Lightwater Valley

Infobox Amusement park
name = Lightwater Valley


caption =
location = North Yorkshire
location2 =
location3 = England
opening_date =
previous_names =
season = March to October
area = 175 acres (708,000 m²)
rides = over 40
coasters =
water_rides =
owner = Heritage Great Britain PLC
slogan =
homepage = [http://www.lightwatervalley.co.uk www.lightwatervalley.co.uk]

Lightwater Valley is a theme park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, England. The park is perhaps best known for being the home of Europe’s longest rollercoaster - The Ultimate.

Lightwater Valley was founded by Robert Staveley and initially evolved from a small farm attraction. The park features around 40 other rides and a birds of prey centre and other animal displays and attractions and is also home to retail outlets and restaurants.

The complex is operated by Lightwater Valley Attractions Limited, a division of the holding company Heritage Great Britain PLC.

Park information

History

The park was originally a pig farm and strawberry farm, which due to a drought had a lake added . This proved popular, and gradually minor rides were added, and the theme park grew up from there.

Amusement rides

The theme park line-up comprises a varied selection of rides, including The Ultimate, as well as The Eagle’s Claw, The Hornet’s Nest and The Falls of Terror - a triple shoot water slide. Other rides include Trauma Tower, The Grizzly Bear and The Twister. The Lightwater Express offers a round-the-park train ride. Other attractions include a boating lake and crazy golf.

The Hornet's Nest was billed as the new ride for 2007 but due to technical difficulties, failed to open to the public that year. A 25-metre Ferris Wheel is new for the 2008 season, named the "Lightwater Wheel", and offers aerial views of the park and surrounding countryside.

The Ultimate roller coaster

Frank Bruno MBE opened Lightwater Valley’s signature attraction in 1991. The Ultimate, is a terrain roller coaster which was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records for being the world’s longest roller coaster, for ten consecutive years from 1991 to 2001. The Ultimate is approximately convert|1.5|mi|km long and remains the longest Roller Coaster in Europe. It cost £5.2 million and was built by British Rail.

Mascots

"The Valligators" are three green alliagator costumed entertainers who currently act as the park’s mascots and entertain the younger visitors.

Bird of Prey Centre

The Lightwater Valley Birds of Prey Centre was established to raise awareness of a number of species of birds, including owls and golden eagles. Visitors can learn about aspects of the birds' life and care including how these birds are trained and handled, as well as being being able to watch daily flying shows.

Also within the centre is the Creepy Crawly Cave which houses various species of snakes, spiders, frogs, toads, rats and Australian Bearded Dragons.

Accident

Twenty year old Gemma Savage died on 21 June 2001 following an accident the previous day when two carriages collided on the "Treetop Twister", a spinning Wild Mouse roller coaster, which had opened in May that year. [cite news|title=Student dies after fairground crash|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1400470.stm|date=21 June 2001|accessdate=2006-11-30] Police decided not to prosecute a maintenance worker, who claimed that he had only received an hour's training on that ride and had not seen its manual. [cite news|title=Worker cleared over ride death|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1518756.stm|date=31 August 2001|accessdate=2006-11-30] Faulty wiring had also caused a malfunction on the ride. [cite news|title='Worker error' before ride death|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/3717410.stm|date=5 October 2004|accessdate=2006-11-30] In October 2004 Deputy Coroner John Sleightholme at Skipton Magistrates' Court ruled death by misadventure.

Lightwater Valley's owners and electrician Eric Butters admitted breaching health and safety laws at Leeds Crown Court on 14 November 2006. Lightwater Valley Attractions Ltd was charged with failing to ensure the health and safety of riders, Butters was charged with failing to ensure safety through his work. Both pleaded guilty. [cite news|title= Theme park guilty over ride death|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/6147002.stm|date=14 November 2006|accessdate=2006-11-30] A French manufacturer, Reverchon Industries SA, was convicted of two charges of failing to ensure the ride's safe design and construction. [cite news|title= Firm guilty over park ride death|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/north_yorkshire/6160067.stm|date=30 November 2006|accessdate=2006-11-30]

References

External links

* [http://www.lightwatervalley.net/ Lightwater Valley Home Page]
* [http://www.heritagegb.co.uk/ Heritage GB Home Page]
* [http://www.themeparkextreme.co.uk/ Theme Park Extreme]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/lwv/ Review]

Fan Sites

* [http://www.valleymania.co.uk/ Valley Mania] The Ultimate Lightwater Valley Fan Site.
* [http://www.valleymaniaforums.co.uk/ Valley Mania Forums] The Ultimate Lightwater Valley Community.