Blackgang Chine - wikipedia Blackgang Chine Blackgang Chine Blackgang Chine Blackgang Chine ( Isle of Wight ) Location Blackgang, Isle of Wight, England, United Kingdom 50.58889 ° N, 1.31444 ° W Owner Alexander Dabell / Vectis Ventures Ltd. / The Dabell Family General Manager Dan Selle Opened May 1843 Operating season March to November Rides Total Roller coasters Water rides Website Blackgangchine.com The site of Blackgang Chine. The remains of the Chine in 2008 Blackgang Chine is the UK 's oldest amusement park. Named after a now - destroyed chine ( a coastal ravine ) in the soft Cretaceous cliffs, it is about 6 miles from Ventnor at the southern tip of the Isle of Wight just below St Catherine 's Down. The park is owned by the Dabell family. Blackgang Chine has a sister park named Robin Hill. Blackgang Chine is home to life - sized Pirate Ships, Fairy Villages and Castles, Dodo Valleys, and the original Cowboy Town. Owing to the unstable land on which the park is situated, landslides occur frequently, meaning that attractions have continually to be moved further inland to safer ground. Contents 1 History 1.1 The chine today 2 Geology 3 Park guide 4 Former attractions 5 Latest developments 6 References 7 External links History During Blackgang Chine 's early years, the area was a steep gaunt ravine, overlooking Chale Bay, stretching around 3 / 4 of a mile down to the shore. It was a quiet place, visited by few people other than local fishermen with rumours of a thriving smuggling trade, which has now become a key theme of the park. On 11 October 1836 the cargo ship Clarendon was wrecked at the foot of Blackgang Chine, with the loss of all aboard. During Victorian England, people were seeking out new healthy holiday resorts, ideally near the coast. As the railway network was getting closer and closer to the South Coast, the Isle of Wight was becoming an increasingly attractive holiday destination. Alexander Dabell, the founder of the park, soon realised the business potential of this, trying various ventures. In 1839 Alexander became friends with a publican who had recently built a hotel at Blackgang, which now forms the Chine Cafe ( Formerly Pirates ' Pantry restaurant ) and administration offices. The park 's establishment in 1843 allegedly makes it the oldest theme park in the UK. Its initial theme of a general - purpose scenic and curiosity park led to one of its most famous attractions, a large whale skeleton, which had been washed up near the coast of The Needles in 1842, and is still a showpiece today. The Chine today Entrance to Blackgang Chine amusement park Owing to continual landslides, the chine itself has been destroyed, and coastal erosion still has a significant impact on the area today. The park 's focus now is themed entertainment for families with young children, lifesize animatronic dinosaurs being a noted feature. The same owners run a sister site, the Robin Hill countryside adventure park. Clifftop walks in and around the area give panoramic views of the English Channel and the south - western Isle of Wight coast. According to a May 2000 talk to the Isle of Wight Postcard Club by the then Director, Mr Simon Dabell, the etymology is simply `` black pathway '' ( the original appearance of the chine ), but the theme park understandably fosters the interpretation of a smuggling origin. Thus visitors to the park are greeted by a gigantic fibreglass smuggler between whose legs they could pass to enter. The Blackgang Chine park is featured in the book Bollocks to Alton Towers, a humorous book concerned with `` uncommonly British days out ''. It was chosen for its apparent eccentricity. Blackgang Chine is also featured in a documentary based on Bollocks to Alton Towers called Far From the Sodding Crowd. In a recent interview, star of the Harry Potter films, Rupert Grint praised the park, stating that his family 's favourite holiday was visiting the Isle of Wight, their favourite attraction being Blackgang Chine. The park is frequently associated with ghosts, particularly related to smugglers, with several tales of sightings around the park. In 2008 a video was recorded, showing what appeared to be the apparition of a girl in a blue dress. Southern Vectis bus route 6 serves the amusement park on its way between Newport and Ventnor. In the summer, the Island Coaster also stops here. Geology Blackgang Chine circa 1910 Sited below the village of Blackgang at the western end of the Undercliff, Blackgang Chine was, historically, a spectacular ravine ( in 1800 a `` steep gaunt ravine '' descending 500 feet over about three - quarters of a mile ). The location is based on unstable terrain owing to the underlying Gault Clay strata, resulting in a succession of huge landslips giving the area a very rugged appearance akin to the better known Jurassic Coast. Currently the cliffs are eroding at a rate of about 3.5 metres per year, although this process is not gradual. Large areas of land tend to collapse in stages after periods of heavy rain. The areas most recent and destructive cliff falls occurred in 1928, 1961 and 1994. Continuing landslides and coastal erosion swept away the paths in the early 1900s, and have since obliterated the chine itself and repeatedly forced the park owners to move the clifftop facilities inland. Park guide The park combines whimsical and unusual outdoor and walkthrough attractions with award - winning heritage exhibitions and a couple of significant rides. Below is a list of the attractions currently in operation at the park : Attraction Date opened Description Image Cliffhanger 2005 A small roller coaster perched 400 feet above the sea located next to the cliff 's edge. The coaster reaches heights of 11 metres before dropping in curves and twists at about 35 kilometres per hour. Water Force 1998 A 100 ft - long water slide with three chutes. Two of the chutes are open and known as ' overflow 1 and 2 ', while the third is enclosed and known as the ' plughole '. The ride is done in small boats. Rumpus Mansion A walk - through attraction inside an old manor house, home to animated goblins, mischievous boggarts and other fantasy creatures. Nurseryland Various ' life - sized ' nursery rhyme characters, many of which are animated. ' Old Mother Hubbard ' is pictured. Water Garden 1962 Gardens featuring ponds, fountains and a large gnome display. Hedge Maze 1963 A large hedge maze with path to the centre. Snakes and Ladders A giant version of the board game, with large slides. Restricted area 5 2014 Features animatic dinosaurs that move and roar when people walk past. Also features some original fiberglass dinosaurs from Dinosaurland for children to climb on. Mouth of Hell 1972 A giant fibreglass mouth, that visitors can walk into. Originally part of Dinosaurland, but now a separate attraction in the former location of The Triassic Club. Cowboy Town ( formerly Buffalo Canyon ) 1976 ( remodelled 2015 ) Full - scale Old West frontier town including a saloon, jail, covered wagons, undertakers and more. Also features a Café ( La Cantina ), selling American - style food, and a Shop ( General Stores ), selling cap guns and cowboy - themed supplies. The Musical Pet Shop Animatronic animals sing a rewritten version of ' Up a Lazy River '. Crooked House 1968 A small walk - through attraction of disorientating crooked corridors and humorous scenes. Butterfly Walk 2008 Larger - than - life butterflies, with signs denoting their respective names. Giant Bug Walk 2009 Oversized arthropod models Smugglerland 1978 Closed / Removed 2016 to form New ' Underwater Kingdom ' Attraction for 2017. Features the ' Jolly Smuggler ' play ship ( removed 2011 ), a play pub, and the Smugglers ' Cave, which tells the story of a shipwreck. Removed 2016 to form New ' Underwater Kingdom ' Attraction for 2017. Pirate 's Barrel Ride 2006 A themed version of the traditional fairground teacups. World of Timber 1981 - 2016 Closed and all exhibits removed 2017. Originally known as Blackgang Sawmill, an award - winning heritage exhibition ' telling the story of timber ' in the setting of an old water mill. Some of the features include Blacksmith 's Display, Wheelwright 's Workshop, Mill Owner 's Cottage, numerous working steam and oil engines, Timber at Sea, Timber in the Home and Mill Pond Gardens. The Wight Experience 2008 Exciting film show featuring aerial views of the island by helicopter, made by ' Flying Pictures ', who worked on many of the James Bond and Harry Potter films. iScream ( formerly known as Chocolate Heaven ) 2008 A shop selling island - made sweets, chocolate and dairy ice cream. BBC Coast Exhibition based on the popular BBC Two television series, looking at the Isle of Wight coastline, and telling the story of Blackgang, the disappearing village. Fairyland 2011 Features a Magical Fairy Village, including a Fairy Castle and the story of Sleeping Beauty. Cask and Weevil ( Also known as ' The Sailors Return ' ) 2011 A tunnel, with spinning lights, that visitors walk through. The spinning lights cause an optical illusion, which means that you ca n't walk through it without feeling dizzy. Valley of the Dodos 2013 Features fibreglass dodos, that move when visitors press buttons. Pirate Cove 2012 Features 2 lifesize wooden pirate ships, with water canons ( which people must press to operate ) firing from each ship to the other. Hall of Mirrors In present form, 2016 Various wonky and bent mirrors that distort your reflection in various ways. Originally located next to the main entrance, it closed in 2013 to make way for the ' Dinostore ' shop. Re-opened in 2016 in a new location next to the ' BBC Coast ' exhibition. Former attractions Attraction Date opened Date closed Description Image Jungleland 1978 / 9 2008 A walkthrough themed with life size fiberglass jungle animals and sounds. It was replaced by the Butterfly Walk and Giant Bug Walk in 2008. Model Village 1953 1980s Rather than a traditional model village, this was a collection of models of buildings from around the Island, including Ryde Pier, Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle. The scale varied from model to model. The `` village '' was closed and removed owing to landslips. Photo shows the model of Cowes Castle. Buffalo Creek 1976 1994 Parts were removed following the 1994 landslip ; the remainder was relocated uphill to form Buffalo Canyon. Adventureland 1970 1994 This included a collection of old military vehicles, a replica of the spacecraft from the Disney movie The Spaceman and King Arthur and a representation of the NASA Mission Control. It was closed after the 1994 landslide. The derelict remains of this area, including a roundabout ( pictured ) and the old mission control building can still be seen just to the west of the main park. Tornado Never Opened 2004 ( removed ) This was removed after many failed attempts to rectify the ride 's structure which did not pass required safety tests. Pirate Fort Play Area 2008 Themed play area with slides, climbing nets and raised walkways. Also in the fort was a small cavern containing a locked treasure chest and a giant compass. Hidden around the fort were four compass directions that could be entered into the compass to open the treasure chest and reveal its pirate gold. This area was replaced by The Wight Experience in 2008. Dinosaurland 1972 2013 A walkthrough area containing life size fibreglass dinosaurs. It was refreshed into Restricted Area 5 in 2014. The Triassic Club 1994 2016 Comic animated walk - through attraction. Darwin the Allosaurus, dressed in a tuxedo, invites guests ' to dinner ' and sings a unique version of the ' Eton Boating Song '. Fantasyland 1991 2016 A themed area of the park comprising the attractions ' The Weather Wizard ' ( opened in 1989 ), ' The Angry Dragon ' and ' The Licorice Factory '. These attractions were removed and the area completely redeveloped to become ' Underwater Kingdom ' which opened in 2017. Smugglers Cave 1980 2016 A cavernous walkthrough containing animated figures and scenes depicting the story of the Clarendon, wrecked at Blackgang in 1836. This was removed and a similar structure was built in its place to form the first section of ' Underwater Kingdom ' in 2017. Latest developments In 2010, a new section to the park opened ; `` Blackgang 's Disappearing Village ''. This was produced in conjunction with the BBC programme Coast, and featured presenter Dick Strawbridge in its video exhibits. It told the story of the island 's coast and illustrated the cliff falls and erosion that Blackgang suffered over the years. Approximately half of this exhibition was later removed and converted to the new Hall of Mirrors in 2016. The remaining portion includes the park 's original 19 metre - long skeleton of a fin whale, and a simulator designed to mimic the experience of the landslips which occurred at Blackgang. In 2011, a ' Fairy Land ' section was developed adjacent to the Fairy Castle. The following year, the pirate ship play area was redesigned as ' Pirate Cove ', with two new pirate ships, and surrounded by other smaller themed buildings, a pirate shooting gallery, and ' The Sailors Return ', in which visitors walk through a spinning tunnel of lights designed to disorientate. ' Restricted Area 5 ' opened in 2014 ; a modernisation of the park 's previous ' Dinosaurland '. It features new animatronic dinosaurs which move and roar when visitors approach. Some of the original fibreglass dinosaurs have been retained in the new walkthrough. In 2015, Cowboy Town was remodelled, with new buildings and scenery. A family of animatronic Triceratops was also added to Restricted Area 5. This replaced the ' Mouth of Hell ', a giant devilish ' mouth ' that visitors could climb into. In 2016, The Triassic Club attraction was removed, and the area was redeveloped as a new, larger space for ' The Mouth of Hell ', which is now encircled by a new walkway themed with fallen angel statues and demonic sounds. The Water Gardens were also re-landscaped in 2016, with three of the four original 1962 ponds located closest to the cliff edge being filled in and planted over. Only one pond near the cliff edge remains. For the opening of the 2017 ' Underwater Kingdom ' attraction, the Fantasyland area of the park was completely redeveloped, resulting in the removal of ' The Weather Wizard ', ' The Angry Dragon ' and ' The Licorice Factory ' attractions. The animated ' Smugglers Cave ' walkthrough was also removed and a new similar structure was built in its place to form the entrance to the ' Underwater Kingdom '. References Jump up ^ Dear Jack, My great great grandfather founded the park here at Blackgang. However the exact date of opening is not recorded. We do know that he settled a lease on the Chine and its surrounding cliffs in May 1842. However, we believe that he did n't open to the public as a garden until May 1843. You have to bear in mind, that unlike the Tivoli Gardens in Denmark, Blackgang was not initially an amusement park but more of a walk down a gorge with a shop and cafe at the top. As a company we celebrate anniversaries based on the 1843 base line as we are confident he was trading properly at the start of that year. A guide book to the Island was published in 1844, by Alexander Dabell with full details of what had been on offer the previous year. With best wishes, Simon Dabell Vectis Ventures Limited ^ Jump up to : `` Blackgang Chine history ''. Blackgang Chine. Archived from the original on 6 May 2008. Retrieved 2008 - 07 - 05. Jump up ^ Owen Gladdon 's Wanderings in the Isle of Wight, `` Old Humphrey '', E. Stevenson & F.A. Owen, 1855 Google Books retrieved 5 July 2008 ) Jump up ^ A Walker 's Guide to the Isle of Wight, Martin Collins, Norman Birch, Cicerone Press, 2000, ISBN 1 - 85284 - 221 - 0 ( Google Books, retrieved 9 July 2008 ) ^ Jump up to : May 2000 report, Isle of Wight Postcard Club ( retrieved from Internet Archive, 5 July 2008 ) ^ Jump up to : `` Coaster Force - Blackgang Chine ''. Coaster Force. Archived from the original on 27 August 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2009. Jump up ^ `` Quirky British days out ''. Virgin Media. Retrieved 2009 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Harry Potter star praises chine ''. Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 2010 - 02 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Is this a Blackgang ghost ? ''. Isle of Wight County Press. Retrieved 2009 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Southern Vectis - bus route 6 ''. www.islandbuses.info. 2008. Archived from the original on 22 March 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008. Jump up ^ `` Southern Vectis - Island Coaster ''. www.islandbuses.info. 2008. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008. Jump up ^ World Heritage / Geopark Study Archived 7 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine., Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment, www.coastalwight.gov.uk ( retrieved 3 July 2008 ). Jump up ^ `` Blackgang Chine Theme Park - The battle against erosion ''. www.invectis.co.uk. Retrieved 2009 - 11 - 03. Jump up ^ name = walkersguide Jump up ^ `` Attractions at Blackgang Chine ''. Blackgang Chine. Archived from the original on 31 May 2009. Retrieved 2009 - 11 - 02. Jump up ^ `` Blackgang Chine Fantasy Park ''. About Britain. Retrieved 2009 - 11 - 02. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blackgang Chine. Blackgang Chine - official site Audio and Video Clips from the fantasy park Old pictures of Blackgang Chine Blackgang Chine discussion Far From the Sodding Crowd ( Film ) Around the Chines of the Isle of Wight West New Chine Blackgang Chine East Luccombe Chine Chines on the Isle of Wight Alum Bay Barnes Chine Blackgang Chine Brambles Chine Brook Chine Chilton Chine Churchill Chine Colwell Bay Compton Chine Cowleaze Chine Grange Chine and Marsh Chine Ladder Chine Linstone Chine Luccombe Chine New Chine Shanklin Chine Shepherd 's Chine Shippards Chine Walpen Chine Whale Chine Widdick Chine Amusement parks in the United Kingdom Operated by Merlin Entertainments : Alton Towers Chessington World of Adventures Legoland Windsor Thorpe Park Proposed parks : London Paramount Other theme parks : Adventure Island Adventure Wonderland Barry Island Pleasure Park Barry 's Amusements Blackgang Chine Blackpool Pleasure Beach Brean Leisure Park Clarence Pier Codonas Amusement Park Cornwall 's Crealy Great Adventure Park Devon 's Crealy Great Adventure Park Drayton Manor Dreamland Margate Flamingo Land Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo Funland Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach Joyland ( Great Yarmouth ) Lightwater Valley M&Ds Scotland 's Theme Park New Pleasureland Oakwood Paultons Park Pleasure Island Pleasurewood Hills Robin Hill The Needles - Landmark Attraction Twinlakes Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blackgang_Chine&oldid=801941246 '' Categories : Amusement parks in England Chines of the Isle of Wight Tourist attractions on the Isle of Wight Museums on the Isle of Wight Forestry museums History of forestry 1843 establishments in England Amusement parks opened in 1843 Hidden categories : All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from July 2017 Articles with permanently dead external links Webarchive template wayback links Use dmy dates from June 2013 Use British English from June 2013 Pages using deprecated image syntax Talk Contents About Wikipedia Cebuano Čeština Deutsch Français Русский Slovenčina Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 22 September 2017, at 22 : 34. 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Question: where is blackgang chine on the isle of wight
Answer: about 6 miles from Ventnor at the southern tip of the Isle of Wight just below St Catherine's Down