The Blackgang Beach – a brand new attraction for the 2024 season – was unveiled at Blackgang Chine over the weekend. Ahead of the opening, the UK’s oldest theme park welcomed 17 enthusiastic students and 7 dedicated teachers from St George’s School for an exclusive accessibility session on Friday, showcasing the attraction in a calmer, more private setting. The Blackgang Beach officially opened on Saturday (11th May). Formerly on the site of what used to be the Cliffhanger, The Blackgang Beach has undergone a complete transformation, featuring a large water pillow surrounded by a vibrant yellow rubber pour giving the impression of water on sand, all without the mess. Park Manager Dan White expressed his delight at witnessing the beaming smiles of the students, remarking:
“It was truly heart-warming to see the joy on their faces, and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day. Our conversation with the staff of St. George’s highlighted the impact this attraction holds for their students and the limited facilities the Island has for attractions that meet their students’ needs. We feel very proud that we are able to offer this experience to them, and how much this is going to be an asset to the park.”
The Blackgang Beach will play host to more Accessibility Sessions throughout the 2024 season, with sessions set to provide an intimate experience, exclusively tailored for individuals with disabilities, ensuring a calm atmosphere with limited capacity for maximum enjoyment. Children, and grown-ups, can enjoy endless hours of play, being able to boast to friends that they can “walk on water”. Local artist Tony Trowbridge has added some nostalgia to the area by painting a mural with lots of nods to Blackgang’s history and attractions of the past including the legendary Weather Wizard and the host of the Triassic Dinosaur Club, creating the perfect backdrop for photos. The area has picnic bench seating, which no doubt will be a welcome addition for parents and carers. For detailed information regarding opening hours and ticket prices, visit www.blackgangchine.com.
Like most of Blackgangs “exciting attractions”, this is just so amateurish in the extreme and of course well overpriced too.
How embarrassing for the Isle of Wight..blackgang chine removes a roller coaster for a giant water balloon, I can see many mainland tourists mocking this so called overpriced attraction as a joke..surely blackgang can do something better for us please
Unfortunately blackgang burnt their bridges last year with a lot of locals and how they got treated when they suddenly closed Robin hill. Myself and I know many more, will never spend a penny with vectis ventures again.
Blackgang chine used to be such a wonderful park. Sadly it’s becoming the temu of theme parks.
Has Tarzan still got his chest wig.. he always made me smile, great fun years ago..the haze of blue smoke and crazed cap gun wielding kids in cowboy town, happy days..
OMG!!! What an infantile idea, it might be ok for toddlers but not an attraction in a theme park.
That is so bleak, who thought it was a good idea?
its like the rubbish Rudolph Christmas show, nice artwork on the dodgy shipping containers! how seasidey..not
I am sure Alexander Dabell would be horrified that his dream was turned into this. It was a natural landscape with surprises around every corner for all ages to enjoy and filled with awe and wonder, not just a kid’s playground. I was lucky to see the Victorian layout when I was very young before it was lost and couldn’t wait to go again. But this seems ridiculous. Black gang had a beach, but nothing like this. I think this should have been at Robin Hill and named in a bizarre twist, Newport Beach. As for replanting fully grown palm trees, if they survive the cold air are sure to go down on the next severe gale. All along this part of the coast, trees and bushes grow distorted from the constant south westerly wind battering. 🙁
I don’t think Dabell would of known what or where it was do you? Unless it was to be seen at the bottom of a bottle.
It was well received and extremely popular during its first year at RH – now looks even better at Blackgang.
Sad, reading such negative comments from those who have absolutely “no idea”!!
should have left the roller coaster which was a big attraction. I cannot see this being a super big hit. The latest rides they have installed are just not the greatest anyways which is sad as its fun place but phasing out any hope of teens or older being interested.