Why exactly did Pirate Adventure initially close? The ride was one of Drayton Manor’s most popular. I feel the work currently being done is preparing for its reopening next year. The Looping Group are good at reopening and repurposing old rides. The transit system and bits of the theming are still at Drayton. I wouldn’t be shocked if Pirate Adventure is currently being refurbished ready for next year. It wouldn’t cost much to add a few new scenes. Alton Towers rethemed Duel into Alton Manor in less than a year. This retheme would’ve involved more cash and labour than Pirate Adventure would. I wouldn’t be surprised if next year brings the new Rollercoaster and the return of Pirate Adventure. It’s difficult to believe Pirate Adventure has been SBNO for 8 years.
Pirate Adventure
- Thread starter Harry
- Start date
alfiee and Themeparksandy1981 I see you have both liked my post. Do ether of you think Pirate Adventure is secretly being refurbished and will return next year? You can refurbish a Dark Ride reletivly descretl. Furthermore it would only take about 8 months to add new scenes and refurbish the ride system. I have gaged this timescale from the length of time it took for Alton Towers to retheme Duel into Alton Manor.
I think it will be more likely 2025 or 26 before we may see it reused as 1 think Drayton Manor lack is space and adventure cove can’t really add more attractions without removing, Vikings has the area to the left hand side so that could be used for the 2025 attraction. They could move away from the pirate theme and add a Dinosaur area instead.
I don't know if it is being secretly refurbished but something is definitely going on inside. Whether it's just cleaning or, heck a brand new dark ride, only time will really tell.
I don’t think we will see Pirates open next year. There will be too much for them to focus on especially with them opening the new roller coaster. We still don’t know if it’s going to be just said roller coaster or if they will be doing a themed land. Also with the zoo clearly having work done to it, I feel they will focus on these two areas first before addressing the usage of the pirates building. Whilst the building is in constant use, we do not know if it’s for storage purposes and other things , if they are making changes to the building or if they are working on reusing the building for something else. from what I understand there was very little left in place from Pirates and so no matter what they choose to do with the building it’s going to come with a pretty big price tag. Whilst Alton did re-theme their dark ride , it wasn’t done on the scale as what Pirates would be on due to the sizing and ride type alone .I would be the first in the line should Pirates reopen but I don’t think we will see this or a similar version return to the park. If they do look to return it to the park , i would be very surprised if they use next year as they would want to pull focus into the new rollercoaster attraction. They won’t want to take attention away from this.
I honestly don't know. I'm leaning more towards it re-opening in the future, but not next year. I get your point with Drayton adding multiple new things each year, but you have to understand most of them are just smaller rides, and considering we will be getting a new coaster next year, I feel they will want all eyes on that rather than a re-imagining of a previous ride which they could do another year and have that be the big thing.
If Pirate Adventure did open next year it would be brilliant!!! If the rides not returned to operation next year it’ll have been closed for a decade.
Elise
Administrator
I don't think we will see the ride return in the near future
A lot of the theming was sold off at auction including some of the larger parts (the boats were also on sale during the auction)
I have a few of the smaller items from this auction and saw most of the parts on sale get new parts.
They would need to refurbish the ride system which if still there, would have been sat for a long time as well as create new scenes and stuff.
It would be a lot of work and as much as we would love to see it back, I don't think it'll be a focus until after the 2024 coaster if not further away.
A lot of the theming was sold off at auction including some of the larger parts (the boats were also on sale during the auction)
I have a few of the smaller items from this auction and saw most of the parts on sale get new parts.
They would need to refurbish the ride system which if still there, would have been sat for a long time as well as create new scenes and stuff.
It would be a lot of work and as much as we would love to see it back, I don't think it'll be a focus until after the 2024 coaster if not further away.
I agree I don't even think this will come back but what I'm thinking is if they distoryed the building it would open lots of space for new rides
Elise
Administrator
The building can't be destroyed as it houses other things
Emily's adventure play, burger kitchen (back parts mostly) - id assume staff rooms amongst other things like that which are also off show areas.
Also, the cost of doing that would be insane
The building can't be destroyed as it houses other things
Emily's adventure play, burger kitchen (back parts mostly) - id assume staff rooms amongst other things like that which are also off show areas.
Also, the cost of doing that would be insane
couldn't this happen going around the Thomas land shop, Emilys adventure play and burger kitchen
Elise
Administrator
I'm not a builder so I can't really comment on it. But I don't think it structurally would be a great idea
I’m not a builder but I can imagine trying to do something like that would be a very big and expensive job. It would probably be cheaper to tear everything down and rebuild than trying to keep structurally instant just to tear out certain parts of the building.
Some of the walls around the ride building
I think they repaired the buildings and stopped it leaking they also must be thinking of installing a sprinkler system as it didn’t have 1 installed back in 1989/1990 before they think about reusing the building again.
I think they repaired the buildings and stopped it leaking they also must be thinking of installing a sprinkler system as it didn’t have 1 installed back in 1989/1990 before they think about reusing the building again.
I didn't think of that at all. U can tell I'd be crap as a builder
My dad always had construction programs on haha it would be swell but there’s so much work that needs to be done in the building to bring it up to code. I’m sure I read somewhere that there wasn’t enough fire exists and like theme park sandy mentioned above , the sprinkler system needs an overhaul. When the building was constructed, health and safety wasn’t as major as it is today and with the ride being sbno for so long, I can imagine they would have to make changes to meet the health and safety standards of today.
Elise
Administrator
Agreed. Got to make everything modern and up to code ✓
Elise
Administrator
Most likely not (unfortunately)
But there is always potential for the building.
If anything takes its place, it will never be like the original thats for sure.
It's not impossible but I don't think it's very likely either. Drayton need somewhere for storage and for now this building/area seems to do them just fine.