A New Era for Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park
The new owner of a North Yorkshire theme park has shared his ambitious plans for the site. James Mellors, who now leads the operation at Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park near Ripon, has expressed his excitement about the future of the park. He mentioned that he and his team have “so many great ideas” for the location, which has been a beloved destination since it opened in 1969.
Mr Mellors described his vision as being akin to a Disneyland, although he acknowledged that they must remain “realistic.” The park was once home to the Ultimate, the world’s longest rollercoaster between 1991 and 2000. On Friday, the park unveiled its latest attraction, the Spinning Racer, marking the start of what Mr Mellors calls a “new era.”
Vision for the Future
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Mellors provided more details about his plans for the adventure park. “If you can imagine it almost being like a Disneyland, that’s where our vision is,” he said with a laugh. However, he also highlighted the challenges of competing with larger theme parks. “We don’t have the budgets of Disney, nor do we have the backing of cartoons and characters like these huge parks do.”
He admitted that while the vision is inspiring, it is currently unaffordable. “It’s very difficult because the vision is unaffordable at the moment, but we’ve got so many great ideas, things we want to do with the park, utilising more of the space to its full potential.”
Background of the New Owner
Mr Mellors is the managing director of the Mellors Group, which acquired Lightwater Valley earlier this year. The park was put up for sale for £3 million in October last year. The Nottingham-based family business also owns the Fantasy Island theme park near Skegness, Lincolnshire.
Mr Mellors shared a personal connection to the park, mentioning that he used to visit Lightwater Valley as a child with his aunt and uncle. According to the BBC, the park was rebranded to cater to children under 12 after the Ultimate rollercoaster was dismantled in 2023.
Changing the Direction
Mr Mellors believes the park has “changed massively” since the previous owners took over. He criticized their focus on a younger age group, stating: “In my opinion, the previous owners really went in the wrong direction and went down to more of a younger age group.”
He emphasized the importance of appealing to a broader audience. “You have to remember that the 12 and unders still have parents that are in their mid-20s, 30s, 40s, and they still want to have a great time as well.”
Introducing New Attractions
Referring to the opening of the Spinning Racer, Mr Mellors explained the decision to introduce a new coaster. “We knew we needed to change things quite quickly to get off for the year, so that was why we wanted to introduce a coaster.”
The Mellors Group has promised to bring new rides and attractions to Lightwater Valley following the completion of its purchase. This marks a significant step towards revitalizing the park and restoring it to its former glory.
