Blackgang Chine

Blackgang Chine is an amusement park in Blackgang, Isle of Wight, United Kingdom. It was opened in 1843 and is the oldest amusement park in the United Kingdom. The park includes multiple themed "lands", including Pirate Cove, Restricted Area 5, Fairy Land and Village, and Cowboy Town. Owing to the unstable land on which the park is situated, landslides occur frequently, and attractions have been moved further inland to safer ground on several occasions.

History

During Blackgang Chine's early years, the area was a steep gaunt ravine, or chine, overlooking Chale Bay, stretching around three-quarters of a mile down to the shore. It was a quiet place, visited by few people other than local fishermen with rumours of a thriving smuggling trade, which has now become a key theme of the park. On 11 October 1836 the cargo ship Clarendon was wrecked at the foot of Blackgang Chine, with the loss of many aboard.
During Victorian times, people were seeking out new healthy holiday resorts, ideally near the coast. As the railway network was getting closer and closer to the south coast, the Isle of Wight was becoming an increasingly attractive holiday destination. Alexander Dabell, the founder of the park, soon realised the business potential of this, trying various ventures. In 1839 Alexander became friends with a publican who had recently built a hotel at Blackgang, which now forms the Chine Cafe and administration offices.
After studying the gault and chine gorge, he knew instantly that gardens could be set up that would appeal to the Victorians as a romantic holiday destination. This along with the increasing popularity of the adjacent Sandrock Spring led to Alexander concluding a lease for the site in 1842 and the establishment of Blackgang Chine amusement park in 1843. The area was then opened up to the public with pathways built down to the ravine and gardens landscaped on the cliffs. Steps were built to give access to the beach from the lower road. Since the park was opened, it has remained a family business, with the descendants of Alexander Dabell owning it ever since. The park's claim to have been established in 1843 would make it the oldest theme park in the United Kingdom. Its initial theme of a general-purpose scenic and curiosity park led to one of its most famous attractions, a large whale skeleton, which had been washed up near the coast of The Needles in 1842, and is still a showpiece today.

The chine today

Owing to continual landslides, the chine itself has been destroyed, and coastal erosion still has a significant impact on the area today. The park's focus now is themed entertainment for families with young children, lifesize animatronic dinosaurs being a noted feature. The same owners run a sister site, the Robin Hill countryside adventure park. Clifftop walks in and around the area give panoramic views of the English Channel and the south-western Isle of Wight coast.
According to a May 2000 talk to the Isle of Wight Postcard Club by the then director, Mr Simon Dabell, the etymology is simply "black pathway", but the theme park understandably fosters the interpretation of a smuggling origin. Thus visitors to the park are greeted by a gigantic fibreglass statue of a smuggler between whose legs they could pass to enter.
The Blackgang Chine park is featured in the book Bollocks to Alton Towers, a humorous book concerned with "uncommonly British days out". It was chosen for its apparent eccentricity. Blackgang Chine is also featured in a documentary based on Bollocks to Alton Towers called Far From the Sodding Crowd. In a 2010 interview, star of the Harry Potter films Rupert Grint praised the park, stating that his family's favourite holiday was visiting the Isle of Wight, their favourite attraction being Blackgang Chine.
The park is frequently associated with ghosts, particularly related to smugglers, with several tales of sightings around the park. In 2008 a video was recorded, showing what appeared to be the apparition of a girl in a blue dress.

Geology

Sited below the village of Blackgang at the western end of the Undercliff, Blackgang Chine was, historically, a spectacular ravine.
The location is based on unstable terrain owing to the underlying Gault Clay strata, resulting in a succession of huge landslips giving the area a very rugged appearance akin to the better known Jurassic Coast. Currently the cliffs are eroding at a rate of about 3.5 metres per year, although this process is not gradual nor consistent. Continuing landslides and coastal erosion swept away the paths in the early 1900s, and have since obliterated the chine itself and repeatedly forced the park owners to move the clifftop facilities inland.

Park guide

The park covers over 40 acres of cliff-top gardens and themed 'lands', containing outdoor rides and walkthrough attractions, plus heritage exhibitions. Below is a list of the attractions currently in operation at the park:

Attraction	Date opened	Description	Image
Blackgang Beach	2024	A sensory experience based around a beach, featuring palm trees, washed up cargo and an interactive pool that visitors can walk over without getting their feet wet. Located on the former site of Cliffhanger. The large water pillow used as the sea was formerly at Robin Hill and known as The Ripple.
The Jolly Robin	2024 /25	A ghostly pirate ship ride located in the newly extended Pirate Cove. The Jolly Robin was formerly called Colossus and was re-sited with an upgrade from Robin Hill. The A frame was installed in 2024 including a new wooden area. The ride opened in 2025.
Extinction	2023	A pendulum thrill ride that rotates 360 degrees spinning the rider around as well as a complete 360° loop-the-loop, reaching a height of 18 metres.
Evolution	2022	A 12m-tall drop ride styled as an observation tower, overlooking a Jurassic excavation site and the Restricted Area 5 dinosaur trail. A gondola, seating two rows of five riders, is lifted to the top of the tower before being released in a sequence of rapid drops.
Shipwrecked	2022	A ride themed as a large wrecked galleon, in which a gondola containing three rows of seats is rotated clockwise and anti-clockwise in a vertical circle, reaching a height of approximately 10 m. This ride was closed towards the end of the 2022 season after it collapsed. It reopens in 2024.
Water Force	1998	A 100 ft-long water slide with three chutes, which visitors descend in small boats. Two of the chutes are open and referred to as 'Overflow 1' and 'Overflow 2'. The third is enclosed and known as the 'Plughole'.
Pirate Barrels	2006	A themed version of the traditional fairground teacups.
Pirate Cove	2012	Themed area featuring a pirate play ship 'The Flying Raven' and a French frigate 'L' Mistral'. Onboard are water cannons that can be aimed at the opposing ship. The cove also features the Crossbones play area, opened in 2007, with climbing nets, rope bridges and slides. Several themed buildings surround the pirate ships, including 'The Vortex' and a pirate shooting gallery. Pirate Cove was previously the site for New Adventureland.
The Vortex	2011	A walkthrough rotating 'trommel' tunnel that creates an optical illusion to disorientate visitors. This attraction was originally called 'The Sailor's Return', and later 'The Cask and Weevil', before being renamed again in 2018.
Giant Smuggler	1987	A giant fibreglass smuggler located outside the current entrance to the park.
Shop and entrance facilities	1986	The current incarnation of the shop/bazaar and entrance is based on the inside of a galleon. It was built next door to the old Ship Ashore Inn.
Underwater Kingdom	2017	Animated outdoor trail themed as an underwater experience. It is built around the old second modern incarnation of the Smugglers' Cave leading to an audio and visual colourful animated walkthrough experience featuring Giuseppe the talking crab, a giant whale, and others. It is built on the site of the old Fantasy Land and the derelict Blackgang to Niton coach road.
Talking Telescopes	1990s	Coin-operated telescopes located at Nursery Land and Pirate Cove. A third may have been located near the maze and water gardens but was removed in the 2010s. A narration tells stories of smuggling, folklore, views that are seen, and more. As of 2025 the talking telescope at Nursery Land has been removed. A talking telescope, possibly the Nursery Land one has been installed near Bug Walk in 2025.
Cowboy Town	1994	Full-scale Old West frontier town including a saloon, jail, covered wagons, undertakers and bank. It also features a café, selling American-style food, and a shop, selling cap guns and cowboy-themed supplies. This attraction was originally Buffalo Creek in Isle of Wight County before its relocation in 1994. After it was relocated it was renamed in a 1990s guidebook as Buffalo Canyon. It has gone through a couple of name changes since. Many of the original features from its first layout were retained during this move, the notable exceptions being Fort Buffalo, the trapper's cabin, and the Trading Post building.
Restricted Area 5	2014	Themed trail with animated dinosaurs that roar and move when approached by visitors. It was redeveloped from the original Dinosaurland trail and retains several of the original figures. In 2022 a new walkway and below ground footpath was added, including new dinosaurs. For 2025 due to cliff erosion new pathways were installed or rerouted.The giant T Rex was also turned around 180 degrees.
Mouth of Hell	1972	A giant head that can be explored and climbed inside. Originally opened with 'Dinosaurland' but relocated in 2016.
Dinostore	2016	A dinosaur-themed shopping outlet located in the former Hall of Mirrors area. Now an amusement arcade as of 2025.
Boot Hill	1976	A collection of wooden crosses depicting the names of fictional people and their humorous causes of death. Originally in Buffalo Creek it was re-sited and expanded with Boot Hill 2 in 1994 when Cowboy Town was moved.
Rumpus Crypt		Located near Rumpus Mansion on the lawn.
Pirate Blasta		Pirate themed water cannon shooting arcade game.
iScream		Ice cream parlour catering for humans and dogs.
Chocobloc		An outlet selling sweet treats. Formerly the Waffle House. The building was originally a house called Brackadale.
The Quack Shack		A small arcade containing two crane grab machines and a change dispenser located in Pirate Cove. The two bones are reused from the former Fort Tortuga entrance.
Treasure Cove Shooting Gallery		Shooting gallery with various life size interactive pirate characters located in Pirate Cove.
Way Out West Shooting Gallery		Shooting gallery with various life size interactive cowboy characters.
Rumpus Mansion	1993	An animated haunted walkthrough attraction inside an old manor house, now infested with boggarts, goblins and other creatures from folklore. Rumpus Mansion was built inside of an old residential blackgang dwelling called Five Rocks. It was added as the big new attraction for Blackgang Chine's 150th birthday.
The Musical Pet Shop	1992	A humorous 'pet shop' hosted by Mr Mel-O-Dee with animated singing animals that come to life when buttons are pressed. The attraction was updated with a tweak to some of the animals and the music in 2020.
Valley of the Dodos	2013	Wooden outdoor trail featuring animated Dodo figures that squawk at passers by. The premise is explained, on attraction signs, as the Dodos having hatched from eggs left behind by a pirate fleet, and uncovered in the park many years later. The area was partly restyled for 2018, adding more dodos and a rope net bridge.
Crooked House	1968	A small walkthrough attraction of disorientating crooked corridors and humorous scenes. Originally located in Adventureland, resited near the Valley of the Dodos in the late 1980s. In 2022 the crooked house was completely revamped inside, removing all previous exhibits. Now it features a cowboy and fairy themed interior of animated cut out talking characters. Some of the in house narration was changed for 2024.
Moby Dick's Revenge	1974	Giant whale, inside which jets of water are squirted at visitors. This was originally part of Nurseryland, named Jonah's Whale, and featured aquaria containing live tropical fish. It was relocated opposite the Cliffhanger rollercoaster. In the first week of April 2024 the whale was dismantled in sections and moved from the old St Catherine's Quay site. The repainted, slightly redesigned whale opened in summer 2024.
NurseryLand	1974	A wooded trail featuring scenes depicting characters of various nursery rhymes, many of which are animated, including 'The House That Jack Built', a two-level walkthrough where visitors are challenged to find all of the animals and characters mentioned in the rhyme. Characters include Humpty Dumpty, The Three Little Pigs, Hickory Dickory Dock, See Saw Marjorie Daw, Old Mother Hubbard, and an enormous shoe that houses a Little Old Woman. Also in Nurseryland is the wishing tree, a tree that houses a family of musical pixies. A vicar on a seat provides a popular photo opportunity, along with a toadstool which since the 1990s has had its date changed annually to the corresponding year. Nurseryland was sited on an area previously on park maps named as the fern Glen. It was expanded for the 1980 season with new additions. Little Miss Muffet was removed circa 2020. As of 2025 NurseryLand has a new perimeter fence. As of 2025 a new entrance pathway is going in nearer the chine café. As of 2025 the NurseryLand lookout viewpoint platform and talking telescope have been removed due to continual cliff erosion in the area.
Fairyland	2011	Themed as a Fairy Village, this area includes the Fairy Castle, with scenes depicting the story of Sleeping Beauty. According to a 1990 guidebook the castle is based on one in Austria. Fairyland includes the sad looking toadstool, a toadstool seating area.
Snakes and Ladders	1990	A hillside re-imagining of the board game, with steps leading up to large slides at different levels. Relocated to its current location after land movement in 1994.
Captain Jack's	1992	A shop located in Pirate Cove selling food, drinks, toys and souvenirs.
New Chimney Pot Walk	2025	A new walkthrough featuring the original chimney pots from the first chimney pot walk. Located near Nursery Land and also scattered around in Nursery Land.
Arcade	2025	A selection of coin operated arcade games, located in the former Picture house / Wight Experience building.
Talking Rubbish Bins	1990s	Talking rubbish bins in the shapes of various characters faces asking visitors to deposit their rubbish in their mouths. Each bin has multiple sayings when approached. Located at iScream, Chocabloc, La Cantina, and The Jolly Robin.
Hall of Mirrors	2016 Originally installed in 1933.	The original Hall of Mirrors was one of the first attractions at the park, with ten mirrors from Paris being installed in 1933 in a house called St Catherine's, the childhood home of actress Sheila Hancock. On early park maps it is shown west of the old main entrance. It was housed in a metal corrugated iron structure. It moved to the current version of the entrance and shop in 1986. It closed in 2013 to make way for the 'Dinostore' shop, but re-opened in 2016 in a new location next to the 'BBC Coast' exhibition.
Hedge Maze	1963	A large hedge maze built on the putting green of the Blackgang Hotel, with viewing platform for spectators to offer help to those inside. Over 5000 privet bushes were used in its construction. The maze was originally conceived at the same time as the water gardens. It was extended in the late 1960s.
Giant Bug Walk	2009	A hillside trail featuring giant arthropod models, along with an oversized garden shed inhabited by talking gnomes.
Whale Museum	2010	Exhibition which features the park's original 19-metre-long fin whale skeleton. The ancient wooden wishing chair is also found near the whale's head.
Chine valley gardens and musical bridge	1987	A short landscaped walkway that meanders through a natural brook incorporating a small bridge playing tranquil music. Located south of Extinction. Originally discovered in 1985 in scrubland and opened in 1987.
The Disappearing Village Exhibition	1994	An exhibition showing the history of Blackgang's landslips in old photographs, newspaper cuttings and models. Later a landslip simulator room was added featuring BBC local news footage of the landslides of 1994.