The Lost American Adventure Theme Park - Part 3

[@ShaneM345]

It's absolutely criminal what happened to AA. Your right the council didn't want a theme park here! Can you imagine how amazing it would of been today! 😢

[@kevanparker908]

It was killing trade in the local area, Massive traffic jams between Heanor and Ilkeston. Many people stopped using the road going to shop at Derby instead or Nottingham. People living local unable to leave their drives in the car.

[@ProTroll_UK]

In fairness, a big mound puts me off too.

[@Clara-ph7my]

The councils hated this place because they wanted houses on the land. The locals can complain but it must have created lots of jobs this place. I would love a theme park on my doorstep. I would love nothing more, watching once protected greenbelt land, built on for a theme park rater than houses (which is happening despite several campaigns to stop this now for over a decade). Land is left abandoned and unkept for a reason! Great job. Thank you for the journey back and sadly forward.

[@hollimurray8856]

I enjoyed that wee series 😊. Your home videos though you can tell they're 90s early 2000's what are you wearing? 😂 I mean why did we think we looked absolutely amazing eh? 😂😂

[@AdventureMe]

Yes! Thank you!

[@shirleylynch7529]

How sad, how very sad. Must have been quite nostalgic for you. Just feel such a waste of a truly beautiful park and fun place to be at one time. Thank you for this series. Amazing.

[@AdventureMe]

So sad

[@gavinwolves2528]

Agreed I never went here but the loss to the UK theme park industry is gutting. Great series though, so well put together

[@cookingfat1]

Brings back great memories. My Dad lived in Sutton-in-Ashfield, not too far away. We used to go most weekends in the summer. There were bus tickets my mates collected with £1.99 park entry on the back. We took a pack up and spent the whole day there for less than two quid each.

[@waynepaxford7263]

Part 3 was great Darren excellent video It great series you work hard on it I can't wait for next video Darren I hope you and your family and friends are well and safe

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Wayne

[@therestorementor7742]

Darren all your stuff and especially the photo fades are amazing, what I would love to say is how all the councils are getting it so wrong banging up houses when all the retail amusements etc etc are being wiped out, I haven’t got kids but sadly I’m glad I haven’t as with no work anymore for retail cleaners delivery’s etc etc etc where are the jobs going to come from???? No jobs = no money, no money = civil war ie looting to survive! Dark days ahead and sadly nobody seams to realise it’s coming, sadly also to late to change 😩😩

[@AdventureMe]

I know. They're always short sighted

[@andygilbert9374]

Really loved the American Adventure stuff, you have brought back some great memories of my time working at this park for several seasons. It was a great place and such a shame it’s gone

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@markwood1846]

Great trilogy, brought back many memories. Still have sepia photo on wall dressed in cowboy gear

[@AdventureMe]

Same here!

[@danross8565]

Good stuff again Darren

[@CarpeNoctum95]

Absolutely fantastic little series. Like you, and many others, The American Adventure holds an extremely special and sentimental place in my heart. As i lived (and still do) in Belper only 15 minutes away or so, i went there all the time with my family, cousins etc. I think the first time i ever went was in the late 90's as a toddler, but right up until 2006, it was a huge part of my childhood. I have some old video footage of me and my sister at the park in the early 2000's and a notorious clip of my dad on the Skycoaster. Notorious for being hilarious as the only reason my parents took the video camera that time was because my dad won free tickets to go on the Skycoaster (as it was an upcost to ride) and the plan was obviously to record him on it. I was way too young and small to go on it, even though i desperately wanted to. The reason the video is funny, is because my mum spent the whole day recording me and my sister doing jack shit basically, and then when it was time to record my dad on the Skycoaster, i'm sure many people will remember, theres a loud voice over the tannoy that counts down to the swing releasing, and on the video you can see my dad go up, then the voice, "three, two, one..." and then the video cuts off as the camera went flat, lmao, right at the perfect moment. I remember as i was growing up, every time we went, i'd be wishing i'd finally be tall enough for the big rides. The day i was finally tall enough for the Missile, i rode it 3 times in a row and then threw up in a bin near the Runaway Mine Train. It was the very first 'big' rollercoaster i ever went on, clearly sparking a passion for me i still carry today. Ever since i passed my driving test in 2015, i have been back to the site several times, each time it's less and less recognisable, the most recent being only a couple of weeks ago. The second 'new' entrance is just about the only thing left standing that is recognisable, but something i think you may have missed, is just inside the entrance, there are a couple of light poles left that used to line the fence either side of the entrance gates, in old photos you can see them with white globes on top, for which remnants of the globes are still present. For anyone wishing to go and see the old site, i would recommend doing so asap, as although the place is still fairly the same as in this video, just a few more houses built now, i don't think it will be long before the housing development has completely taken over the place and the old carparks/entrance gate are gone. If you knew the place when it was open, you can definitely still recognise parts of it, especially the back carpark with the entrance gates, as for now it hasn't been touched, it still has the old sign posts for the car parks (with no signs on them) and some of the old tarmac writing. And those long beams/posts ARE currently still there in the carpark.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate. Thanks for the memories

[@jamesphilpot]

Thank you and hello to anyone I used to work with. I did 97,98, 04 and 05. I won employee of the month in May 2005 for fixing the Motion Master the night before a bank holiday.

[@AdventureMe]

Good memories I'm sure

[@LadyLudacrious]

Fun times. I used to work there. Unfortunately houses have now been built :/

[@DisneyMarkUK]

Fantastic Darren. We only went once but it’s still lovely to see places like this documented.

[@gaz11h]

The headstocks were replaced as you rightly say the wheels on the replacement are the original winding wheels also the park is in Derbyshire

[@djhworld_]

Really enjoyed this series, I don't have vivid memories of AA but definitely visited a few times as a young child, probably the last visit was in 2002 with school. Quite shocked at how different it looks now, the photo fades in the video really put it into perspective.

[@robbillingham6453]

Great video I'm remember going to AA when I was kid with my family. As my grandparents use to live in Ripley.

[@robwilkinson11]

Brilliant! I remember seeing the abandoned junior krypton assault course at the unused area at the back of the park. Strange to see the whole place abandoned as that was now

[@hollyberries7]

Really enjoyed the American Adventure series. I spent many happy days there as a child and later lived 2 mins up the road so know the area well. I love the before and after shots you do. Thank you for making these videos

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@russellb1212]

Really enjoyed these episode, fond memories of a great day after winning free tickets at sister park Camelot

[@pompeylee38]

Loved every minute of that series. Never visited the park, but do recall passing it prior to it's demise. It made me feel real emotional watching that-seeing how loved it was by so many. And now seeing it as no more than a forgotten waste land. Like you commented so much raw potential, that was sadly overlooked leading to it's tragic end.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching

[@paulbeesley5743]

Great series Darren, Id forgotten a lot of it.👍👍

[@madheadmadDAZ]

I went all the way to pleasure wood hills to ride the missile as was too scared as a kid. It made me cry when I saw it again.

[@karenmay2567]

Thanks for such a great series! Went here in 89, enjoyed the show and got absolutely soaked on the log flue but lots of laughs! Your photo fades are awesome! Shame it went, never got to visit Camelot though. Will keep watch for the documentary!

[@AdventureMe]

I've already done Camelot. It's on my channel 👍

[@Ash_Dean]

This was so good! Well done

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Ash

[@paulboardman01]

nice one, brings back memories

[@benmarshall787]

Enjoyed the series like others Darren. I never went but I always wondered how it faired been close to Alton Towers. Your sadness or melancholy comes through on the last episode, which is an honest opinion perhaps a refreshing change on some channels (not yours). As said from the view of someone who didn't visit I get the impression of the owners being pioneers (think goldrush in the USA) ahead of their time, in a way like the North Bay Water slide etc, which as you've covered is in a worst state than the American Adventure site. The irony of not supporting a local business expanding with what today would be a goldmine regarding staycation post COVID camping/holiday homes etc like many other places have done, yet a few years down the line houses are ok!! I bet there's been a fortune spent on land reclamation with some of the site being brown field ie former industrial too. Great video, but do get back into Yorkshire lad, need you here. Been looking for you at Batley field hill, and someone appears to have bust the lift at the Whitehall Road raised garden Viaduct . Best wishes. Ben 🚌🚐

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Ben. Some Yorkshire coming over next few weeks.

[@benmarshall787]

That's "grate" news our Darren! I saw the teaser trailer re Shipley glen. Nice place. Used to go with parents n gdad then onto his favourite Ilkley , the cow and calf, "willy halls spout" (the white wells wishing well spa and waterfall) and dinner at Dick Hudson's ont tutha side ot ill! So well done again re am' ad' series . Best wishes from all your fans in "Dogus" , n 'ecky, be careful , Ben 🚐🚌🇬🇧🇺🇦

[@y90kdw]

Amazing series, thank you! Sad to see a place of so many happy memories turned into this.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mmcgready4566]

Excellent video again and a very good before and After View. 👏

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you so much 😀

[@angelcoops511]

Thank for showing these old parks on your channel. It seems so sad that they are shut down.

[@petewombourne]

Superb series into a much loved missed theme park. I remember it well, attending as a child and taking part in the old shoot-out with the western actors in the alamo setting. i was always too young to ride the rollercoasters but, the log flume was something else!

[@AdventureMe]

Couldn't agree more!

[@leighsmith7281]

Good videos these , I remember American adventure went there few times when I was a kid 🇺🇸

[@markgreen933]

Love your videos bro. So interesting and I admire your energy in doing them.keep them coming 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you! Will do!

[@donnafarrand5563]

Fab series thankyou. In the 70s there used to be a miniature train on the hillside for children, I've never managed to find a picture of that. But that was my first memory of shipley, then Britannia park. Very sad it was ran down.

[@AdventureMe]

I never saw any pics of that either

[@jennyrobinson8449]

Really brilliant series Darren 👏 but its so sad to see a what once was a place of fun is now derelict 😢

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Jenny

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

I love these videos on Theme parks, this Is how I found you when you were doing another one. I hope you can find more to do in the future. This has been amazing your Series on this and I was very lucky to have gone, before it was demolished.

[@AdventureMe]

Another coming soon

[@LKBRICKS1993]

Amazing video so interesting to watch.

[@AdventureMe]

You are so kind

[@AdyReavill]

I enjoyed every bit of this series

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching

[@paulwalker9262]

Absolutely brilliant 3 episode's Darren, you certainly do your research well done 👏

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Paul

[@simoncarter6281]

Just to say many thanks for doing this video series about American Adventure . It has brought so many memories , for me , well before the park . Many thanks . Simon Carter . Brian's son

[@Bodegroes]

Great content in this series, thank you.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@christelbraune4530]

Das ist eine schöne Serie. Deine Landsleute sind bestimmt erfreut über die schönen Erinnerungen. Thank you Darren 👍👋

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Christel

[@joannestevens2052]

Enjoyed watching this ! A bit random I know but I was reminiscing today and mentioned the American Adventure, so I looked it up ! Sad because I loved the place . Thankyou for making this 😊👍

[@nikashby6363]

Really enjoyed this series 👌 thank you for taking your time out and making this, extremely interesting ....... quite sad really.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ashleymiskin5284]

Great series again !!😊

[@emmad4845]

Loved the three videos of the old American Adventure theme park, it was brilliant to see the comparison of then and now, brought back some fantastic memories of that place, fab job!!

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danielbooth2982]

Great series! Wish that I could have had the chance to have visited as looked superb.

[@AdventureMe]

It was!

[@dwrowley]

Great video, if the council and locals hated this place can't see them naming streets after locations on site which is a shame

[@layneinchains848]

Brilliant work as ever 👍

[@cyberleaderandy1]

I just get the impression the council just hated the park being there and did everything to stop it succeeding. Yet they approved ikea and all that went with it. Weird.

[@kevanparker908]

The Heanor Ilkeston road just could not cope with the traffic local residents did not want the constant traffic jams. Ikea is serviced by the A610 bypass a dual carriageway with good wide industrial roads leading into Ikea.

[@AdventureMe]

The traffic was a nightmare when it was busy

[@lizhall3108]

I really enjoyed watching these nostalgic episodes of the American adventure park. I only went once with a school trip but it brought back so many memories. Such a shame the park had to close. I also loved the way you faded the photos in really clever.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Wedgedoow]

Just watched all three Darren, very interesting, I never visited, just lightener valley with the kids before they grew up.

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Morning Darren. Enjoyed this series, even though I never got to see it in person it's still sad to see parks gone and changed beyond recognition. Amazing to know it only lasted 19 yrs

[@kevinseymour8793]

Another brilliant series from you and will look out for the other series you referred to. A western themed resort surely would go do down well again - maybe put the America back into Pleasurewood Hills... Thanks

[@AdventureMe]

Great suggestion!

[@Geoffreytomlinson24]

Those were the days of our lives.

[@a11csc]

what a super series darren,one can only assume the brown envelopes got fatter with maturity

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah most likely

[@gaz11h]

The blocked off railway bridge is actually an old boat house that was cut off from the lake when the miniature railway was extended fully around the lake the road over the over flow runs up to what is the remains of Shipley hall which became unsafe and pulled down due to susideance also your correct in the rail yards out side the bottom of the lake these were built on the head of the nurbrook canal that took coal to join with the erewash canal at Stanton it on works later this was in filled for the rail yards and traces of those were lost to open cast mining

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the info

[@stevewalters4845]

Great job Darren !!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks

[@davidnm21]

Nice memories Darren. I enjoyed visiting the park but I think what killed it in the end was it’s proximity to Alton Towers. The empty car park said it all.

[@lindakirk698]

Great memories Darren. Great set of videos. Shame it's all gone now x

[@AdventureMe]

Yes it was

[@GB-gi9by]

Great mini series. American Adventure is probably one of the strongest nostalgia trips from my youth, just seems like such a better time back then, so much potential with it to expand and push on never realised. Would love to go and check some of the rides that still survive especially Iron Wolf, remember being so hyped when that got built.

[@louisekinsley718]

Thank you for this series, it's been very nostalgic for me and as usual, your photofades are exceptional, so much so in this video, I have actually cried. I love watching 'old places re visited' videos on you tube but this one has been the first I was ever part of, albiet just visiting the park through the years, it's a totally different experience watching, almost interactive as you know you walked those places. Boy do I feel old today.

[@andrewmarriott4033]

I remember a lot of the park and them moving the entrance around the side What a shame it’s all gone I feel like I should have a walk around there myself Heard you on radio derby last week it’s been a great series 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. Yes I was on BBC Nottingham too

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

That was a fascinating series, all the more so, for your personal recollections and observations on a theme park which seems not only to have divided opinion, but suffered the same fate as so many others. It would be interesting to discover some of the reasons why.

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the tour back in time. Never was at this park, but its a sad adventure regardless. Enjoy the week ahead, and see you on the next, Darren. Cheers Darren! 😊

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks, you too!

[@MyCharlie2000]

Grateful for your descriptions Darren, it’s not a place that I visited, you make it interesting to those of us that never visited. Great fades as ever make it, keep up the good work Darren.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@richardidle1289]

Really enjoyed this series Darren. Top job again matey.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks

[@bobly]

I enjoyed the series Darren, I have been there it was a cool place a shame that it no longer exists. Shipley Glen Amusement Park sounds interesting, I'll wait for that to come out

[@leeandjude]

Again, another fantastic adventure video from you Darren! I never did go but i can remember the signs pointing to it. Always makes me a bit sad seeing how it is. Wish they made a small monument to the park though. Keep up the brilliant work

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@UKFunfairsTV]

Great work on this video, always a shame to see parks close down but glad we have images & videos from the past to look back on, I really like how you fade the old photos with the new ones in the same locations, really can see how it’s changed quite a lot 👍🏻

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Jimmy_one67]

Loved this video .

[@AdventureMe]

Thank you!!

[@davidnorman7761]

Darren superb content put together second to none well done mate details photo fades spot on.whats next Darren

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍 A similar series coming soon.

[@dazsin]

Awesome video!! I wonder what relics and treasures are buried in the site, old keyrings, stuff from the shops etc

[@AdventureMe]

I bet there is loads

[@ToniLeddington-gr5bk]

Log flume was fun. Had bruised knees 😄

[@jetsons101]

Darren, is the lake "safe" to swim in???? At (12:11) at the lower left of the image there looks to be a small Red White and Blue sports car, was there a miniature car ride in the park? Darren do a bad photo-fade???? I think not!!!!! Thank for your time and work......

[@AdventureMe]

I think it is safe, it's not very deep I know that.

[@jetsons101]

Darren, after watching your American Adventure series I want to get Knott's season passes again. "Happy Face" @@AdventureMe

[@TheDeejaydex]

This has been a great series of videos, I revisited that colliery site in my work life a few years ago and had the chance for a little nosey around. Sad to see it gone, but you're doing a great job with your photo merges to bring those memories of it's heyday back. Keep up the good work!

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@discopot]

Hi Darren I would love it if you did one of these videos about Dreamland in Margate, I know it’s miles from you and you never went their in it’s hay day. Love the video

[@AdventureMe]

I will one day

[@discopot]

@@AdventureMe can’t wait

[@marknorris5269]

The missile was imo one of the best coasters of its time. Personally I loved it. Then I found Nemesis.

[@vincentpilsworth3195]

That explains alot...yep very sad it's not recognisable..I was trying to figure things out last week😢

[@dliles773]

Thanks

[@AdventureMe]

No problem

[@sukiesparkles116]

At one point, I do believe those wooden posts formed part of the old 'Junior Krypton Factor' assault course, from the short lived CITV programme of the same name: they filmed I think 2 seasons of the 4 seasons there, the other 2 being filmed somewhere in Kent?

[@JoggerGraeme]

Again fascinating. Great stuff. Do you have any memory of the series’Young Krypton’? It was a kids version of The Krypton Factor. The assault course was filmed at (or on that outer access rd. where that missing bridge was.) When I used to visit American Adventure in very early 90’s you could still see the abandoned assault course in the shrubs.

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah still bits of it there now. I just didn't know it at the time.

[@LadySophieofHougunManor7325]

Another awesome video I’m not 100% but my guess is perhaps those pole things were used on the Assault course as back in day American adventure was the location for the Junior Krypton factor assault courses

[@MINKIN2]

@AdventureMe Not sure if this might be of any interest to you, but some of the old childrens attractions made there way to the Sundown Adventure Land in Nottinghamshire. Looks a fun place to visit.

[@pauldavies2178]

Has the American Adventure metal sign gone from where they moved the entrance to? When I went for a visit around 10 years ago it was still up. I did take a photo of it but can’t find it now. Loving these videos. Such a sad loss.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes all gone now

[@johnphillips3475]

At 15:40 you mention the wooden poles looking like something from an assault course. Well, not many people remember there was an assault course in that area of the park. It was never open to the public, it was built for the short lived "Young Krypton", ITV's attempt to do a junior version of The Krypton Factor. The course was left in place long after the TV show stopped being made, so it's possible your theory was correct.

[@AdventureMe]

Quite possibly

[@billiebluesheepie2907]

“Hey there we’re the good ol’ bears, it’s time to forget your troubles and cares, we’re gonna have a good time today!” Does anyone remember the bear band that was in a glass box, at the top entrance in the mid 90’s? I went a few times with groups of children (which is how I remember the song as we used to sit at the entrance in case anyone needed any help they would always know where to find us) - I remember telling them that all the rides were free and they could go on as many times as they wanted, and then one little boy came back with an armful of toys - we knew he only had £5 spending money so we asked him how he paid for everything, and he said he thought everything was free!😮

[@AdventureMe]

See part one for the old bears.

[@70mmbobbyj]

Shipley # DERBYSHIRE. The Missile lives on at Pleasurewood Hills.

[@TieDyedShawn]

Looks like they took all the old buildings and created land fill with them with all the mounds being there. Which is sad. Just buried it all.

[@lordprg]

It was a travesty that they shut it down. The best and one of the few proper theme parks in the UK. I remember it was one of my favourite places, and being so disappointed when I moved down to derby (from Shipley, oddly enough) in 2006 and it never reopened. I remember them hosting junior krypton factor, and having a go on the assault course.

[@lordprg]

BTW, thanks for the memories! Back to Shipley Glen next? Cool, just over there

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah shipley glen coming soon

[@pyrodoll2422]

Could you try doing the fades a bit quicker as by the time the old has appeared my brain has forgotten the new 😁 Great work as always tho Darren. I work at a steelworks which is now a fraction of its original size as it used to be a fully integrated steel making plant. All the really heavy stuff is long gone but there's still so much to see, albeit chunks of concrete sticking out of the ground and lots underground too, old machinery cellars and the like. Even a long abandoned shooting range in the works.

[@AdventureMe]

Haha. That's why I fade back too

[@chrispartosbro4555]

American Adventure! (Venture world, Or Britannia Park as it was first built), I used to Cycle through the car park on my way to work regular, The fields did used to get full for sure but not that often, Firework display nights they where rammed and so all the local in Shipley woods getting a free display, I lived about 2 miles away from here and could watch from our own garden, the down side was in its hay day due to the amount of traffic pulling out the end of our estate was a knight mare, Locals on Hardy barn used to get free tickets as a sort of compensation for living near by,

[@AdventureMe]

I remember the traffic on kicking out time.

[@Dave1976.]

Hi Darren. Are the metal structures at 4.04 that are just sticking out the ground, anything to do with the missile ? What happened to the missile?. Very well narrated and documented as always. 5***** .

[@AdventureMe]

No just new construction rubble. The missile is now at pleasurewood hills in Norfolk.

[@simonmayes7074]

Hi Darren. What a great series of films thanks for making them. The photo fades were excellent. American adventure was the first theme park I went to with my parents as a child and after on a school trip. I was hoping someone would do such a series as had often thought about driving over myself for a nosey. Did you have to get special permission to walk around the site? Thanks again.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it. No it's all open to wander round now.

[@Earwig999]

Did you cover the Young Krypton Factor assault course that was based here also?

[@AdventureMe]

No I didn't. I wasn't aware of it until afterwards

[@Earwig999]

I got chance to go over it when I was I Army Cadets

[@jennifers8223]

i wish gone to american adventure theme park but it had gone by the time i'd moved to ilkeston when i don't live there anymore tho i live in buxton now

[@David-R-Hall]

Really enjoyed the series Darren, thanks. Did you see the photos I posted on your Facebook page of a souvenir guide I have for the park?

[@AdventureMe]

Yes I did. Very good

[@paulharvey9149]

Your research is exemplary, Darren, but don't you find it makes you feel really old? For me, it's like going to Blackpool and struggling to even visualise the endless streets of brightly-coloured Guest Houses and B&B's with their "No Vacancies" signs swinging outside. A little depressing, huh? I guess that explains why we move onto different kinds of rides, though! See you next time!

[@AdventureMe]

I do feel old haha

[@fatlad5090]

buzzing like a smackrat