On May 6th & 7th, Paulton's Park opened its new themed area Lost Kingdom for press preview. We were lucky enough to attend the event and here are our thoughts!
Lost Kingdom is a brand new dinosaur themed area inside Paulton's Park which cost 9 million pounds to create. Construction started back in early 2015 and is set to open on May 17th to the public. Inside Lost Kingdom, you can find 27 animatronic dinosaurs, 8 attractions and two new food places. Included in the 8 attractions are 3 coasters with "Flight of the Pterosaur" flying across most of the area.
When we arrived into the area, you are immediately drawn to the amount of themeing Paulton's Park have added into the area. The rides, the animated dinosaurs, the landscaping and planting all work together to take you back to the prehistoric ages of dinosaurs. The 27 animatronic dinosaurs are scattered all across Lost Kingdom, from ride areas and queue lines!
One of the top attractions inside Lost Kingdom is "Alive! Dinosaur Encounter". This attraction is where guests can come up close and meet and even stroke a tame-ish dinosaur! He comes out at random intervals during the day and if you get a chance to meet him, you may want to grab a photograph.
The two big coasters in Lost Kingdom are "Flight of the Pterosaur" and "Velociraptor". Flight of the Pterosaur is a Vekoma suspended coaster which soars over the whole of Lost Kingdom. The ride hits up to 2.7G's, speeds of 55kmh and takes you to heights of 20m! This coaster is great for young thrill seekers and is a UK first.
Velociraptor is a Vekoma boomerang coaster with the tallest point being 23m. You go a little faster on this reaching speeds of 60kmh and up to 3G's! This is also a World First track design and is another perfect coaster for young thrill seekers.
Other attractions in the area are Dino Chase, The Dinosaur Touring Company, Temple Heights and Boulder Dash. All great for the younger audience who may not like the bigger rides. There is also a play area for younger kids called "Little Explorers".
The two new places to eat are "The Nest" and "Base Camp". This is where you can take time out in the area and have a bite to eat. Prices and portions are good value comparing it to other UK theme parks. Outpost 12 is the themed shop in the area, selling very unique gifts such as dragon eggs, fossils and tiny dinosaur models.
We got the chance to speak to the Managing Director of Paulton's Park, Richard Mancey and he said “Lost Kingdom is going to be very special. It is a truly unique experience where families can be thrown back millions of years to. Children and adults of all ages are fascinated by dinosaurs and I think the amazing world we've created here at Paulton's Park and the rides within it will thrill both children and adults alike.”
Overall, Lost Kingdom is one of the best themed areas in the UK and is easily competing with some of the bigger parks and their future developments. You can happily get lost in this one area for several hours and we highly recommend everybody to go and visit during the 2016 season!