles7931]

I live for your videos, please keep making them! I love them!!!!

[@neilscotter5191]

My only memory of Windsor Safari Park is getting lost in the adventure playground there and loosing my 1st tooth in the car park on the way home when I was 6 in the mid 1980's. Still haven't been back since it turned into Legoland.

[@TufteMotorsport]

Oh my god! When I heard the sound of the Legoland Windsor advert from the Legoland game.. I stopped dead in my tracks. I have so many fond memories from both the game and the Billund park. I celebrated my 30th birthday there with my friends last year and we had the time of our lives. Please do a video on Lego land..

[@UKThemeParks]

This could be the best one yet, loved it soo much detail.

[@tomklock568]

Little to no regulations? What could possibly go wrong? Ha ha. Thanks so much for this look at this, I wasn't aware of such a book in the UK of this sort of thing.

[@wynonnamareeuy]

I am actually quite shocked to learn that Legoland Winsdor did started out as a safari park/Seaworld knockoff. How drastically different indeed.

[@Wdast]

2 POSTS IN A WEEK FROM YOU? OH MY GOD I MUST BE DREAMING.

[@Ms.HarmonyJ]

My friend amazing video i love lego theme park much love from USA

[@alldat06]

Very similar to the "Lion Country Safari" parks here in the US. They were popular back in the 70's before SeaWorld became famous. Good idea for another park spotlight??

[@SmartShip-cn5hb]

WSP got 2.5m visitors per year, in the early 1970s, but, I guess, had to keep official numbers down, for various reasons, in those days.

[@testpilotian3188]

Interesting that Chris Packham was saying how wonderful it was back then given his present viewpoint on zoos and animals…

[@CarlileCoasters]

Ya think you could do a review on buzzsaw falls at silver dollar city? It’s where powder keg was and it has a great but about medium lengthed history

[@alexandrarow8411]

I visited Windsor Safari park many times when I was young, used to love going around the animal enclosures in the car (I count ourselves very lucky that no damage ever occurred) The alpine slide was my favourite thing there and I remember when they added all the African themed rides. But for some reason I don't remember the seaworld part at all, I'm guessing my parents weren't big fans of marine type parks. I love your videos, especially when they're on places I've visited and fondly remember. As a small suggestion do you remember the dark ride next to the Tower of London, called the Tower Hill Pageant, advertised as England's first dark ride?

[@DK-zt5oo]

Another banger. It's cool learning of all these parks I never knew of.

[@oodlesofnoodles7931]

I have binged watch your channel and I NEED more

[@Mrtfarrugia]

Every time you bring up the drive through safari i think about African Lions Safari in Canada. My parents absolutely refused to bring our car through for fear of it getting ripped apart.

[@hdtripp6218]

We have a drive through safari park not far from our house...you can rent their old beat up mini vans to drive through...most people do....its fun to watch people in their nice cars drive through and are immediately attached use by large oxen and giraffes looking for treats (you buy bags of food to throw to the deer and caribou and moose elk bulls etc)....prob the funniest part of the safari is watching someone's new car get mangled

[@alexgeorge501]

The UK sure had it's fair share of theme parks come and go over the years, thanks for uploading and i'll see you on the next Expedition! (maybe on the "eanoland" Area at Chessington world of adventure or the IMAX Ridefilm attraction at the Las Vegas Luxor?)

[@kaysharogers32]

Just glossed right over Billy Smart being 1 of 23 children 😮

[@GameFactsSpecial]

The size of those tanks they keep the whales and Dolphins in made me uncomfortable watching.

[@Thomas__Blue]

11:16 - Is that Bessie from Doctor Who driving on the grass haha

[@jean-lucpicard5510]

She wasn't even a vintage car. Just a ford Popular 103 from 1953.

[@BenTheMotionist]

Billy Smart looked great for a man born in 1984! (A slip of the tongue sir, I think you mean't 1894)

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Did I really say 1984? Dammit I listened to it back so many times. I will fix that! Thanks lol

[@BenTheMotionist]

@@ExpeditionThemePark Man, it's a great video, and a very easy thing to mistake saying. 😎

[@Feathers_McGraw_0]

Amazing Video!! I would love to see a video on what came after- Legoland Windsor

[@samharrison5791]

the end was depressing😭

[@gilius2k156]

Really nice retrospective!

[@carlybug89]

One of TWENTY THREE CHILDREN?!?!?

[@vectorwolf]

Speaking of safari parks, you should talk about the one that was square in the middle of Irvine CA. They put a water park next to it that outlived the animal park but i don't know if it survives either.

[@moominpapa1980]

I wonder what Chris Packham thinks about the Seaworld bit these days?

[@glowfenix]

Wow that's was interesting to hear about this park and its history

[@nixycane8981]

Have you done a video on Boo Blasters at a kings island? It looks like such a cool dark ride with a lot of scenes similar to the haunted mansion

[@melissajensen3166]

Great video Sam.

[@tfromcleveland3741]

You have to respect Legoland’s strategy of adding to existing parks and not building new from the ground up. Smart

[@forzaguy1252]

Thats what six flags did for most of their parks

[@Kris_Kitten]

I've only been to Legoland once but in San Diego, and I remember having so much fun. I do remember laughing at pictures of myself who I was 12 driving the cars, and I just looked so big. But the dragon coaster was the best part of that trip for me

[@Croz89]

Oddly the one in San Diego when it opened was pretty much an exact replica of Windsor, same attractions and everything. I think it might of diverged since then though.

[@Kris_Kitten]

@@Croz89 I know they added new stuff, but I haven't been there in years

[@thesaucyslurp]

great doc i love the show.

[@BleachFan9891]

I can only imagine how “ thrilled” the royal family was to have a safari park so close to the castle

[@foxworthyyoutube]

I never knew that LEGOLAND used to be a Safari Park, I know my went to Windsor Safari Park as kid, But I was introduced to it as LEGOLAND Windsor Resort.

[@whoguru5]

Two expeditions in a week? Consider me spoiled. 😊

[@swootgrommet5921]

Would Legoland Windsor ever get its own standalone episode? I get it’s already covered in this episode, but with it being the main theme-park of my childhood, I would love to hear something more in-depth.

[@ExpeditionThemePark]

Yes in the future !

[@swoopingdeath1717]

Could you cover LegoLand Windsor in another video? It was the theme park that got me into theme parks.

[@loonytunescrazy]

My grandparents took to me Windsor Safari park when I was little

[@Sean-eo8ns]

An expedition this early? I’ll lace up my hiking shoes

[@christophermartin1138]

Top shelf as usual fella ! Truly appreciate the research 🙏

[@MissFanCulture]

Another gem!

[@jonhelmer8591]

Billy Smart was I believe not born in 1984, he's not even in the book! Is this some dystopian reference? Great channel and video is what I really want to say.

[@plurpee.]

RIP Winnie

[@theangriestcatintheworld]

I just feel sad for all the animals 😢

[@coyoteartist]

I do recall Winnie coming to Orlando either being on the news or in the paper. I'd no ider that there was even a killer whale in the UK when I learned about her.

[@kitc6635]

I wonder if Winnie had an english accent to the other whales when she moved to orlando

[@digitalranger4259]

Another wonderful video. It brings back memories of a similar park in Orange County, CA called Lion Country Safari. Don't know if there is enough there for an episode, but it was a fun place to go.

[@insanelewis21]

i was born in 1986 in surrey and have grown up with the changes to thorpe, chessington and WSP to Legoland. anyone else remember when chessington was the thrill park lol

[@otaking3582]

The baboons causing vehicular damage is giving me flashbacks to that one level in Illbleed. Hopefully these primates weren't also zombified perverts...

[@michellemorningstar6610]

Aww my most local theme park 🤘🏻🖤🤘🏻

[@MightyMezzo]

I think I’d be willing to spend a few £££ to dunk a rhino poacher in a tank of slime. Maybe even some $$$.

[@Skorpychan]

My aunt is an accountant, and once got sent to Windsor Safari Park to do a stock-take. Not only were the animal counts out, but there were entire buildings missing. She also found that no matter how many times you count a field of zebra, you can never come up with the same number twice. I've never been to Legoland Winsor, though. By the time they built it, I was a bit too old for it and my parents were too busy divorcing to do family trips. Once I was old enough to do things on my own, they'd adopted the 'no unaccompanied men' policy because apparently that kind of bigotry is legal. I'm not willing to borrow someone's child to go there, and I doubt any parents I know would let me borrow one.

[@Heather420]

Not to argue but the rule isn't just no unaccompanied men, it's all single adults, which is dumb regardless. I used to borrow my sister's kids so I could go have more fun then them 😌

[@Skorpychan]

@@Heather420 Still discriminatory.

[@carminecdinoproductions]

That abandoned and extinct theme park gives me an idea for a wildlife safari zoological theme park with lots of different animal species from around the world and various different rides and attractions for all ages that could be similar to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Busch Gardens Tampa, and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom but with some safari attractions and some pretty cool stuff!