The American Adventure, a popular UK theme park that operated for nearly two decades, has been completely transformed into a housing estate after closing permanently in 2006. The park, located near Shipley, Ilkeston in Derbyshire, opened in June 1987 on land previously used for coal mining. Before the American Adventure, a short-lived park called Britannia Park operated on the site in 1985 but closed after just 10 weeks due to bankruptcy. Derbyshire County Council later purchased the land and sold it to the Granada group, which developed the theme park.
The Old West Theme and Early Attractions
The American Adventure was themed around the Old West, featuring cowboys and Native American motifs. Early attractions included the Cherokee Falls log flume, the Buffalo Stampede roller coaster, a runaway mine train ride, and a pirate ship. In 1989, a space-themed section opened with The Missile roller coaster, which was voted the best roller coaster in the UK at the time. The park also added the Rocky Mountain Rapids water ride. In 1993, the log flume was extended with a third drop and renamed Nightmare Niagara, becoming the tallest log flume in the UK.
Decline and Closure
Visitor numbers began to decline in the late 1990s. Granada sold the park in 1997 to Ventureworld, led by former Alton Towers developer John Broome. The park was briefly renamed American Adventure World, but the original name later returned. Despite efforts to revive the site, investment remained limited. In 1999, the park was bought by a leisure group owned by Trevor Hemmings. By 2005, three major attractions closed, including Nightmare Niagara and The Missile. The park rethemed as a family attraction for children under 14 but struggled to attract visitors. The American Adventure operated for the final time in 2006, and in January 2007, owners confirmed it would not reopen.
Redevelopment into Housing
The rides were sold off, and the land was redeveloped into a housing estate known as Shipley Lakeside, which includes a 66-bed care home. Jordan Gosling, who moved into the area in May 2024, told the BBC: "It used to be a good little theme park, I have lots of positive memories and remember the rides weren't too big - so it was a good place to get used to rollercoasters. I started coming in my early teens, 13 and 14 - we'd try and come every school holiday because it was nearby." He added, "It's nice to know the site of a theme park which I had good memories in has been used for something."
