Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach, located in Blackpool, along the Fylde Coast of England, is an amusement park which has existed since 1896. The park has had a great number of rides come and go over the years, including some world firsts and a few wooden tracked rollercoasters. It's remained operational through both world wars, with Adolf Hitler alledgedly telling his troops to keep the park untouched during the Battle of Britain due to him wanting to use the location as a downtime leasure attraction for his forces. The location's fame also drew the attention of Walt Disney, who even visited the park and gave permission for the park to use the 'Alice in Wonderland' theme for a dark ride which is still operational today. Blackpool Pleasure Beach, with it having existed before ride restraints were mandatory, has also seen its fair share of accidents and deaths. There are a number of locations around the park, and around it's border, which are said to have some hauntings.

History

The history of attractions standing along Blackpool's South Beach dates back to before the Pleasure Beach opened. During the 1800s, gypsies set up a camp in this area and offered certain fairground rides to visitors. While the gypsies ran their entertainments, two men tried their hand at the same thing. One was a Yorkshire meat trader called John Outhwaite, and the other was a man called William George Bean. Both men were rivals at the time with Outhwaite opening a steam carousel in 1895, and with Bean opening a pedal-bike monorail, which he called the Hotchkiss Bicycle Railroad, which he had imported from America. This monorail was positioned on leased land located between the carousel and the gypsy camp, and supported Bean's vision of creating an American style theme park.

On the 23rd of April 1896, Bean founded the Pleasure Beach Company, and this is the date the Pleasure Beach officially came into existence, although it wasn't named as so until 1905. Bean joined with Outhwaite during 1901, and both borrowed £30,000 from the bank; money that they then used to buy forty acres of land, which was located beside the Star Inn, during 1903. On the 1st of August 1904, Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying Machine was opened with the initial intention of raising money so that Hiram Maxim could attempt a flight of one mile. This particular ride is the oldest continuously working amusement park ride in Europe with the only difference being the original gondolas were replaced with rocket carriages in 1952.

During 1905, The River Caves opened, and so did the Helter Skelter Lighthouse. During 1906, The Scenic Railway opened. This was the first wooden rollercoaster in northern England. A roller skating rink then opened during 1909, along with The Velvet Coaster, and in the same year extensive alteration was conducted on The River Caves. This included adding new scenes. During 1910, the gypsies were moved on to allow for redevelopment and expansion of the Pleasure Beach, and during 1911 John Outhwaite died, leaving Bean to run the park. From 1914 to 1920, not much further development happened for the Pleasure Beach due to investment stopping as a result of World War I. The war had made it difficult for Bean to import rides from America, as his vision of the park had relied upon. Despite this setback, the profits still rapidly increased, and the Pleasure Beach Company became one of the most prolific employers in the North West of England. Another setback during this time period was the Spanish Flu pandemic which struck during 1919 and left Blackpool nearly empty of tourists.

The Pleasure Beach did bounce back though from the impact of the Spanish Flu as during the 1920s, Noah's Ark and The Virginia Reel both opened. On the 23rd of August 1923, the Big Dipper wooden rollercoaster opened; a ride which is still there and in operation today as a grade II listed building, as of 2017. The first incarnation of the Star Inn was demolished during the 1920's so that the promenade could be widened and the access improved. A second Star Inn was built to replace it, but this was then demolished during January in 2018 to make way for the Boulevard Hotel which stands in it's place. Also during the 20s; the Pleasure Beach was no longer literally on the beach, from 1923, due to the promenade extending further south.

At the end of the 20s, during 1929, William George Bean died of pneumonia at the age of sixty. His daughter, Lillian, took over the park and married Leonard Thompson. Thompson became the managing director and so was the one behind running the park during this time. It was during 1930 that The Ghost Train opened, although it initially opened under the name 'Pretzel' after the 'Pretzel Company' that manufactured the ride. I've found that this ghost train was the first ghost train in the world; it's definitely the oldest. This ride also underwent an upgrade during 1936 when it was converted from a one storey ride to a two storey ride, plus a drop through the station area was included.

The architect Joseph Emberton, whos influence became key to the Pleasure Beach, began working at the attraction during 1933. Through this decade Emberton assisted in designing a new casino building. The designs were completed in 1938, but an accident killed four workers and injured two others, along with the structure partially collapsing. Despite this, the casino was completed in 1939. Also in the 1930s, the roller skating rink was demolished to make way for 'The Ice Drome', which opened in 1937. This location is the oldest ice drome in the world, plus is the first purpose build ice theatre in the world; containing 2000 seats. It has undergone a name change though from 'The Ice Drome' to the 'Ice Arena'. During 1936, a year before the Ice Drome opened, the longest running show on ice began to be performed at the Pleasure Beach. Today, this show is known as the 'Hot Ice' show, but when it first began it was called 'The Ice Parades'.

More additions through the 1930's include The Pleasure Beach Express, and the twin-tracked rollercoaster 'The Grand National'. Plus, the Velvet Coaster was renamed to Rollercoaster during this decade.

The Pleasure Beach remained both open and unharmed through World War II, and saw thousands of evacuees enjoying the park to escape from the war. Apparently signs around the park were written in Polish during this time due to the number of Polish air force bases which existed around the town at the time. After the war, during 1949, a fire destroyed large parts of the roof and dressing room facilities of the Ice Drome. The repairs to the building were completed in 1951. The architect Joseph Emberton then died during 1956, and much of his work can still be seen today. The following year, during 1957, The Ghost Train was completely rebuilt by the resident designer at the time; Jack Ratcliffe. Even more additions occured when the Wild Mouse wooden rollercoaster was added during 1958, and when The Derby Racer carousel was added in 1959. The carousel featured fifty-six hand carved horses.

Leonard Thompson was heavily inspired by Disneyland during his time of running the park, in the same way that Bean was heavily inspired by the amusement parks he saw in Coney Island. This led to Walt Disney himself paying the Pleasure Beach a visit, and is quoted as calling it a 'higher class of resort'. Following his visit, Walt Disney granted permission for the Pleasure Beach to create a ride themed around 'Alice in Wonderland'. This 'Alice in Wonderland' ride opened in 1961, and a few other rides also opened within this decade. The Grand Prix, originally called The Turnpike, opened a year before Alice in 1960. The Tetley Teacup Ride opened in 1962, the Overhead Monorail opened in 1966; and then the worlds longest log flume, called the 'Drench Falls Log Flume', opened in 1967.

During 1971, the Gold Mine dark ride opened; and a few years later Geoffrey Thompson took over as the managing director from Leonard Thompson during 1976. Steeplechase was opened by the racehorse 'Red Rum' during 1977, and a couple of years later The Revolution, Europe's first 360 degree looping coaster, opened in 1979. Space Invader opened in 1984, and The Avalanche opened in 1988; carrying over one million passengers in its first year. This ride was also, as of 2020, the first and only bobsleigh rollercoaster in the UK.

1994 saw a huge £12 million investment into the park as the world's tallest and fastest rollercoaster at the time was built. This ride is the Pepsi Max Big One and stands at 235ft tall. It was designed by Ron Toomer and built by Arrow Dynamics. Another huge investment occured during 2000, this time of £15 million pounds as Valhalla was built and opened by Jonathan Ross. In 2003 The Big Blue Hotel opened with 157 bedrooms, and in the same year Space Invader closed. In 2004 Amanda Thompson, Bean's great granddaughter, took over as the managing director following Geoffrey Thompson's death. Also in 2004, Space Invader 2 opened, although the ride did close again in 2010. It was then sold to Brean Leasure Park and opened as Astro Storm there during 2010.

During 2007, another massive investment of £8 million was put into the park to open Infusion, the worlds first rollercoaster which is suspended entirely over water. This ride replaced the Drench Falls Log Flume which closed in 2006. It's believed that roughly 5.5 million people visited the Pleasure Beach during 2007. During 2008, the Noah's Ark ride closed, although you can still see it above the park's main entrance today.

2009 then saw the end of the old pay per ride system as the Pleasure Beach introduced an entrance fee. Six acres of land was then converted into the UK's only Nickelodeon land. This saw Rollercoaster be renamed to the Nickelodeon Streak. Also during 2011, the Gold Mine was closed. It became rethemed as 'Wallace and Gromit's Thrill-O-Matic', with some of the Gold Mine theming still remaining behind the scenes, and with the original Gold Mine system still being used.

Red Arrows Skyforce opened in 2015, te Tetley Teacup Ride closed in 2016, and then £16.25 million was invested into the park during 2018 for Icon, the UK's first double launch rollercoaster, to open. 2019 saw £12 million invested for the Boulevard Hotel, which has 120 rooms and a 90 seat restaurant, to open where the Star Inn once stood.

Hauntings and Accidents

As an amusement park, accidents are expected to happen. I've already mentioned the accident which occured while building the casino which killed four men during 1938, but there are a few others I've not yet mentioned. There have been a couple of deaths at the Pleasure Beach over its long history, and the have been many people injured. As I believe all that it takes for someone to haunt a location is some sort of emotional experience there, then I will include not just the deaths but the accidents too.

The Pleasure Beach is so old that it existed during a time where ride restraints were not mandatory. This led to a man being killed after falling from the Rainbow Wheel in 1923, and it led to a man being killed after standing up on the Scenic Railway during 1926. During 1956, a young girl died after falling from the Grand National.

After the Big One opened in 1994, two of its trains collided. This accident injured 26 people during 1994, and then two trains collided again on the Big One which injured 20 people. Significant accidents also occured on Alice in Wonderland and Space Invader during 1994. During 2000, an eleven year old boy died on Space Invader.

That's all I've found regarding the deaths and accidents. I thought it important to include as if anyone reading this gets the chance to investigate the Pleasure Beach, these are the rides and areas of the park which should probably be focused on.

Now, regarding the actual hauntings which are said to occur; there are a couple. Most notably, there is a spirit said to haunt the Ghost Train. This spirit has been called 'Cloggy' due to it being said that they were once a train operator who wore clogs. It's also said that Cloggy repaired the track, was very committed to the Ghost Train, and that they died somewhere in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The only potential candidate I've been able to find as to who Cloggy really was is the resident designer who completely rebuilt the Ghost Train; Jack Ratcliffe. He did this during 1957, so it somewhat lines up; depending on when Jack died. I have found that Jack continued to design for the Pleasure Beach until 1976; but I haven't been able to find anything on when he died, if at all. If he had retired, then this would potentially line up with Cloggy having died in the late 70s or early 80s.

People have reported hearing tapping, footsteps, groaning, and scratching noises on the ghost train. There have also been occasions where staff have seen the skull on the top of the ride light up even though there was no electricity on at the time. There are also reports of a faint apparition of Cloggy being seen, and of people being hit by something in the Ghost Train tunnels. People have also been touched and during July 2010, The Sun reported on a cable moving without explanation from one part of the ride to another.

It was said that the Star Pub was haunted before it was demolished. As the Boulevard Hotel currently stands on the land, I would expect for the hauntings to still exist if they were genuine. The reports were that a male figure who resembled Karl Marx could be seen in the cellar. Apparantly he would walk through the bar and disappear at 3am. There are also reports of people hearing a woman singing, plus staff being pushed, glass bottles being moved, and of lights switching on and off.

The Sir Hiram Maxim's gift shop is said to be haunted by the spirit of a small female child who is possibly nine or ten years old. She's been seen wearing old fashioned clothes, and I've found one source that has said she is called Emily Ribbond. I would suspect for her to possibly be the same young girl who died from falling from the Grand National in 1956. It's said that gifts fly off the shelves and move at night, plus a child's cry has been heard in the stock room, and people have reported feelings of unease.

The ice skating rink, now called 'Ice Arena', is also said to be haunted. Apparenrly equipment moves on its own, and doors open and close; even when padlocked. Cold spots have been felt by staff in the tractor bay, and one worker refuses to enter certain rooms alone. Apparently another staff member has said they've felt as though they've been pushed onto the ice. Figures have also been seen roaming the backstage dressing rooms, and the investigative reporter Juliette Gregson has said she's heard the sounds of skating when no one is on the ice. Apparently people dressed from the 1900s have been seen standing outside the rink as though they're watching people skate.

The River Caves are also said to be haunted, although this one sounds more like a legend and rumours from when it first opened. It's said that a woman with blood on her face and fingernails haunts this ride along with a hanging man who can sometimes be seen amongst the scenery.

The final three places to have reported hauntings are the Space Invader ride, the Funhouse, and the casino. Space Invader, now Astro Storm at Brean Leasure Park, is said to be haunted by the young boy who died on the ride who was called Christopher Sheratt. He has reportedly been seen by the then thirteen year old girl Carol Mary Kennedy a year after he died. She had known him briefly while he was alive. The Funhouse was destroyed by a fire in 1991, but it was said to be haunted by a blackhound/grim at night. Finally, the casino is said to be haunted by a spirit who stands on the roof of the building. This spirit either looks out to sea, or waves at the people below.

Summary of Hauntings

1. Cloggy faint apparition (ghost train)

2. Tapping (ghost train)

3. Footsteps (ghost train)

4. Groaning (ghost train)

5. Scratching noises (ghost train)

6. Skull lighting up without power (ghost train)

7. Male apparition (Star Pub)

8. People touched (ghost train)

9. People hit (ghost train)

10. Cables move untouched (ghost train)

11. Female singing (Star Pub)

12. Glass bottles moved (Star Pub)

13. Staff pushed (Star Pub)

14. Lights turn on and off (Star Pub)

15. Little girl apparition (Sir Hiram Maxim's Gift Shop)

16. Gifts fly off shelves (Sir Hiram Maxim's Gift Shop)

17. Childs cry in the stock room (Sir Hiram Maxim's Gift Shop)

18. Feelings of unease (Sir Hiram Maxim's Gift Shop)

19. Female apparition, blood on face and fingernails (River Caves)

20. Hanging man apparition (River Caves)

21. Sounds of skating when no one is skating (Ice Arena)

22. Apparitions roaming the back stage dressing rooms (Ice Arena)

23. People watching the rink, dressed from 1900s (Ice Arena)

24. Equipment moves on its own (Ice Arena)

25. Doors open and close (Ice Arena)

26. Cold spots in tractor bay (Ice Arena)

27. Feelings of being pushed (Ice Arena)

28. Feelings of unease (Ice Arena)

29. Young boy apparition, Christopher Sheratt (Space Invader, now Astro Storm)

30. Black hound/grim (Funhouse)

31. Apparition on roof (Casino)

My Thoughts

As I mentioned earlier in the post, I do think there is high potential for the Pleasure Beach to be haunted due to the deaths and accidents which have occured here. I also think that because it is an attraction with an emotional atmosphere revolving around the thrill the rides give people, along with the overall joy it aims to provide, these are factors which could make it a likely candidate for spirits to roam in the search for energy. This is all speculation, but it is interesting that the apparition of a little girl has been when a little girl has died in the park, and that the boy who died on Space Invader has reportedly also been seen. I don't know how close the Grand National is to the Flying Machine gift shop, but regardless, if the little girl haunting the shop is the same as the one who died, then it suggests that spirits aren't necessarily tethered strictly to one structure or object, and that they actually have some capacity to roam freely.

In terms of the other hauntings, I think the River Caves hauntings seem very much so like a rumour rather than anything anyone has definitely experienced. I wouldn't be surprised if this rumour has been kept in circulation as a result of the Pleasure Beach's Halloween events. I wasn't surprised to read that the casino had a haunting, however I'm surprised they just stand on the roof. This makes me wonder if perhaps this figure has been spotted due to the sun getting in people's eyes if they look up there; potentially rendering something as simple as a seagul perched on the roof looking quite different from its usual shape. I suspect the interior of the casino will be haunted due to the workers who died, however just because someone died there doesn't mean that they're guaranteed to haunt the location.

I think the Boulevard Hotel would be an interesting location to investigate. If the Star Inn did have hauntings, then I don't see why they would stop upon the building being demolished. Quite often investigators say a haunting could be due to something which had happened on the land, and so by this theory the Boulevard Hotel should be haunted by the same spirits who haunted the Star Inn. I couldn't find any reports of this hotel being haunted, however when certain sites referred to where the Star Inn spirits haunt; they simply referred to them as haunting the cellars of the Pleasure Beach, omitting the name of the Star Inn altogether. I suspect this is because they want to keep the spirits known, however don't want to run the risk of people thinking of them as irrelevant due to the Star Inn no longer existing.

I really wasn't expecting the Ice Arena to have as many reports of it being haunted as it has. As far as I've found, there is no traditional reason for this location to be haunted. However, if the theory of emotional connection through life is true, then it may very well be haunted by past performers or even by people who used to watch the shows.

I think Cloggy is, in one way or another, legitimate. If there is really a clog wearing spirit; I don't know. However, many people will have worked on the Ghost Train ride and they could have worked on it for a significant amount of time. Working on the theory of emotional involvement to a location, I suspect the tale around it being haunted by an old staff member is very much so plausible. I really do think it should be investigated more in order to see if any names can be discovered. I find it odd that people suspect to know roughly when the employee died, but I haven't found any names in connection to the Ghost Train aside from Jack Ratcliffe, who may very well still be alive.

Thank you very much for reading to the end of this post! I was really excited to write about the Pleasure Beach due to it being fairly local to me, with it being in the North West of England, and I have good memories of visiting it; particularly of riding the Alice in Wonderland ride and Noah's Ark. I hope that you've enjoyed learning about Blackpool Pleasure Beach and its hauntings. If I've missed anything important, or mixed up any facts, please don't hesitate to let me know.

A special thank you to Damain, Nicolette, The Cornish Ghost Whisperers, and Kerry for your continued support of The True Paranormal. If you want to follow The True Paranormal you can do so on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, and Tumblr. You can also subscribe to The True Paranormal on YouTube, or directly to this website through the bar on the left which will give you email notifications. That bar also lists all of the links which will take you to The True Paranormal's various social media platforms. If you want to contact me about your own experiences, or about anything at all paranormal, you can email thetrueparanormal1@gmail.com