Reflecting on 20 years since the end of the American Adventure

The American Adventure theme park closed its doors for the final time 20 years ago - not that the people there that day realised it.

The US-themed attraction in Derbyshire had been drawing in crowds since its opening in 1987, and at the end of the 2006 season - on 29 October - staff expected to be back at the park in spring.

But that day would be the attraction's last, with news of its closure officially confirmed in January.

The slice of the US in the heart of the East Midlands has long since vanished, replaced by new homes, but the memories live on in those who visited.

In the Domesday Book, the lakeside area was recorded as the lands surrounding a manor, and in medieval times was a forest used for hunting.

Shipley Hall was built in 1700, and the area was mined extensively - so much so the hall was eventually vacated due to the noise and disturbance, and eventually demolished due to subsidence in the 1940s.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Derbyshire County Council turned the land into a country park as a memorial to its mining heritage, with a plot set aside for a theme park.

Britannia Park opened in 1985 - with legendary boxer Sir Henry Cooper cutting the ribbon - but this "showcase of Britain" failed to inspire the public.

A rebrand two years later as the American Adventure, however, proved a huge success.

Laura Millward, who grew up in nearby Derby, visited the theme park "countless" times as a child in the 1990s.

"Many of my favourite childhood memories were formed at the American Adventure," she said.

"From riding on the world's tallest log flume to meeting stars from Byker Grove and Neighbours at their Fast Forward fun day - not forgetting the Wild West shootouts!"

Laura now has her own daughter and wishes she could take her there.

"She'd enjoy the horse rides," said Laura.

"It's just a shame it's no longer there for the next generation to enjoy."

For much of the park's history, Blue Moore performed as an actor in its live shows.

Speaking to the BBC in October last year, Blue recalled the attraction's popularity during its heyday.

"It was absolutely rammed, there was people everywhere," he said.

"It was a really good place to work. It didn't feel like work, it felt like playtime every day.

"It was a different type of theme park, we had themed events, we had a wild west town where you'd have cowboys and Indians firing at each other.

"It brought a new attraction to the country - everybody wanted to come."

But towards the end of its life, ownership of the park changed hands several times, and with visitor numbers dwindling, some major attractions had closed before its final season.

On 4 January 2007, it was officially announced that American Adventure would not reopen.

Now the site has been redeveloped for housing and a 66-bed care home, but reminders of its past can still be found.

One resident, Devin Leahy, bought a house built close to where the Grand Niagara Falls log flume once flowed.

Speaking to the BBC previously, he said: "My girlfriend and I talk about it often - there's a load of yellow stones nearby which look exactly like they're from American Adventure.

"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."

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