The site of the former American Adventure theme park in Shipley, near Ilkeston, has been transformed into a housing estate, nearly two decades after its closure in 2007. The Western-themed park first opened its gates in June 1987, replacing an earlier amusement park called Britannia Park that had closed after just 10 weeks in 1985.
American Adventure enjoyed popularity throughout the 1990s, with attractions including the Cherokee Falls log flume, the Buffalo Stampede roller coaster, a runaway mine train ride, and a pirate ship. However, visitor numbers declined in the 2000s, leading to the gradual shutdown of rides and the eventual permanent closure after the 2007 season.
Despite petitions from former visitors hoping for a reopening, the land was redeveloped into housing. Some residents now living on the estate have fond memories of the park. Devin Leahy told the BBC: 'I grew up living just over the hill - I can remember most of it, where the rides were. One of the reasons I bought a house here was because it's the former site of American Adventure - but I was quite disappointed with the naming of the roads, and how there was no homage to the theme park.'
Another resident, Jordan Gosling, shared: 'I started coming in my early teens, 13 and 14 - we'd try and come every school holiday because it was nearby. It's nice to know the site of a theme park which I had good memories in has been used for something.'
