Wild Mouse at Blackpool Removal?

[gavin]

From Screamscape:

There is a rumor starting to go around claiming that Blackpool Pleasure Beach may end up removing the park’s Wild Mouse before it reopens for the 2013 season.

Yes, I know it's "only" Screamscape, but is there anything to back this up at the moment? By that I don't mean "I heard blah blah blah" because, let's face it, you heard it from Screamscape as well and don't actually know jack ****.

 

[alexr]

It's been rumoured that next year Eddie Stobart, Tea Cups , Dodgems, Monorail, Grand Prix and the Mouse will all be removed/sbno next season. The monorail has already been closed for most of this season.

Also, the park have commented however claiming that it's "pure speculation!'"

I'm aware the mouse has had two incidents this season, might be due to rising cost of insurance of the ride that it may have to close.

Amanda has also not really confirmed or denied, she just replied on twitter this;

 

[Ben]

Amanda's fab chainsaw strikes again <3

I look forward to more fountains and shows to spite everyone <3

 

[Ian]

In other words, Fab Amanda Thompson - FAT for short - is saying, don't listen to speculation and nothing is safe.

We already know that FAT isn't too attached to the heritage side of BPB and if Wild Mouse is costing a fortune to maintain, why not rip it down and replace it with something "better" (read: fountain) with a quicker throughput?

The reason it always has a queue is due to the throughput rather than it's popularity imo. I agree that it's a gem and would hate to see it go, but FAT is right, nothing last forever.

Over the years, my attitude towards old rides being ripped out has changed significantly. I no longer view every ride through rose tinted spectacles and appreciate the need for change and embracing exciting new rides and concepts. As long as it doesn't spin.

I have nothing to add to this apart from a load of waffle and CBA to contact the park because they won't confirm anything.

 

[Martyn B]

Yeah it's "just a coaster", but there aren't many of these left in the world now. Plus the fact that it's amazing!

Though I would have thought getting rid of Steeplechase would have made more sense; capacity is equally as bad, it takes up a lot more space and most probably costs a lot more to run.

 

[Tomatron]

I know that rides come and go, and some are past their time, but I'd be gutted if Wild Mouse got taken out. There's not much that genuinely makes me hold on for dear life, but that ride is one of those.

 

[sparky2u]

This is shocking news if it turns out to be true, as this type of coaster should have a "listed" status whacked on it as only a couple exist worldwide.

I do hope "Dreamland" at Margate opens in a few years & England can have a working model again if BPB gets razed.

 

[gavin]

^It's "newer" than the other wooden coasters at Blackpool though, and though it may be one of the best in the park, it's just not as iconic as Big Dipper or Grand National.

It's not quite as simple as just "whacking on" a listed status. Yes, to us it's a classic, but in the grand scheme of things, it's a pile of 60-year-old wood with little actual cultural significance.

 

[Nemesis of oblivion]

To be honest if it went I would be upset, however if they could use the space from Wild Mouse to the old truma towers building and build a new coaster then I would support it.

.If it leaves and turns into a water fountain/show then Pleasure Beach have just lost a long time customer.

.If it stays then alright, that cool

 

[Jake]

^^ Exactly. Every man and his dog knows about Big Dipper (and Nash to some extent), but the vast majority of the GP don't really care about Wild Mouse.

I think in a park as crammed as BPB, they should only really spite the 'classic' rides if they're going to use the valuable space to replace it with something decent. Wild Mouse doesn't really take up that much, so what they can actually do with the land is quite limited.

Still not that fussed, but it WOULD be a shame if they ripped it out for no reason.

 

[spicy]

Oh nooo please don't be true. Wild mouse is one of my favourite coasters, nothing comes close to how terrifying that thing is and it is just such a laugh at the same time.

And as has been said it doesn't take up that much room, so I doubt it would be replaced with anything of real note.

 

[Robbie]

Hope it's not true, it's a cracking ride. On Sunday, the queues for this were consistently longer than Valhalla's (and, at one point, longer than Revolution's). I think a lot of people would be sad to see it go.

 

[Gazza]

Demolish it.
Everyone can come to Aus or Indonesia to ride wooden mouses muhahaha.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Hm. Like Jake, I'd not personally be too fussed, but I think it would be a stupid move for the park.

They've got to be careful. After so many stagnant years, their recent developments are both long overdue and appropriate. Nick land is really rather good and I think the Wallace And Gromit thing is a great idea, too. Being so short of space, I appreciate the need to remove attractions which the majority care little for to replace with new, but the problem is we know from experience that they closed things due to running cost, not with expansion in mind. There's not a problem with that inherently, its a business, but they have demonstrated no consideration for future expansion with their removals. Bling has been replaced with potted plants, Trauma towers and Noah's Ark are standing but not operating and Black Hole is an irrelevent top to a new restaurant. Wow. (Its a good restaurant, though.) They've removed faster than they could rebuild, it would take years and years to fill the gaps with new investments.

Removing Mouse wouldn't equate to space for anything. It'll become retail or games and it'll bare no difference to the rest of the parks current retail and games. If they closed it and announced a replacement, then cool, but closing it this winter would obviously not be to replace it. It's possible the rumour has weight, but isn't anywhere as immediate.

Id be sad if it left, more sad if Steeple Chase left from a personal perspective, but it'd make more sense...

The Pleasure Beach is decreasing in value. They've got to stop it. It's high gate price needs substance. The new stuff if good, but given you, as an adult taking your child, do not need to purchase a proper ticket, what are they doing to bring high paying guests in? Nothing.

Sent from my HTC Wildfire S A510e using Tapatalk 2

 

[furie]

Also, the park have commented however claiming that it's "pure speculation!'"

It's a goner then, especially after Amanda's reply :lol:

Sorry, it's being "shored up to secure it for the winter"

^It's "newer" than the other wooden coasters at Blackpool though, and though it may be one of the best in the park, it's just not as iconic as Big Dipper or Grand National.

It's not quite as simple as just "whacking on" a listed status. Yes, to us it's a classic, but in the grand scheme of things, it's a pile of 60-year-old wood with little actual cultural significance.

This. It's exceptionally hard to get anything 20th century listed. The farther into the 20th century you get, the harder it is to get it listed, unless it is something of massive, significant cultural value. The only thing of cultural value in Blackpool are the vats of gum they grow the employees in

You couldn't even get the ride listed under an umbrella listing, where you say "all these rides at the Pleasure Beach support a culturally important area with respect to the listed Casino building at the entrance". Nothing there is original, it's all been destroyed by fire or refits, historically the place just isn't really that important as an example of original works. There are exceptions, and ride mechanisms (things like The Flying Machines) may get a look in as there are other old machine works that are similar that have been saved. The Mouse though? It's just a 1950's Reverchon

Oh, and Joey and Jake have summed everything else up perfectly. If you're going to replace and use the area for new and significant improvements to the park ride line-up, then fine; if it has to be done to move on, then it has to be done. If it's simply to offer new ferns and sculptures? It's not really what PBB is all about is it?

 

[Lofty]

I kind of don't care less about it, yes, whilst its great with the heritage aspect of the park, it's jusT sitting there using land that something better could actually use.

 

[Mark]

^What like another fountain Lofty?? I think that is the point. Given the past trend at PBB of closing things but just leaving them sitting there, this is not great news because it will just sit there and the chances of getting something new and better are very slim.

Personally, I would be a little sad to see it go but not devastated. It is an awesome little ride but in all honesty, I have always felt that it was a Health & Safety nightmare just waiting to happen - especially on the lift hill. I am surprised it hasn't been a major problem in the past and it would only take 1 idiot to cause one.

I used to love and adore Blackpool but tbh, over the years my affection for the place has waned to a point of indifference. I just don't really care what they do anymore which is sad in itself.

 

[owentaylor121]

I would be sad if this left the park, it's just so fun and scary at the same time, it's a classic.

 

[oriolat2]

TBH, Wild Mouse was the best coaster coaster at the park, so I would be sad to see it go. After all, how many other wooden wild mice coasters are there operating now? Blackpool's and the one in Luna Park (Australia)...

Wild Mouse has that OMFG-factor that never gets old and leaves you laughing the whole way round!

 

[gavin]

it's jusT sitting there using land that something better could actually use.

Well, it's not "just sitting there" though is it? It's still open, and still a popular ride. And in terms of "better", what ride, realistically, could a plot that small even hold?

If they're looking to free up space for a new coaster, then the logical decision would be Steeplechase, not something that they would struggle to fit even a basic new flat ride into.

If this does turn out to be true, then it won't be about making space for a new attraction, but getting rid of something that's becoming too expensive, difficult and/or dangerous to operate.