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Lightwater Valley
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Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park is an adventure park in North Stainley, North Yorkshire, England. The park was once home to the longest roller coaster in the world, The Ultimate. Founded by Robert Staveley in 1969, it is now owned and operated by the Mellors Group, who purchased it in 2025. As of 2019[update], the park attracted approximately 300,000 visitors per year; in 2024, it had 231,565 vistors.
In 1969, Lightwater Valley began as a small self-pick fruit farm, run by the Staveley family, who had owned the land since 1516. In 1976, the farm was affected by drought, resulting in the excavation of a lake to help reduce the effects of future droughts. The lake's popularity instigated the transition of the farm into a tourist attraction. Early attractions included the Lightwater Express miniature train in 1979, an adventure playground (later Fort William) and later a roller-skating rink, a BMX bike track, a pitch and putt golf course, a hell slide and a water chute. The park was advertised as a country park and self-pick fruit farm with a pay-one-price and ride-all-day system in place, with the exception of a small number of pay-to-play attractions. A range of different fairground rides were introduced into the entrance areas of the park and the Lightwater Shopping Village was established.[citation needed]
The Lightwater Valley Theme Park was born when the Sewer Rat, also known as the Rat Ride, was built in 1987. Robert Staveley wanted to expand on the family market and also provide something for the thrill market. At the time, his wife was a keen protector of the country park status and did not like the idea of having a roller coaster. After much discussion, she permitted the construction of a roller coaster as long as it was out of sight. To accommodate his wife's wishes, Robert decided that he would bury the roller coaster underground and it became based on the dwellings of a sewer rat. The ride was constructed by blasting large amounts of rock (which was sold) and capping the hole and exposed sides with a large barn-style building. The ride attracted much attention, nearly doubling gate figures and paving the way for future developments including the park's first looping coaster, the Soopa Loopa, in 1988 which featured two vertical loops and a backward facing ride car.[citation needed]
Following the success of the Rat Ride, Robert Staveley persuaded his wife that a 'proper' roller coaster should be built. He liked the idea of having a roller coaster coming down the valley at the top of the park, but was faced with the challenge of getting people to the top of the valley to board the train. His wife suggested that the train be sent out to the top and then returned with the aid of two drops. In 1990, construction began on what would become the world's longest roller coaster, over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length. The Ultimate was opened to the public in 1991 and as of 2022[update] was still the longest roller coaster in Europe.
Additional rides and attractions were added throughout the decade, including roller coasters such as The Viper, The Batflyer, and The Ladybird, and water rides such as the Beaver Rapids log flume and Splash Falls. A number of rides, including the Beaver Rapids and the Heatwave, were opened on short-term leases instead of being purchased.
In the mid-1990s, Robert Staveley handed the park over to his children, Amanda and James. However, in 1997, there was a change of ownership from the private family firm to Queensborough Holdings, who bought a 99-year leasehold for £5.2 million. The park was sold because it had run into financial difficulties following the heavy expenditure on The Ultimate.
Queensborough Holdings was also in ownership of the Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park at the time. Both parks were operated by their subsidiary Leisure Great Britain. However, the new owners put the park back up for sale within 11 months of buying it. No bid was accepted during the following few years, but in February 2001 the park was bought by Ball Investments, who used Heritage Great Britain to manage the operations. The new ownership brought about rapid investment in ride offerings and brand imaging with new logos, mascots, websites and rides such as The Treetop Twister and Black Widow's Web in the first year, followed by rides such as The Octopus, The Eagle's Claw, The Grizzly Bear, The Caterpillar Coaster, Trauma Tower and Skyrider. The Bird Of Prey Centre also opened next to the adventure park.
After a fatal accident on the Treetop Twister ride in 2001, guest figures plummeted. Improvements were made including: refurbishment of the Sewer Rat in 2009 and re-theming as Raptor Attack; the introduction of the first themed 'area', 'Skeleton Cove', with five new rides (bought from the now defunct Loudoun Castle park in Scotland); along with new family friendly attractions such as the Angry Birds Activity Park, Eagles Creek Farm, the Vintage Car Rally and Jurassic mini golf course. Successful events such as the annual Frightwater Valley Halloween event, Pirates & Princesses weekend, and UK bungee jump days have attracted large gate figures.
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Lightwater Valley
Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park is an adventure park in North Stainley, North Yorkshire, England. The park was once home to the longest roller coaster in the world, The Ultimate. Founded by Robert Staveley in 1969, it is now owned and operated by the Mellors Group, who purchased it in 2025. As of 2019[update], the park attracted approximately 300,000 visitors per year; in 2024, it had 231,565 vistors.
In 1969, Lightwater Valley began as a small self-pick fruit farm, run by the Staveley family, who had owned the land since 1516. In 1976, the farm was affected by drought, resulting in the excavation of a lake to help reduce the effects of future droughts. The lake's popularity instigated the transition of the farm into a tourist attraction. Early attractions included the Lightwater Express miniature train in 1979, an adventure playground (later Fort William) and later a roller-skating rink, a BMX bike track, a pitch and putt golf course, a hell slide and a water chute. The park was advertised as a country park and self-pick fruit farm with a pay-one-price and ride-all-day system in place, with the exception of a small number of pay-to-play attractions. A range of different fairground rides were introduced into the entrance areas of the park and the Lightwater Shopping Village was established.[citation needed]
The Lightwater Valley Theme Park was born when the Sewer Rat, also known as the Rat Ride, was built in 1987. Robert Staveley wanted to expand on the family market and also provide something for the thrill market. At the time, his wife was a keen protector of the country park status and did not like the idea of having a roller coaster. After much discussion, she permitted the construction of a roller coaster as long as it was out of sight. To accommodate his wife's wishes, Robert decided that he would bury the roller coaster underground and it became based on the dwellings of a sewer rat. The ride was constructed by blasting large amounts of rock (which was sold) and capping the hole and exposed sides with a large barn-style building. The ride attracted much attention, nearly doubling gate figures and paving the way for future developments including the park's first looping coaster, the Soopa Loopa, in 1988 which featured two vertical loops and a backward facing ride car.[citation needed]
Following the success of the Rat Ride, Robert Staveley persuaded his wife that a 'proper' roller coaster should be built. He liked the idea of having a roller coaster coming down the valley at the top of the park, but was faced with the challenge of getting people to the top of the valley to board the train. His wife suggested that the train be sent out to the top and then returned with the aid of two drops. In 1990, construction began on what would become the world's longest roller coaster, over 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in length. The Ultimate was opened to the public in 1991 and as of 2022[update] was still the longest roller coaster in Europe.
Additional rides and attractions were added throughout the decade, including roller coasters such as The Viper, The Batflyer, and The Ladybird, and water rides such as the Beaver Rapids log flume and Splash Falls. A number of rides, including the Beaver Rapids and the Heatwave, were opened on short-term leases instead of being purchased.
In the mid-1990s, Robert Staveley handed the park over to his children, Amanda and James. However, in 1997, there was a change of ownership from the private family firm to Queensborough Holdings, who bought a 99-year leasehold for £5.2 million. The park was sold because it had run into financial difficulties following the heavy expenditure on The Ultimate.
Queensborough Holdings was also in ownership of the Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park at the time. Both parks were operated by their subsidiary Leisure Great Britain. However, the new owners put the park back up for sale within 11 months of buying it. No bid was accepted during the following few years, but in February 2001 the park was bought by Ball Investments, who used Heritage Great Britain to manage the operations. The new ownership brought about rapid investment in ride offerings and brand imaging with new logos, mascots, websites and rides such as The Treetop Twister and Black Widow's Web in the first year, followed by rides such as The Octopus, The Eagle's Claw, The Grizzly Bear, The Caterpillar Coaster, Trauma Tower and Skyrider. The Bird Of Prey Centre also opened next to the adventure park.
After a fatal accident on the Treetop Twister ride in 2001, guest figures plummeted. Improvements were made including: refurbishment of the Sewer Rat in 2009 and re-theming as Raptor Attack; the introduction of the first themed 'area', 'Skeleton Cove', with five new rides (bought from the now defunct Loudoun Castle park in Scotland); along with new family friendly attractions such as the Angry Birds Activity Park, Eagles Creek Farm, the Vintage Car Rally and Jurassic mini golf course. Successful events such as the annual Frightwater Valley Halloween event, Pirates & Princesses weekend, and UK bungee jump days have attracted large gate figures.