Riding high for 120 years at resort's big attraction
It was all-change in 1990, when the exterior of the park’s grounds were re-designed and a brand new Edwardian-style shopping complex created along the Promenade – Ocean Boulevard.
One of the most famous of all Pleasure Beach rides, the Pepsi Max Big One, was built in 1994, at a cost of £12m. At the time it was constructed, it was the world’s tallest, fastest rollercoaster.
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Hide AdThis was followed in 1995 by a £2m investment in a new cabaret and hospitality venue, The Paradise Room.
Ice Blast – The Ride – with its impressive 210ft size – opened in June 1997.
One of the biggest ever investments, the £15m Valhalla ride, was created in 2000. This six-minute high speed multi-sensory ride recreates the journey to the immortal resting place of a Viking warrior. The park was re-themed and refurbished in 2004, at a cost of £5m.
In 2004, Amanda Thompson became managing director following the death of her father Geoffrey, while her brother Nicholas became deputy managing director.
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Hide AdIn 2007, the Pleasure Beach invested £8m in the world’s first rollercoaster suspended entirely over water, Infusion.
The following year saw the addition of an attractive new £500,000 12-hole adventure golf course – featuring a figure eight spectacular on hole number nine.
Nickelodeon arrived in 2011. The collaboration between Blackpool Pleasure Beach and TV entertainment brand Nickelodeon saw a six-acre area transformed into 12 rides, a shop, games, a new family restaurant and chances to meet famous Nickelodeon characters.
And in 2013, the park opened a brand new Wallace and Gromit themed ride, Thrill-O-Matic. Pleasure Beach worked with their creators, Aardman, on the four-minute, £5.25m ride which takes thrill-seekers on a tour of the dynamic duos adventures through some of their famous films.