Photo TR: Metroland 4/20/2008

[dr.gumbo]

This is my first report so I'm warning you now; get ready for the worst TR you've seen in your lives.

 

Metro land was a small, quirky indoor park situated in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in north east England. If you’re a geography geek (like me), you should have figured out that the park was situated 80 odd miles north of Light water valley and Flamingo land. Because of this, most theme park fanatics didn’t bother travelling the extra distance for a park which quite frankly wasn’t worth it.

 

Anyhow, here’s some history for you all (supplied by rcdb.com):

 

The original development, together with the rest of the MetroCentre, was financed by the Church Commissioners of England, and construction work was carried out by contractors Rush & Tompkins. Construction and fitting out work in MetroLand cost approximately £20 million (€32.80 million). A further £1 million (€1.64 million) was invested by Funday Ltd. who took over the park in 1989.

 

In August 1996, Arlington Leisure took over the park and invested over £2 million (€3.28 million) updating and upgrading all the attractions, relaunching the site as The New MetroLand.

 

The park closed in early 2008 to be replaced by a new cinema as the old MetroCentre cinema was closed to make way for additional retail space.

 

Here are some the photos I took on its last day of operation:

 

This was it from the outside. Nowadays its covered in lovely scaffolding.

 

Here's one of the two entrances to the park. Nowadays this would be a gorgeous photo of a wooden wall. (As you can see, I suck at photography)

 

For colour fanatics, this place is just pure pornography.

 

The first drop of Newcastle's equivalence of the Nemesis (people actually compare them up hear, seriously)

 

A helix, pretty self explanatory.

 

Photography sucks.

 

If your wondering if Westlers supports Metroland, here's your answer.

 

This ride used to have quite a bit of theming, but they stripped it all shortly before these photo's were taken.

 

One interesting thing about this park was that all nearly all the rides were named by adding an adjective to its general name. For example, this ride was called the Wonderful Wave-swinger.

 

This be the entrance to the 20 year old New roller-coaster.

 

This be a picture of the train taken by a mature hormonal teenager.

 

This is the first lift hill which featured a nice countdown filled with excessive strobes and voodoo masks.

 

Super-bad photo of a sign at the exit. Ironically, this was taken after my last ever ride of the coaster.

 

This is the view from the roller-coaster exit (and if your wondering if Walls was advertised at Metroland, here's your answer).

 

To the left of the coaster exit you can see the park residential play area.

 

A couple of bunny hops were wedged between the play area and the wall (a nice ending to the ride, but a perfect opportunity for kids to throw plastic balls at the riders from the ball pit).

 

I had a great time thinking of a good comment to go with this picture.

 

Same with this one.

 

Here's one last photo of the second helix and lift which lead on to the bunny hop finale, all of which had collectively preceded with a stretched out turn from the big helix which had lead from the drop out of the strobe infested tunnel.

 

That's all from me, thank you for reading and if you have the time, please comment!

[andyuk200523]

I remember going to Metroland every year when my parents decided they wanted to go clothes shopping........when there is a small Theme Park at the opposite end of the Shopping Centre I just couldn't say no!!!

 

Always had good fun, the All New Rollercoaster was pretty fun in the back row, always found a nice bump of AirTime on the first drop, which I put down to the incredibly long trains that they used to run!

 

My Last ever visit was 2007, it is a shame it has closed, however, I was at the stage where riding the coaster was becoming a tad uncomfortable, those Zierer cars certainly arent designed with adults in mind!

 

Andrew

[Calicoasters]

I've seen Trip Reports much worse, but none of them constantly shot down their photography! That park looked pretty cool and fun, pretty sad it was replaced by a cinema though!

[netdvn]

The park looks really cool overall. I really like indoor parks where all the rides are crammed together.

 

Sad to see such a cool-looking park close though

[Electerik]

Yeah, I've seen much worse trip reports also.

 

But what does the P stand for in your "Photo TP"?

[gisco]

Nice report. To bad the park is now closed. It is always sad to see a coaster go. OK, maybe not always.

[Calicoasters]

^^ I was expecting to see some good toilet paper shots! I'm truely disappointed!

 

I just watched a pov of New Rollercoaster. The second half is bizarre to in my opinion. It has a super small lift hill and only a single hill after that. I was hoping it had some Jaguar! like features...

[Volt]

^ Go to the supermarket. It's probably Charmin Ultra Soft anyways

 

Good TR. Looks like a fun place for the kiddies .... and credit whores

[dr.gumbo]

My Last ever visit was 2007, it is a shame it has closed, however, I was at the stage where riding the coaster was becoming a tad uncomfortable, those Zierer cars certainly arent designed with adults in mind!

 

Lol, that's what my parents kept on complaining about.

 

I've seen Trip Reports much worse, but none of them constantly shot down their photography! That park looked pretty cool and fun, pretty sad it was replaced by a cinema though!

 

I can admit the photo's weren't that good, mainly because I hadn't cleaned the lens in a while but I'll try not to be too modest next time.

 

It is a shame it was closed though, but I do see why they had to. The place was starting to get a bit shabby and simple people got bored of it (since they couldn't really expand).

 

Yeah, I've seen much worse trip reports also.

 

But what does the P stand for in your "Photo TP"?

 

Oops. lol

 

^^ I was expecting to see some good toilet paper shots! I'm truely disappointed!

 

I just watched a pov of New Rollercoaster. The second half is bizarre to in my opinion. It has a super small lift hill and only a single hill after that. I was hoping it had some Jaguar! like features...

 

Sorry to disappoint. lol

 

Yeah the second half was a bit random, but I guess that's down to the fact that it had quite a lot to dodge in a small space.

 

 

Thanks for all the other comments. They are much appreciated!

[cfc]

Did the park have any dark rides (named "Scary Ghost Train" or "Wonderful Shooting Dark Ride," perhaps)? It looks like a particularly nice carnival inside a warehouse.

 

Thanks for giving us a look at this now defunct park.

[dr.gumbo]

Did the park have any dark rides (named "Scary Ghost Train" or "Wonderful Shooting Dark Ride," perhaps)? It looks like a particularly nice carnival inside a warehouse.

 

Thanks for giving us a look at this now defunct park.

 

 

Unfortunately the park didn't have any dark rides. I guess you could count the first 10 seconds of the roller-coaster if you really want.