As with any “family” theme park, however, Drayton
Manor is not just about big rides and has always catered for the whole family. Attractions such as the Pirate Adventure, carousel, Ferris Wheel, Buffalo roller coaster, Wild West Shoot Out and more recently the Dragon’s Tail boat ride and the Drunken Barrels have all helped cater to the family market, as have a variety of children’s rides, live shows, numerous midway games and various special events, including spectacular end-of-season fireworks displays. Worthy of particular note in relation to the park’s younger
guests is the superb Thomas Land area, opened in 2008 to replace the former Robinson’s Land which housed various children’s attractions. This fully themed Thomas and Friends™ area, created at a cost of £4.5m, incorporates numerous rides themed on different characters from the famous children’s brand, along with fully themed buildings and other features which recreate the Island of Sodor where Thomas and his companions operate. Attractions from Gerstlauer,
Zamperla, Metallbau Emmeln and SB International, going under the character names of Bertie the Bus, Harold’s Heli Tours, Cranky the Crane and others, are among those included and which accompany Thomas himself and another engine, Percy. Play areas from Eibe and SPI are also incorporated into Thomas Land, and again it is the only such “land” in Europe and the second in the world. 2009 saw the introduction of a 4D effects theatre from
UK company Simworx and the redevelopment of adjoining retail and F&B outlets along the top end of the park’s central walkway, while in its 60th. anniversary year, the park has embarked on the construction of its first hotel, the largest single investment in the venue’s history. “This is an exceptional year for Drayton Manor,”
commented managing director Colin Bryan, son of George and Vera. “In our 60th year my father is still playing his part, at 90, while it is marvellous that my two sons, William and George, and nephew Edward and niece Helen are doing more and more. I started
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