Europe’s first Thomas Land will open at Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, in 2008.
Drayton Manor can exclusively reveal that the £4.5m development, based on the hugely popular Thomas and Friends™, will see the transformation of approximately 6,000sq m of the park into the magical land of Sodor, promising fun and adventure for all the family.
Thomas Land will become just the second such attraction in the world. Japan became home to the first Thomas Land in 1998 and now welcomes more than 1.7 million visitors per year.
Thomas Land will feature themed rides including Cranky the Crane, who has a high and mighty attitude that often annoys the other engines. Also, the rascals of the railway, The Troublesome Trucks, will appear in their own special rollercoaster.
Drayton Manor will also showcase a brand new Thomas train that will take fans of all ages on a five-minute journey through Sodor and will also include special appearances from the Fat Controller himself.
Building work has begun and this exciting new attraction is due to open in Easter 2008.
Colin Bryan, Managing Director of Drayton Manor, said: “This development marks another bold investment as we continually look to bring in new rides and attractions for the enjoyment of our valued visitors.”
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Press contact: Sundeep Sehijpal or Sue Bailey at Gough Allen Stanley, Kembrey House, 5 Worcester Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, B61 7DL. Telephone: (01527) 579555. Fax: (01527) 571122.
Notes to Editor:
Up-coming events:
Drayton Manor’s major Christmas show, Peter Pan, opens on 13th December 2007. It will be a spellbinding adaptation of J.M Barrie's timeless classic.
The show will be staged in Drayton Manor’s Big Top Theatre, a heated 1,200-capacity show tent located in the grounds of the park, promising thrills and laughter for all the family with a wide selection of comedy and speciality acts.
The star studded cast includes Vicky Longley, from Genie in the House, the popular children’s show on Nickelodeon, as Wendy, and Ulric Browne, who plays market trader Winston in EastEnders, as Starkey.
For more information, see www.draytonmanor.co.uk or call the 24-hour information line on 08708 725252. Tickets can also be bought by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0870 240 69 50
Drayton Manor Theme Park is set in 280 beautiful acres and is packed with great rides and attractions.
The park was opened to the public by the current owners, the Bryan family, in 1950 after co-founders, husband and wife, George, OBE, and Vera Bryan, converted 80 acres of land covered with 4ft-high brambles, mounds of rubbish, old army huts and pastureland into a wonderful family attraction.
Today, the park, which sits in the grounds of what was once the home of former British Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel and family, features some of the biggest, wettest and scariest rides in the UK.
The park’s new ride for 2007 was The Bounty, which quickly become a big success with thrill seekers. Though anyone who steps onboard better make sure they have their sea legs as this beautifully themed boat starts with a smooth back and forth swinging motion above the lake.
As it increases in speed, the swinging results in the boat reaching an angle of up to 75 degrees and riders experience sensations of relative weightlessness.
Other attractions include the incredible G-Force, which is a ride that rollercoaster fans have never experienced before. This £3m attraction takes thrill-seekers through a series of high-banked twists and turns at speeds of up to 70km/h at 4.3 Gs, whilst hanging by the hip.
Meanwhile, the £1m Drunken Barrels whirls riders into a dizzy, giddy peak as they are transported in one of 12 gyrating barrels. Also, Maelstrom is the only gyro-swing to make you face outwards while Apocalypse is the world’s first stand-up tower drop. Shockwave is Europe’s only stand-up rollercoaster and Stormforce 10 is, according to the Daily Express newspaper, ‘the best water ride in the country’.
But Drayton Manor is not just about thrilling rides. It also features a first-class zoo, which exemplifies conservation as well as educating and delighting young and old about the animal kingdom.
This 15-acre open-plan part of Drayton Manor is home to more than a hundred different animal species from around the world, including big cats, monkeys, reptiles and birds of prey. Visitors can also venture into the Discovery Centre where they will come face to face with the wonders of nature and conservation.
The success of Drayton Manor has seen it win numerous awards. Most recent of which was the Best UK Value Destination Award in the Group Leisure Awards 2007.
In 2006, Drayton Manor was awarded the Best UK Attraction at The Group Leisure Industry Awards 2006 as well as the 2006 Coach Tourism UK Attraction of the Year. In addition to these two prestigious prizes, further recognition also came in the form of the Silver Award at the Heart of England Excellence in Tourism Awards 2006 in the category of Visitor Attraction of the Year (Large).
Supporting good causes
Drayton Manor Theme Park has a long and proud history of supporting a variety of charities and good causes. Throughout 2007/08, it will be the National Family Zone Sponsor of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation UK (JDRF UK) and has supported a number of Walk to Cure Diabetes events around the country, including in London, Aberdeen, Plymouth and Birmingham.
These walks have raised vital funds as JDRF UK continues to support research into finding a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. Type 1 diabetes affects an estimated 350,000 people across the country, including 20,000 children.
Drayton Manor also supports:
• Birmingham Children’s Hospital
• Whittington St Giles Hospice
• Tamworth Boxing Club
• Drayton Manor Boys Football club
• Drayton Manor MG Metro Racing Championship
• Tamworth Cricket Club
The park’s full address is Drayton Manor Theme Park, near Tamworth, Staffordshire, B78 3TW. Website: www.draytonmanor.co.uk.
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