Kent/Essex People....
09-08-2007, 09:33 PM
#1
Kent/Essex People....
Anyone remember Fantaseas? The water lesiure park built in Dartford, Kent? There was also one built in Chingford......
Both were built in the late 80's and eventually went out of business in the early to mid 90's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantaseas
I'm looking to see if anyone might have some old pictures of the place or maybe even a leaflet of their visit.
Cheers
Both were built in the late 80's and eventually went out of business in the early to mid 90's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantaseas
I'm looking to see if anyone might have some old pictures of the place or maybe even a leaflet of their visit.
Cheers
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09-08-2007, 10:36 PM
#9
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
Originally Posted by miller3
Originally Posted by JAZZA
wasnt it closed because it subsided ?
J
J
09-08-2007, 11:26 PM
#12
Originally Posted by vx220
Originally Posted by miller3
Originally Posted by JAZZA
wasnt it closed because it subsided ?
J
J
why the fuck would anyone want to do that 
09-08-2007, 11:32 PM
#14
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Fantaseas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Fantaseas was a chain of indoor waterparks situated in the United Kingdom that opened in the late 1980s, but due to various technical and financial difficulties closed in the mid-nineties. The first was opened in Autumn 1989 on the outskirts of Dartford in Kent. The building contained six American-style water slides, a lazy river, wave pool, an outdoor heated lagoon as well as a cafe and gaming video arcade. Visible on the skyline from the nearby M25 motorway the building dominated the local landscape and became quite an icon of the town.
A second opened in 1990 in Chingford, London and featured many of the same rides as the Dartford park, albeit in a different configuration. The Chingford park was considered by some to be 'tamer' than its Dartford counterpart, but still contained many of the same style of water slides as its predecessor.
In the summer of 1992, it was found the foundations of the Dartford site were slowly sinking and were insufficient in the long term to take the weight of the building built on a hillside. Many considered the parks to be fads and atypical of the grandiose get-rich-quick schemes of the time. In reality, the company encountered significant financial difficulties with a lack of attendance especially outside of the school holiday seasons. There were also several serious accidents at the Chingford park which tarnished the reputation of the company. This, coupled with high maintenance costs, raked up debts of over Ł6 million in an eighteen-month period. In December 1992, Fantaseas went into liquidation and both sites shut down.
The Chingford site laid derelict for a decade before Waltham Forest Council built a new indoor pool on the site, Larkswood Leisure Centre, which is now shared with a private Green's leisure club and a restaurant.
The Dartford site, in danger of collapsing due to subsidence, was demolished soon after its closure. The site still remains derelict today, with plans to turn the site into housing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Fantaseas was a chain of indoor waterparks situated in the United Kingdom that opened in the late 1980s, but due to various technical and financial difficulties closed in the mid-nineties. The first was opened in Autumn 1989 on the outskirts of Dartford in Kent. The building contained six American-style water slides, a lazy river, wave pool, an outdoor heated lagoon as well as a cafe and gaming video arcade. Visible on the skyline from the nearby M25 motorway the building dominated the local landscape and became quite an icon of the town.
A second opened in 1990 in Chingford, London and featured many of the same rides as the Dartford park, albeit in a different configuration. The Chingford park was considered by some to be 'tamer' than its Dartford counterpart, but still contained many of the same style of water slides as its predecessor.
In the summer of 1992, it was found the foundations of the Dartford site were slowly sinking and were insufficient in the long term to take the weight of the building built on a hillside. Many considered the parks to be fads and atypical of the grandiose get-rich-quick schemes of the time. In reality, the company encountered significant financial difficulties with a lack of attendance especially outside of the school holiday seasons. There were also several serious accidents at the Chingford park which tarnished the reputation of the company. This, coupled with high maintenance costs, raked up debts of over Ł6 million in an eighteen-month period. In December 1992, Fantaseas went into liquidation and both sites shut down.
The Chingford site laid derelict for a decade before Waltham Forest Council built a new indoor pool on the site, Larkswood Leisure Centre, which is now shared with a private Green's leisure club and a restaurant.
The Dartford site, in danger of collapsing due to subsidence, was demolished soon after its closure. The site still remains derelict today, with plans to turn the site into housing
09-08-2007, 11:36 PM
#16
PassionFord Post Whore!!
http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/a..._a_reality.php
'FANTASEAS', Britain's answer to the great American water park, opened close to the Stone Lodge complex on the outskirts of Dartford in the autumn of 1989 but had closed-down by December 1992. This distinctive 'architectural monstrosity' containing six giant American turbo flumes, spectacular water features and an outdoor heated lagoon, dominated the local landscape. As with many late twentieth century leisure ventures based on fleeting fashions and get-rich-quick ideas, this project was initially successful but turned out to be a financial disaster.
One hundred new homes planned
A Regeneration project could see 100 new homes built on the old Fantaseas site, in Dartford's Cotton Lane
Dartford Council has decided to seek permission for residential development of the site.
Once this is secured, it hopes to sell off the land to a developer.
Although a specific plan has not been made, up to 115 homes could be built on two-and-a-half acres of land.
The rest of the land will remain untouched because developments must be built more than 50 metres away from landfill sites.
Councillors had originally hoped to build a hotel after Fantaseas Leisure Pool closed nine years ago.
advertisement4:08pm Friday 20th December 2002
'FANTASEAS', Britain's answer to the great American water park, opened close to the Stone Lodge complex on the outskirts of Dartford in the autumn of 1989 but had closed-down by December 1992. This distinctive 'architectural monstrosity' containing six giant American turbo flumes, spectacular water features and an outdoor heated lagoon, dominated the local landscape. As with many late twentieth century leisure ventures based on fleeting fashions and get-rich-quick ideas, this project was initially successful but turned out to be a financial disaster.
One hundred new homes planned
A Regeneration project could see 100 new homes built on the old Fantaseas site, in Dartford's Cotton Lane
Dartford Council has decided to seek permission for residential development of the site.
Once this is secured, it hopes to sell off the land to a developer.
Although a specific plan has not been made, up to 115 homes could be built on two-and-a-half acres of land.
The rest of the land will remain untouched because developments must be built more than 50 metres away from landfill sites.
Councillors had originally hoped to build a hotel after Fantaseas Leisure Pool closed nine years ago.
advertisement4:08pm Friday 20th December 2002
10-08-2007, 12:40 AM
#18
ELASTIC BAND
went to both, tho generally the dartford one quite a lot, was the nutz when I was 10 / 11!
as said dartford subsided, but was still there a good few, say 5ish years after it closed down.
heard the razor blade urban legend too back in the day!
even tho im all grown up I love a water park, too much heath and safty these days in the uk to make them lik that now!
that's what spain , cyprus and other europen destinations are all about, 20euros all day, spank you head on some flume, job done!
as said dartford subsided, but was still there a good few, say 5ish years after it closed down.
heard the razor blade urban legend too back in the day!
even tho im all grown up I love a water park, too much heath and safty these days in the uk to make them lik that now!
that's what spain , cyprus and other europen destinations are all about, 20euros all day, spank you head on some flume, job done!
10-08-2007, 06:14 AM
#19
PassionFord Post Whore!!
Fook me i remember there as well! Think i had a birthday party thing at the Dartford one there years ago!!!
I remember the black hole / razor blade myth but not a lot else!!! Was it just me though or did it look like it was getting closer to the M25 over the years every time you drove past??!!
I remember the black hole / razor blade myth but not a lot else!!! Was it just me though or did it look like it was getting closer to the M25 over the years every time you drove past??!!
10-08-2007, 09:51 AM
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Originally Posted by miller3
Originally Posted by JAZZA
wasnt it closed because it subsided ?
J
J
10-08-2007, 10:02 AM
#25
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I'm sure I went there back in the day.
Used to have three slides of different colours?
Razor blade things is one of the oldest urban myths ever - I think every pool with slides had that happen!
Used to have three slides of different colours?
Razor blade things is one of the oldest urban myths ever - I think every pool with slides had that happen!
10-08-2007, 11:07 AM
#29
I've found that life I needed.. It's HERE!!
Originally Posted by Porkie
I broke both my ankles in Fantaseas! my mate decided to stop halfway down the pitch black run!!!
Was WICKED place!
Was WICKED place!
F**kin 'el, and that didn't put you off
I remember the place, sunk before I got there, so it wasn't my fault
12-08-2007, 09:54 AM
#30
Too many posts.. I need a life!!
Originally Posted by Robski
Originally Posted by vx220
i'm old enough!
used to love going there.
got lucky in the changing rooms once
used to love going there.
got lucky in the changing rooms once
12-08-2007, 10:00 AM
#31
Razor blades are urban legends! Heard them about EVERY water slide place I've ever been too, and most that I haven't!
I don't remember these places, but I do know the location where the one in Chingford used to be. I don't remember the chingford one, but I know the Leisure Centre thats there now, and the Frankie & Benny's next to it
I don't remember these places, but I do know the location where the one in Chingford used to be. I don't remember the chingford one, but I know the Leisure Centre thats there now, and the Frankie & Benny's next to it
12-08-2007, 02:40 PM
#33
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Where is another good swimming pool in this area I can take my 5 y/o daugther to?
I mean one with flumes and possibly a wave machine as i love those.... i mean she'll love those
Cheers
I mean one with flumes and possibly a wave machine as i love those.... i mean she'll love those
Cheers
12-08-2007, 02:51 PM
#34
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was this hte one you could see from the dartford bridge?? i remember there being one you could see from the bridge with about 3 slides in diferent colours...
12-08-2007, 03:14 PM
#35
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Originally Posted by vx220
i'm old enough!
used to love going there.
got lucky in the changing rooms once
used to love going there.
got lucky in the changing rooms once
place was cool, was the only place i had been to at the time that had mixed changing rooms....
then when that close we all used to go to the dolphin in romford....with the wave machine.......another mixed changing room shagfest
12-08-2007, 03:53 PM
#36
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[quote="pugo"]
then when that close we all used to go to the dolphin in romford....with the wave machine.......quote]
which is now a sainsburys and flats
then when that close we all used to go to the dolphin in romford....with the wave machine.......quote]
which is now a sainsburys and flats
12-08-2007, 05:40 PM
#38
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Fantasies was excellent!! lol What about the Kamakaze ride? The drop was seriously steep... oh and the wave machine and the bit everyone sat round, only to be washed out into the main bit. Oh and the Bermuda Triangle... I could never grab hold of those sodding ropes to haul myself down to the next pool!!! I daren't go in the very most top black one though... waaayyy too claustraphobic.
12-08-2007, 07:16 PM
#40
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random subject billy 
but remember the dartford one well
be intrested to see, if theres any pictures (doubt it) of what it was like after it shut down like the rover factory ones etc
but remember the dartford one wellbe intrested to see, if theres any pictures (doubt it) of what it was like after it shut down like the rover factory ones etc