Famous UK theme park announces 20-day summer closure so 4 rides can be urgently removed
Flambards, one of Cornwall's most beloved family attractions, has announced a temporary closure due to concerns about four of its most popular rides
A UK theme park has announced it is closing its gates for nearly three weeks of the summer while it urgently removes four of its rides due to safety concerns.
Nestled in the heart of Cornwall, Flambards is a family favourite which bills itself as "the best day of the week". However, it is saying goodbye to four of its most popular attractions - the Thunderbolt, Sky Swinger, SkyForce, and The Hornet Rollercoaster - due to a persistent shortage of specialist parts that has rendered maintenance "increasingly challenging".
The park's management has stressed that ensuring the safety of their visitors remains their utmost concern.
In a heartfelt message on social media, a Flambards spokesperson said: "This decision was not made lightly and we understand that these rides have been favourites for many of our guests over the years, however, the ongoing shortage of specialist parts has made the maintenance increasingly challenging for these rides, and the safety of our guests is and always will be our top priority."
Acknowledging the impact this will have on adrenaline junkies, the park has decided to lower its entry fees. "We recognise that the removal of these rides will affect the experience for our thrill-seeking visitors. In light of this, we have adjusted our pricing to reflect these changes and this will now be £14.95 per visitor with those under 95cm remaining free of charge.
"The park will be temporarily closed from Monday, 10 June as we prepare for the summer and make some park updates. We will reopen on Monday 1 July for an exciting summer season and we look forward to welcoming visitors back."
"We are grateful to these rides for providing fun for our thrill seekers over the years and thank you to everyone who has visited since they have been in place.
"We greatly appreciate your support and understanding as we make these changes. We hope you will continue to enjoy Ferdi's Indoor Play, Skyraker, the Thunderdome, the Victorian Village, and all the other rides and attractions that Flambards has to offer.
The Facebook post has sparked nearly 1,000 comments with disappointed fans voicing their concern, reported Cornwall Live. Many season ticket holders are particularly worried about the implications of this announcement on them.
To assure them, the theme park reportedly sent out an email notifying that they can "collect a Kart Ride Token for each family member free of charge when visiting this season".
There will still be plenty to do at the theme park when it reopens in July. Visitors can board the Western Mine Train, which transports guests back 200 years on a whistle-stop tour of the American Frontier, travelling through the twisting tunnels of an abandoned mining town.
For classic fun fair fans, the Thunderdome delivers a familiar thrill through spinning, waltzer-style cars that are guaranteed to delight thrill seekers of all ages, as well as probably making some of the older ones feel a little sick. ".
There's plenty for the little ones too, reported the Mirror. Young families often enjoy the classic rides at Ferdi's Funland, or embarking on a prehistoric adventure in the Jurassic Journey, where they can unearth fossils in the Dino Dig.
They can also witness new life in the Dino-Nursery.
