Pleasure Island Family Theme Park

History

Pleasure Island Family Theme Park stood on the site of the former Cleethorpes Zoo. Owned and operated by Associated Pleasure Parks, the zoo had such attractions as seals, penguins, raccoons, pelicans, chimpanzees, a whale, African elephant, tiger and an orangutan. The zoo subsequently closed in 1977. The site was sold to Pleasureworld, a division of RKF Entertainment, who announced that a new theme park would be built, as a sister park to the Pleasurewood Hills park near Lowestoft and bearing the same name. Construction began on the new theme park in the 1980s.

RKF Entertainment went into receivership during the early 1990s and construction of the park was halted. The site was sold to Robert Gibb, the managing director of Flamingo Land in Malton, North Yorkshire. When the opportunity to purchase the Cleethorpes site became available, Gibb decided to continue with the redevelopment of the site as a theme park, which became today's Pleasure Island. Construction of the park was completed by Gibb in 1992 and Pleasure Island Family Theme Park was opened on 27 May 1993. Robert Gibb's son, Gordon Gibb, later became the chief executive of the company and directly runs Flamingo Land, while his sister Vicky Gibb, and subsequently other sister Melanie Wood (formerly Gibb), took the responsibility for the management of Pleasure Island.

In 2010, Melanie Wood, completed her desire to take ownership of the park, separate from the family company. Pleasure Island was operated by Dewarsavile Enterprises Ltd, directed by Mrs Wood. This marked the end of Pleasure Island and Flamingo Land's association and the two parks are now independent of each other.

In 2013, the farm and petting zoo including tractor ride was added replacing the electric monorail.

It was as a result of the most recent ownership transfer that on 14 April 2010, the Grimsby Telegraph website broke news that the park had closed. Staff had turned up for work and were given letters informing them of termination to their employment. Visitors were turned away at the gate. Later stories suggested that the closure was caused by a breakdown in negotiations about the park's ownership. Previously a sister park of Flamingo Land, negotiations were taking place to separate the two parks, with current managing director of Pleasure Island Melanie Wood taking control of the park.

The speculation about the park's future caused a great deal of concern amongst local businesses, staff and visitors, that the attraction was to close permanently.

Reopening

Pleasure Island Family Theme Park reopened under its new ownership on 1 May 2010 at 10:30 am. The McCormacks Family Bar Reopened 30 April at 7 pm.

Closure

On 21 September 2016, it was announced that the theme park would close for good at the end of the 2016 season. The last day of operation was on 29 October 2016 for the Halloween/ Fireworks Extravaganza celebration. It was a very busy day with crowds taking it back to when the park first opened.

For a few months the park sat quiet. In this time period trespassing seemed to be very popular however the security increased especially after an act of arson was carried out.

Around Mid-February 2017, the park's flagship ride the 'Boomerang' finally was dismantled in around two weeks along with the other Vekoma roller coaster, 'The Mini Mine Train'.

Areas

The theme park was split into 6 areas:

Height restrictions

The minimum heights are colour-coded as follows:

-Children below the age of 7 years. --Although 1.2m like green, an adult was required on the ride with someone 1.2m.

Former Rides

Shows

Restaurants and eateries

Shops

Others