As popular theme parks such as Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Flamingo Land welcome thousands of fun-seekers over the summer, we’ve delved into our archives to find old photos of The American Adventure to take you on a trip down memory lane.
The theme park was originally called Britannia Park and opened in 1985, but closed after just 10 weeks with huge debts.
It was then bought by Derbyshire Council for £2.5 million in 1986, and sold to Grenada, which reopened the park under the name ‘The American Adventure’ in June 1987.
The American Adventure was hugely popular in its heyday and new rides were introduced over the years to keep up with the times. Unfortunately the announcement came in 2007 that the park would not be reopening that year, and the rides were sold off to various amusement parks and attractions around the world.
It was then bought by Derbyshire Council for £2.5 million in 1986, and sold to Grenada, which reopened the park under the name ‘The American Adventure’ in June 1987.
![Santa arriving at Pioneer Playland, December 1990, do you remember this?](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU0OTA0Yjc4LWE5OWMtNDg5Zi1hN2FmLWVlNzRkNDA3OWU0YzpiMWVlNTcyMC0zMmIwLTQzZDktYTI1Yi03MzA3OTU5ODJhYWQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
9. Pioneer Playland
Santa arriving at Pioneer Playland, December 1990, do you remember this? Photo: Johnston Press
![Popular with children of all ages, the ride now operates in a theme park in Armenia.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjc0ZTI1N2MxLWRjYmQtNDAzNi1iNGI3LTllMDViODJhNDQzNzplNjY0MWRjNi1kODQzLTQxMmEtYjY1Ni0zNzJmNzI0MGViZTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
10. Tennessee Tentacles
Popular with children of all ages, the ride now operates in a theme park in Armenia. Photo: Chad
![The theme park had regular shoot-outs - do you remember watching them?](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjY0YzE4Mjk0LWU5NmMtNDVmNS1hNmM5LTNiNzVhMjhlOWIzZTo1ODY0MzM3ZC0wOTAwLTQ2YzAtOTZmNC1kNmRiZjI5MzVjZjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
11. An American adventure
The theme park had regular shoot-outs - do you remember watching them? Photo: Chad
![Whatever the weather, the log flume was always a popular ride.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjRiNmM2YjA3LTQ0NWEtNGJlZC04N2I3LWMwZTNmNTA0ZWQ1MDplMTBjMTQzZC0wNzcwLTRjOWItOWY2MS04ZmNjNzhhZGJiMWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)