Fantasy Island (Skegness) enters administration!

[StealthFan]

It has been reported today via various media outlets that Fantasy Island has entered administration. The park will remain open through out this process but what does the future hold for the home of Odyssey!

 

Here is the BBC article on the park:

A seaside theme park that attracts up to 40,000 visitors a day has gone into administration.

 

Fantasy Island, a 41-acre site in Ingoldmells near Skegness, employs 52 permanent and 120 seasonal staff.

 

The appointed administrator said no job losses are expected during the summer but gave no indication of the park's long term prospects.

 

A spokesman said Fantasy Island will continue to operate "as normal" while its finances are reviewed.

 

Oompah band

The theme park is also home to what claims to be "Europe's largest seven-day market" and 340 static caravan pitches.

 

As well as rides the park, which opened in 1995, has many live acts throughout the season, including a British oompah band and various tribute acts.

 

Duff & Phelps Ltd, which has been appointed as administrator, said the company owned by Conduit Skegness would continue as normal until the various businesses on the site had been assessed.

 

Paul Clark, from the administration team, said: "Fantasy Island is an important leisure destination and as we head into one of the busiest months of the year it is very much business as usual.

 

"Customers should be assured that this will not impact their experience, whether they are visiting the rides, market or one of the shows.

 

"It's also important for employees to know that their jobs will not be impacted during these busy summer months and we look forward to working with the team."

 

He said it was too early to say what would happen over the winter, but added the business was being treated as a going concern and potential investors were welcome to register their interest.

 

So what do you think will happen to the park? Will it be taken over? Will it close at the end of the year and the rides sold off? What would you like to see happen! Feel free to discuss!

 

To find out more about the park check out the TPR Park Index page on the park: http://www.themeparkreview.com/parks/park.php?pageid=146

 

Also check out TPR's fantastic POV of the smoothest Vekoma ride EVER "Millennium Roller Coaster"

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-Craig

Edited March 4, 2016 by StealthFan

[Garet]

I always loved the first drop of the giant SLC there, it looks fine from outside the park but from the front seat, it suddenly seemed almost vertical. I hope if the park closes it can be relocated somewhere. Not sure about Millenium it's such a spread out layout designed to surround the whole park I wonder if it could be moved, it's one of the smoothest vekomas i've ever been on.

 

Aren't a lot of the flat rides converted from trailer versions? I feel like the Top Scan and Amazing Confusion could hit a European Fair circuit perhaps, i've only ever seen another like Amazing Confusion when I was in Hong Kong. Apart from that I don't remember many other rides apart from the really long indoor dinghy slide and the tilting S&S Tower. Some of the other more intresting rides like that 300ft slingshot and huge fabbri booster ride left a while ago.

 

Anybody remember when they had plans to make a 300ft tall Vekoma Half Pipe style ride? They had a working model near the ticket boothes and everything. I'd always planned to revisit the park when they introduced wristbands since I could only ever afford one go on things on my last visit but I never did fit in the time before moving to Korea.

[StealthFan]

Anybody remember when they had plans to make a 300ft tall Vekoma Half Pipe style ride? They had a working model near the ticket boothes and everything.

 

I remember the model of that ride well but I believe there was issues with manufacturing which mean Vekoma could not deliver the ride to the park so thats how they ended up with Odyssey.

 

Id be surprised if the park doesn't get purchased in some form just for the market alone. The market is always insanely busy.

[robbalvey]

This does not surprise me. The place has always been pretty sketchy. Our last visit there in 2010 just seemed a bit seedy and the park outright lied to us about rides that would be open and closed, and continue to lie to us while we were there in an effort to get us to stay longer. Was kind of creeped out by the place. I actually do like some of the rides and some of what the place has to offer, but was really turned off by how it was operated.

[GigaG]

Not familiar with the term "under administration." Probably embarrassing myself...

[StealthFan]

This does not surprise me. The place has always been pretty sketchy. Our last visit there in 2010 just seemed a bit seedy and the park outright lied to us about rides that would be open and closed, and continue to lie to us while we were there in an effort to get us to stay longer. Was kind of creeped out by the place. I actually do like some of the rides and some of what the place has to offer, but was really turned off by how it was operated.

 

Oh yeah I forgot about that and also the guy in the market who looked like he was going to murder us then fulfil his sexual fantasies on our corpses because we went to take a photo of something at his stall.

[rcjp]

Not familiar with the term "under administration." Probably embarrassing myself...

Well if you are at least you're not the only one.

[StealthFan]

Not familiar with the term "under administration." Probably embarrassing myself...

Well if you are at least you're not the only one.

 

Here is the definition of administration:

As a legal concept, administration is a procedure under the insolvency laws of a number of common law jurisdictions. It functions as a rescue mechanism for insolvent entities and allows them to carry on running their business. The process – an alternative to liquidation – is often known as going into administration. A company in administration is operated by the administrator (as interim chief executive) on behalf of the creditors as a going concern while options are sought short of liquidation. These options include recapitalising the business, selling the business to new owners, or demerging it into elements that can be sold and closing the remainder.

[Garet]

Anybody remember when they had plans to make a 300ft tall Vekoma Half Pipe style ride? They had a working model near the ticket boothes and everything.

 

I remember the model of that ride well but I believe there was issues with manufacturing which mean Vekoma could not deliver the ride to the park so thats how they ended up with Odyssey.

 

Id be surprised if the park doesn't get purchased in some form just for the market alone. The market is always insanely busy.

 

Weren't they still attempting to build it even after Odyssey for a very short while before it all got quietly dropped? I remember a working model with the advertisment coming 2003 near the indoor ticket booth while Odyssey was already under construction.

[_koppen]

Anybody remember when they had plans to make a 300ft tall Vekoma Half Pipe style ride? They had a working model near the ticket boothes and everything.

 

The ride was "only" 200-ish feet tall, but it actually got bought by Fantasy Island but ended up at E-DA Theme Park in Taiwan since Fantasy Island was unable of funding it.

 

[marth555]

That half pipe looks awesome

[StealthFan]

So with the park having entered administration just over 3 months ago the 2014 season has now ended and the park is still in the hands of the administrators. From what I have heard the administrators are running the park for the 2015 season to see what can be achieved with a viable business plan and then if successful they will look for new owners for the park.

 

As the park is scheduled to open for the 2015 season work is progressing on the winter maintience for the park and they recently posted about 2 ride refurbishments happening this winter.

 

This first one is this! Taken from parks Facebook

Vekoma are now on site carrying out some refurbishment ready for our 2015 Season #FantasyIsland#OdysseyCoaster

 

And the second.

The Log Flume in preperation for it's refurbishment #newfor2015

 

So there does seem like a good light at the end of the tunnel with all this work being done and hopefully a solid business plan in place but we will have to see! I will make sure to take a trip to the park next year and I do hope they do well!

 

-Craig

[StealthFan]

Today it has been announced that after being placed into administration in August of 2014 the park has been sold to the Mellors group.

 

International events and leisure group, Mellors Group, brings stability to Fantasy Island management at Skegness tourist attraction, Fantasy Island, have confirmed that the resort has been bought by major international leisure group, Mellors Group.

 

The news signals positive change for the attraction, which was placed into administration on 4 August 2014.

Mellors Group, who already own a leisure park in Dubai – coincidentally also called Fantasy Island –are responsible for popular events including London’s Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Nottingham Winter Wonderland, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Beach, The Nottingham Beach and the siting of giant Observation wheels around the UK. They now intend to bring a lot of their family’s showmanship to the East Coast. The Group, who is also familiar with caravan park operations within the UK, brings vast and varied experience to the Skegness resort.

 

James Mellors, Managing Director of the Mellors Group said; “It is a very exciting time for our company as we have seen strong growth in our events business throughout the region and abroad. We pride ourselves on delivering the highest standard of attractions and we have some interesting investment plans and new rides for Fantasy Island in the near future.”

 

The group’s ownership of the 41-acre freehold property is expected to transform the current leisure offering, which already delivers record-breaking roller coasters and Europe’s largest seven-day market, as well as 340 static caravan pitches.

 

Key members of staff have remained in place throughout the administration period and have helped to guide Fantasy Island through this important transition. During that time, the site has been updated and refreshed, operations have been reviewed, new offers and facilities introduced and last holiday season saw an increase in visitors and turnover – proving that the British seaside, and Fantasy Island, still holds appeal for local residents and visitors from further afield.

Fantasy Island Director of Finance, Claire Draper, said: “We’re delighted to be able to make this announcement ahead of our 2016 opening weekend extravaganza on 12th March. It is testament to the hard work of everybody involved over the past 18 months and what we have been able to achieve with the support and understanding of the Administrators. Our joint efforts have proved that Fantasy Island is, and can continue to be, a successful and profitable resort. The added knowledge and support of Mellors Group provides long-term stability and we are confident that it will help to take Fantasy Island to the next level, to the benefit of the local economy through both jobs and tourism”.

 

Administrator, Benjamin Wiles, of Duff & Phelps added: “Fantasy Island is an important local leisure destination attracting up to 40,000 visitors a day in the high season. It is a significant contributor to the local economy and key local employer. I am therefore delighted that the team has successfully delivered a turnaround and sale. Our work has achieved the optimal outcome and secured a long-term future for Fantasy Island and the local economy.”

 

http://www.mellorsgroupevents.com

Source

 

After all the hard work put in by the team at Fantasy Island since the administration was announced this is fantastic news! Hopefully we will see continued investment now to follow on from the work done on Odyssey this year as well as all the touch ups around the park.

 

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[KarlaKoaster]

Bravo to the administrators. They've done such a great job in keeping the park open, trying to keep as many members of staff in a job and even improving the park by repainting. Mellors seems like the perfect fit, too, so I think this is great news!

[historyfreak92]

I really hope this park stays open! It is a Great England Park! Look what happened to Southport!

[RyanTPM]

^With the new investor, it certainly shall do, should finally be some new rides too!

[StealthFan]

So yesterday I took a quick trip down to Fantasy Island to see how things are going now the park is back open and they have been purchased.

 

Plenty of work has taken place and changes are definitely afoot. Beast has been relocated to the old Mouse location and Twist has been place in Beasts old home. This has freed up a big area where Twist used to be that looks like it will be used for a new wristband/ticket counter to start with. Odyssey is testing but hasn't opened yet. The new paint job looks fantastic and the station is now fully enclosed with heaters to keep the wheels nice and warm. I personally think this could be a great year for the ride with all the money they have spent on it.

[StealthFan]

So the new for 2016 ride has been announced and its the return of a classic Fantasy Island ride! G-Force returns to the park after a 12 year absence.

 

 

The ride is getting erected as I type this post and I will head down to the park to get updates as frequently as I can to get updates.

 

Also Odyssey has now opened and is running better than ever!

[Garet]

^Wow the nostalgia, I remember riding this on its opening year,I think so far the only rides I ever missed out on were the Eye in the Sky and the massive slingshot with the tilting seats they used to have.

[Nrthwnd]

Ooooo. After riding a Booster ride a few times at Power Park in Finland,

I would definitely be interested in riding this.

 

The park was 'okay' back in 2010. But my problem was with where we ate,

and how - long - it - took - for - me - to - get - my - ORDER!

 

That is all. I do hope things improve for the park, all 'round.