Capturing Paultons
Paultons Park, located on the edge of the New Forest, had been on my list of must-visit parks for several years. However, it wasn’t until the introduction of Tornado Springs (and its star attraction, Storm Chaser) that I finally decided to visit.
My curiosity about Paultons Park began back in 2016 with the introduction of the Lost Kingdom, a prehistoric-themed area that was heavily featured in park literature and the media at the time. For the park, it was a major investment, costing around £9 million, and followed on from the success of Peppa Pig World, which opened in 2011.
The latest area, Tornado Springs, finally launched in 2021 after its opening was delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But what exactly can be found there?
Tornado Springs
Tornado Springs is a brand-new world themed to an American Midwest desert resort town in the 1950s. It features more than eight new attractions and rides. The area’s headline attractions are a Mack Rides spinning coaster called “Storm Chaser” and “Cyclonator” – a 25-metre high gyro swing pendulum ride by Zamperla.
Other attractions include ‘Al’s Auto Academy’ – a driving school for younger guests, ‘Windmill Towers’ – two themed family drop towers, ‘Buffalo Falls’ – a four-lane water ride dingy race, ‘Trekking Tractors’ – a family tractor ride around Farmer Flo’s farm and the ‘Rio Grande Train Ride’ which takes passengers on a delightful journey from Tornado Springs to Little Africa.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat, then the Route 83 Diner is an ideal spot to sit down and soak in the American vibes. Before leaving, be sure to check out Al’s Shop and Service for those holiday souvenirs!
Tornado Springs is an impressive and highly immersive area for guests. Paultons Park is already planning further expansion with a brand-new children’s coaster, “Farmyard Flyer,” currently under construction and due to open next year. During my visit, I had so much fun capturing the spirit of the area, which hopefully shines through the images above! It’s certainly worth checking out!
Capturing Paultons
On my visit, I was impressed with how well kept the park was. Hedges were perfectly trimmed, theming regularly maintained, and rides running with minimal queues, even though it was during the busy school holidays. When speaking to the park, they pride themselves on maintaining the park and resolving any issues as quickly as possible, instead of waiting to the end of the year, or waiting for approval – one advantage of being a family-owned park.
Below, I have uploaded just a few images from around the park for you to enjoy, but before I sign off, a big thank you to Paultons Park for allowing me to photograph!
Justin
