Funland Hayling Island
Funland Hayling Island is an amusement park on Hayling Island, near Portsmouth, England.
 Funland, taken from the beach | |
| Location | Hayling Island, Portsmouth, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | |
| Slogan | Family fun for over 70 years |
| Owner | Marshall Hill [1] |
| Opened | 1984 [2] |
| Operating season | January to Late October (Opening Times vary) Late November to Late December (for the Winter Wonderland Event) |
| Attractions | |
| Total | 18 |
| Roller coasters | 1 |
| Water rides | 2 |
| Website | funland |
| Status | Operating |
Funland Hayling Island contains 18 rides, an amusement arcade (as well as various independently operating arcades nearby), Diane’s Diner, a kids' play area and a pirate-themed golf course.
The park is a typical funfair-styled park with the rides mainly being travelling rides from various independent funfair operators, with some rides sourced from other amusement parks.
History
Funland amusement park opened in 1984 on the site of a former Butlins which dated back to the 1930s. In 1977 the freehold for the land was passed from Billy Butlin to the Hill family who had been tenants on the land since the 1940s. The Hills built the park and upcycled signage from a nearby closed amusement arcade known as Funland. The modern Funland has survived three generations with the Hill family and is currently operated by Marshall Hill. [2]
2010s
2014 saw the park purchase a traveling Twister ride, named Cyclone, which was added to the park that year replacing Breakdancer.
The 2015 season saw two-new rides added to the park - Jurassic Safari, and a pirate-ship themed Galleon ride.
In 2016 a new roller coaster replacing the Klondike Gold Mine, which is called Runaway Mine Train, originally located at Gulliver's World as the Wild Mine Ride. In June, the park added a new Snake Helter-Skelter ride replacing the old one, and the Super Dragon returned after refurbishment with a new dinosaur theme and name; Funlandosarus. After the 2016 season ended the Woody Coaster was removed from the park and the Drop Tower's car was removed, leaving the rest of the ride standing but not operating.
In 2017, two new rides were opened: A Tilt-A-Whirl called Neptune's Fury, which replaced the Woody Coaster, and a Mini Paratrooper ride. Both had been acquired from Pleasure Island Family Theme Park after its closure in 2016. [1] The rest of the Drop Tower was removed from the park after the end of the 2017 season.
For 2018, a Rock 'n' Tug ride was added to the park.
Rides
Rollercoasters
| Name | Year | Operational Status | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runaway Mine Train | 2016 | Operating | L & T Systems | A roller coaster based on a spinning wild mouse ride, This coaster was formerly located at Gulliver's World. |
Flat Rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme | 2013 | Nottingham UK | A standard Miami ride owned by John Evans, previously located at Barry Island Pleasure Park and can be seen in Series 3, Episode 3 of The Sarah Jane Adventures where one of the characters in the episode rides it. |
| Cyclone | 2015 | P.W.S | A standard Twister ride. |
| Neptune's Fury | 2017 | Larson | A Tilt-A-Whirl ride with seashell type cars. Relocated from Pleasure Island Family Theme Park. |
| Dodgems | Unknown | Barbieri | A standard bumper car ride. It is located in the main Funland building, where the arcade is. |
| Flying Elephants | 2020 | Interlink | A standard flying jumbos ride. |
| Viking Ride | 2020 | Interlink | A viking boat ride where boats rotate similar to a carousel and go through water. It was purchased from Liseberg. |
Water Rides
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek Log Ride | 1990's | Big Country Motioneering | A log flume with a large drop at the end. Previously known as Wild River until 2015. |
| Dino Falls | 2006 | L&T Systems | A small Dinosaur themed Log Flume. Known as Blizzard Falls until 2015. |
Children's Rides and Attractions
| Name | Opened | Manufacturer | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trains | Unknown | Unknown | A small novelty mini train ride that spins around in a circle. |
| Ride on Bikes | 2016 | Unknown | A bumper car styled ride. |
| Galleon Ride | 2015 | Unknown | A pirate ship themed aerial carousel ride. |
| Jurassic Safari | 2015 | Zamperla | A car ride with a dinosaur theme. |
| Pirates Adventure Golf | Unknown | Unknown | A miniature golf course with a pirates theme. |
| Carousel | 2017 | Unknown | A modern version of a classic Carousel ride. Bought from Liseberg and replaced a small Paratrooper ride. |
| Snake Helter-Skelter | 2016 | Unknown | A snake-themed helter skelter built by Chris Randall. Previously located at Adventure Island. It is also known as Sid's Sizzling Snake Slide. |
| Samba Balloon | 2008 | Zamperla | A Samba Balloon ride originally located at Drayton Manor (1998–2007). |
| Bugs Rock and Tug | 2018 | Unknown | A small Rock and Tug ride themed as a bug. |
Removed Attractions
| Name | Added | Removal | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frog Hopper | 2008 | 2020 | A mini drop tower built by Zamperla and was originally located at Drayton Manor (1998–2007). Removed and sold off after the 2020 season. |
| Super Dragon | 2008 | 2019 | A small Pinfari MD31 junior coaster originally located at Drayton Manor (1984–2008), being added in the park's former car-parking spot. The park operated as is for many years (although the tarpaulin's "DRAYTON MANOR" text was altered slightly to read "DRAGON MANOR"), until receiving a support repaint a few years into operation at Funland, making the supports purple while receiving an unofficial secondary name of "Junior Dragon Coaster". In 2016, the ride was refurbished with a dinosaur theme, with the track being painted green and dinosaurs placed all around the ride, being known as Funlandasarus. The ride was removed after the 2019 season and is currently up for sale. |
| Cannibal Pots | 2003 | 2019 | A teacups ride built by Technical Park themed after cannibal pots. The ride started under the big tent area of the park before being moved outside following the removal of the Pirate Ship. The ride was relocated to Fantasy Island for the 2020 season and renamed "Firebowl". |
| Flying Saucer | 2016 | 2018 | A small spinning ride built by Modern Products. It was known as UFO Ride for the 2016 Season. |
| Bat Race | 2017 | 2017 | A small Paratrooper (ride) built by Modern Products. Was removed as soon as it was placed because the owners thought the ride was too small, and so it was replaced with a Carousel. The ride was later purchased by Animal Farm Adventure Park. |
| Woody Roller Coaster | 2001 | 2016 | A small junior coaster themed as the Wild West and was built by Top Fun. It was removed at the end of the 2016 season. |
| The Sam FM Drop | 2005 | 2016 | A 100 ft drop tower formerly located at the London Trocadero. Built by Intamin. It stood SBNO for the 2017 season and was dismantled at the start of the 2018 season and relocated to Luna Park Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. |
| Helter Skelter | unknown | 2016 | A tall helter-skelter ride. It was replaced by the Snake Helter Skelter in 2016, while this one was sold to independent operator James Horton and currently travels the UK fairground circuit. |
| Klondike Gold Mine | 2005 | 2015 | A Pinfari ZL42 Roller Coaster originally located in Drayton Manor. It replaced an existing Roller Coaster and was removed in 2015 after being sold to the Irish company Euroshow. The Runaway Mine Train replaced this ride. |
| Red Baron Plane Ride | 2009 | 2015 | A spinning plane ride. Replaced with UFO Ride in 2015. |
| Toy Town Express | Unknown | 2014 | A ride where a train of cars goes along a small circuit with a bridge. It was replaced by Jurassic Safari in 2015. |
| Breakdancer | 2003 | 2013 | A standard Breakdance ride. It was relocated in 2014 to Luna Park Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. |
| Speed Flip | 2011 | 2012 | A Orbitor ride built by Mozer Rides. This ride is now traveling the Romanian Fairground Circuit. |
| Tornado 2 | 2007 | 2010 | An upgraded version of the Tornado Frisbee ride. It was replaced with Speed Flip in 2011. This ride now tours around the UK fairground circuit. |
| Whirlycopter | 2008 | 2012 | A Helicopter themed wheel ride. Originally located at Drayton Manor. |
| Cadbury's Junior Pirate Ship | 2008 | 2008 | A Junior Pirate Ship. Originally located at Drayton Manor. |
| Galleon | 2004 | 2008 | A large pirate ship that was originally located at Adventure Island Southend and Fort Regent. The ride was sold to the Ocean Beach Pleasure Park in 2009, where it remains to this day. |
| Tornado | 2003 | 2006 | A KMG Frisbee Afterburner Ride. It was replaced with Tornado 2 for the 2007 season, and this ride now tours around the Norwegian Fairground circuit. |
| Zyclone | 2000 | 2004 | A Roller Coaster that is very similar to a Galaxi Coaster. It was relocated to the Tir Prince Fun Park in 2005 and is currently located at Fun Park Sunny Beach in Bulgaria. |
Incidents
On 17 September 2015, a 47-year-old Romanian workman fell 23 metres from the Kondlike Gold Mine ride, as he was taking the coaster down for its sell-out to Euroshow, breaking his arm and leg in the process. [3]
References
- "Two new additions to Funland Hayling Island". Park World. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- Gaines, Marcus (17 September 2008). "Lives of our roller coasters". BBC. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- "Hayling Island rollercoaster: Workman hurt in fall". BBC News. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2020.