Drayton Manor Resort is a family theme park, zoo and accommodation in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England, UK. It covers , of which about are in use. It is the fourth-largest amusement park in the UK by land area at . The park is also home to Thomas Land and Drayton Manor Zoo, home to over 100 animals, including red pandas, Eurasian lynx, and a variety of monkeys and gibbons.
On 3 August 2020, Drayton Manor Park was sold to Looping Experiences.
History
The land on which the theme park was built once belonged to the Peel family. Drayton Manor mansion, built for Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, in 1835, had been reduced to ruins by 1926, with only the clocktower surviving at the park entrance. The British Army requisitioned it as a training post during World War II. After the war, entrepreneurs George and Vera Bryan borrowed £6,000 and bought the land (and the 17 huts that the army had constructed during their stay). In 1950, they opened a small amusement park with just a handful of children's rides. In 1954, Mrs. Molly Badham, who later opened the nearby Twycross Zoo, partnered with the Bryans and opened a zoo to complement the amusement park. The amusement park grew slowly through to the 1970s.
From the 1980s, the park began to install larger custom attractions, including the Log Flume, Jungle Palladium animated show, Buffalo Coaster and Pirate Adventure dark ride. In 1992, Colin Bryan, George Bryan's son, became managing director of the park. In 1993–94, the park opened the Splash Canyon river rapids and Shockwave stand-up coaster.
On 9 May 2017, an 11-year-old girl riding the Splash Canyon Rapids fell into the water. The girl was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital, but was proclaimed dead from drowning. The park was temporarily closed after the incident, and the ride remained closed until summer 2021.
In February 2020, the park suffered flood damage from Storm Dennis. Following this, the park was required to remain shut until July 2020.
On 3 August 2020, the park entered administration and was bought by the Looping Group who own various parks, zoos and aquariums around Europe such as Pleasurewood Hills and West Midlands Safari Park.
In December 2020, the park suffered a fire within the Thomas Land area of the park. The blaze started in a toilet block and was deemed accidental by investigators.
At the end of 2021, the park announced that something big was coming with the teaser Invading 2022 in a Nordic Viking style, hinting at the fact there was to be a new area in 2022 called Vikings. After a soft opening on 17 May, the intricately themed area officially opened on 28 May, featuring three new rides and the rethemed Buffalo roller coaster.
In 2022, the park renaming to 'Drayton Manor Resort' together with new branding.
In July 2023, it was announced that the park would be opening an Intamin family thrill Lift and Launch Coaster called Gold Rush which opened on 26 July 2024.
Rides and attractions Drayton Manor is split into various themed areas, consisting of rides and attractions. +Attraction keyThrill ridesFamily ridesOther
Adventure Cove NameOpenedManufacturerDescription1Air Race2014ZamperlaA Zamperla Air Race ride, themed around a seaside air show. The ride replicates the sensations of an acrobatic aeroplane flight, spinning 360 degrees upside down. The ride is 8 metres tall and features 24 seats. Air Race replaced Black Revolvers, with the minimum height to ride being 1.2 metres. Incorporated into Adventure Cove in 2021.2Maelstrom2002IntaminAn Intamin Gyro Swing ride, themed around a destructive maelstrom, featuring a circular gondola that rotates 360 degrees as it swings back and forth. The ride is 22.5 metres tall and features 32 outward-facing seats. The minimum height to ride is 1.3 metres. Maelstrom was incorporated into Adventure Cove for the 2021 season.3The Wave1994 (2024)IntaminA steel sit down looping coaster that reaches speeds of up to 85 km/h with four inversions; a loop, a zero-g roll and a double corkscrew. The ride is 36 metres tall and seats 24 riders per train. The minimum height to ride is 1.2 metres. It was formerly a Stand-Up coaster known as Shockwave4Stormforce 101999BEAR GmbHA BEAR GmBH 500 metre long Flume ride, formerly sponsored by the RNLI. The ride is themed around a treacherous storm and features three drops including a 9-metre backwards drop. The minimum height to ride is 1.3 metres and anyone aged under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 years or older. The ride underwent a major refit in 2017 and was repainted for 2021 in Adventure Cove.5River Rapids1993 (2021)IntaminAn Intamin 455 metre long River Rapids ride, formerly known as Splash Canyon from 1993 until 2017. Themed around a voyage through a cartoon-style fishing port past vibrant painted shacks. The minimum height to ride is 1.2 metres, and anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a responsible person aged 16 or over. Following four seasons not operating, the ride reopened in 2021 featuring all new boats, effects and theming, becoming a key attraction in Adventure Cove.6Tidal Towers2021Outdoor Play UKAn Outdoor Play UK Climbing Frame attraction, themed to the ocean. Featuring highly detailed play towers, with rope bridges and exhilarating slides. The attraction is connected to the Chicken Hatch. Tidal Towers opened brand new in 2021, becoming a key attraction in Adventure Cove.7Wave Swinger2021ZiererA Zierer Waveswinger ride, themed as a nautical adventure. The ride lifts up and swings round and round with a minimum height requirement of 1.0 metres with an adult and 1.2 metres alone. The attraction offers double and single seats with a full capacity of 40. The ride replaced G-Force and is a centre piece for the all new Adventure Cove.
Vikings NameOpenedManufacturerDescription8Thor28 May 2022ZamperlaA Zamperla Disk'o Coaster, themed around the Norse god, Thor. Riders sit in a motorcycle-like position in outward-facing seats at the edge of a circular ride platform, then spin back and forth over a camel hump. Thor marks the third installation of the model in the country, following The Edge and Kobra.9Jormungandr1987 (28 May 2022)ZamperlaA Zamperla Powered Coaster that goes over Drayton lake, themed around the sea serpent, Jörmungandr. The ride opened in 1987 as the Buffalo Coaster with white track and supports. In 2002, the ride was repainted to red and green. For the 2022 season, the ride was incorporated into the new Vikings area; it reopened with this new theme on 28 May 2022.10Loki28 May 2022ZamperlaA Zamperla Nebulaz attraction, themed around the trickster Norse god, Loki. Four arms swing about horizontal axes in a circular motion while the central tower rotates around itself, creating a hypnotic movement described as a 'visual riddle'. Loki is the first of its model in the country, making for a unique experience.11Sleipnir28 May 2022Metallbau EmmelnA Metallbau Emmeln Pony Trek tracked ride, featuring rocking horse cars. Themed around Odin's eight legged horse, Sleipnir. The ride is very popular with children as it gives a realistic feeling of riding real animals. The model has been installed across the country, including George's Dinosaur Adventure at Paultons Park.
Frontier Falls NameOpenedManufacturerDescription12Gold Rush26 July 2024IntaminAn Intamin Lift and Launch model roller coaster, opening on 26 July 2024 as the flagship attraction of the new Western themed Frontier Falls area. Located on the former sites of the Apocalypse and Pandemonium attractions. Described as a family thrill ride, featuring numerous airtime hills.13Sheriff's Showdown2000I.E. ParkAn indoor laser shoot-out ride with a Wild West theme. The minimum height requirement is 1 metre. It was previously known as "Golden Nuggets: Wild West Shootout" until it was refurbished in 2018, with a new gun system and new theming elements. Was incorporated into Frontier Falls for the 2024 season. 14Blasting Barrels2006IntaminOpening as Drunken Barrels, the teacup style ride spins riders on a circular platform that has an extending arm that lifts the platform up to 45 degrees. The minimum height requirement is 1.1 metres. Drunken Barrels replaced Cyclone a HUSS Enterprise that's now at Thorpe Park under the name 'Zodiac'. The ride was rethemed into Blasting Barrels and incorporated into Frontier Falls for 2024.15The Haunting1996VekomaA madhouse ride themed as an old and haunted vicarage. The minimum height requirement is 1.2 metres, if unaccompanied. The attraction had a minor refurbishment with a different story in 2016. The ride was incorporated into the Frontier Falls area with the original story returning for the 2024 season. 16Falls Theatre2009SimworxA theatre which shows a short film. Previously known as the 4D Cinema and the Drayton Theatre. Was incorporated into the Frontier Falls area for the 2024 season, screening the film 'Looney Tunes 4D starring Road Runner & Wile E. Coyote'.17Accelerator2011VekomaA junior boomerang roller coaster that reaches speeds of up to 62 km/h on a 180-metre-long track and reaches a height of 20 metres. The minimum height to ride is 1 metre and the rider must be over 4 years old. Riders below 1.2 metres must be accompanied by an adult. Formerly known as Ben 10: Ultimate Mission until 2017. Received a light retheme to fit into the Frontier Falls area in 2024.
Main Park NameOpenedManufacturerDescription18The Bounty 2007IntaminA swinging pirate ship that swings to an angle of 75 degrees. The minimum height to ride is 1.2 metres. The Bounty was the long-awaited replacement for the old Pirate Ship which closed in 2003 to make way for the new main park entrance19Carousel1958SavageA vintage merry-go-round ride. The minimum height to ride alone is 1.1 metres.20Dodgems Ahoy1990I.E. ParkA dodgems ride with a pirate theme. The minimum height to ride is 1.2 metres if accompanied by an adult and 1.45 metres if unaccompanied by an adult. The ride underwent a refit in 2017.21Flying Dutchman1983IntaminA wave swinger ride. The minimum height to ride is 1 metre. Speculated to be relocated into the Vikings themed area in the coming years.22Jolly Buccaneer1992Mack RidesA spinning boat with a pirate theme. The minimum height requirement is 1.2 metres, if unaccompanied.23Polperro Express Train1971 (2003)Severn LambA 2-foot long (610mm) narrow gauge train ride that goes around the park via the Adventure Cove River Rapids (was Splash Canyon) and Shockwave. The new Polperro Express locomotive (2003) is based on the Severn Lamb Texan model with a facelift to be a more English-style loco/train rather than classic western American.
Thomas Land
Area themed around Thomas & Friends.