Top visitor attraction at Drayton Manor set for major expansion
DRAYTON Manor Theme Park is set to expand one of its most popular visitor attractions as part of a £2.5m investment.
The expansion will see Europe’s only Thomas Land – inspired by the Thomas the Tank Engine stories – increase in size by 40%.
The investment, which coincides with the park’s 65th anniversary, will see three brand new rides – Flynn’s Fire Rescue, Captain’s Sea Adventure and Toby’s Tram Express – plus a stunning new Sodor Airport terminal installed as part of the attraction.
The intention is to open during the Easter holidays.
The expansion is planned around the magical island of Sodor, with the central feature being a new two-storey Sodor Airport. The terminal-style building will have a top level balcony for VIP guests offering panoramic views over Thomas Land. The area has five themed rooms that will be available for private hire for events, parties or large family groups.
The ground level will feature a café for guests to relax and enjoy a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks. Jeremy Jet’s Flying Academy will also be part of the attraction at a new location outside Sodor Airport, ready to take passengers on their flight over Sodor.
The first of the new Thomas & Friends character rides is the Flynn the Fire Engine experience, which is equipped with on-board hoses so riders can help to put any fires out.
To complement this, Captain’s Sea Adventure introduces not one, but six rotating Captain lifeboat carriages, all complete with their own cannons to squirt water. Toby the steam tram who wobbles, spins and turns also arrives in the form of Toby’s Tram Express.
Merrick the sleepy gantry crane will also be joining Blue Mountain engines Sir Handle, Skarloey, Rheneas and Peter Sam all the way from Skarloey Railway where visitors climb aboard and enjoy the ride.
In addition to the new rides and café there will also be a fountain of the ever-popular Fat Controller and three Victorian fairground games plus a bandstand for live performances.
Colin Bryan, CEO of Drayton Manor Theme Park, said: “2015 marks the 65th anniversary of Drayton Manor and throughout our long history we’ve always prided ourselves on offering a fun day out for the whole family.
“That was the reasoning behind the launch of Thomas Land in 2008. Since then the area has gone from strength to strength and has provided an immersive experience for fans both young and old. We are delighted to be extending it this year with all these fantastic new rides and facilities for our visitors to enjoy.”
