Joyland is a historic free entry
amusement park
An amusement park is a park that features various attractions, such as rides and games, as well as other events for entertainment purposes. A theme park is a type of amusement park that bases its structures and attractions around a central ...
located in
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth (), often called Yarmouth, is a seaside town and unparished area in, and the main administrative centre of, the Borough of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, England; it straddles the River Yare and is located east of Norwich. A pop ...
,
Norfolk
Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the Nor ...
, on the coast of East Anglia. The theme park opened in 1949 on the site of the former Anchor Gardens next to
Britannia Pier.
The park is famous locally and across the country for the Snails and Tyrolean Tubs rides designed and manufactured by engineering entrepreneur Horace Cole and the family-owned engineering business. The Tyrolean Tubs is notable as the only
Virginia Reel roller coaster (albeit in miniature form) in operation in the world.
Joyland is renowned for its heritage rides, which have remained unchanged through generations of patrons, allowing parents to share the rides remembered from their childhood with their children.
The biggest change to the park occurred in 1984 when the main centerpiece of the park (a 1950s
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark ( he, תיבת נח; Biblical Hebrew: ''Tevat Noaḥ'')The word "ark" in modern English comes from Old English ''aerca'', meaning a chest or box. (See Cresswell 2010, p.22) The Hebrew word for the vessel, ''teva'', occurs twice in ...
ride) was removed and replaced with a space shuttle attraction called the "Space Base"
and then again in 1996 when the centrepiece was demolished and replaced by a spooky themed roller coaster twisting around the peak of the mountain while various fiberglass toy figurines adorn the side of the large green mountain.
Current rides and attractions
, Joyland hosts the following rides:
* Snails (1949)
*: A unique snail ride designed by Horace Cole travelling through the park with various scenic elements such as garden gnomes, Frogs, A pond and much more.
* Tyrolean Tubs (1949)
*: Circular "Tubs" wind their way through mountainous scenery spinning and changing direction unexpectedly throughout the duration of the ride before returning to the station. Designed by Horace Cole.
* Jet Cars (mid-1970s)
*: Six jet cars travel on a circular track through the inside of the mountain.
* Neptune's Kingdom (mid-1970s)
*: A themed ride whereby the rider travels through the inside of the "Mountain" in a seahorse car through sea and water related scenery.
* Pirate Ship (1986)
*: Built by Modern Products. A pirate ship swings up and down entertaining children and adults.
* Major Orbit (1989)
*: Built by Modern Products. A circular space-themed children's ride which spins and tilts upward.
* Junior Ferris Wheel (c. 1990)
*: A small
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel (also called a Giant Wheel or an observation wheel) is an amusement ride consisting of a rotating upright wheel with multiple passenger-carrying components (commonly referred to as passenger cars, cabins, tubs, gondolas, capsule ...
looking over Great Yarmouth Beach.
* Skydiver (c. 1990)
*: An enclosed ride spins riders up in the air imitating that of a skydiver.
* Spook Express (1998)
*: Built by
WGH Ltd. A children's rollercoaster travelling around the summit of the "Mountain", Curving inwards through a dark cave where spooky sound effects play in the darkness.
Gallery
File:Neptunes Kingdom Joyland Great Yarmouth.jpg, Seahorses at Neptunes Kingdom Joyland Great Yarmouth
See also
*
List of British Theme Parks
References
{{British theme parks
Amusement parks in England
Tourist attractions in Norfolk
Great Yarmouth