One of the Oldest Amusement Parks in the UK: Blackgang Chine Celebrates 180th Anniversary

(eap) Blackgang Chine amusement park, located on the British Isle of Wight, celebrates its 180th anniversary this year. This makes the park off the south coast of Great Britain the oldest theme park in the country. Founded in 1843 by Alexander Dabell, the park is still family-owned – currently run by the fifth generation, Alec Dabell. Since its opening, the amusement park has attracted more than ten million visitors. For its birthday, the park has already made a present to itself in form of a new thrill attraction, which should also excite visitors. “Extinction” is the name of the swing ride, which is an “Discovery Revolution” attraction from Italian manufacturer Zamperla. At a height of up to 18 meters, the ride’s gondola rotates 360 degrees. The highlight in Blackgang Chine: The attraction has been built directly on a cliff, so that passengers can almost hover above it and enjoy a breath-taking view (partly overhead) over the sea. In addition to the new ride, several events await park visitors this year, such as the “Cowboy vs. Dinos” show, the “Summer Fest” as well as the “Frights & Sprites” and “Terror Island” events for the spooky Halloween season. ■