Drayton Manor Resort is a family theme park, zoo and accommodation in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, in Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England, UK. It covers 180 acres (73 hectares), of which about 113 acres (46 hectares) are in use, and hosts about 1.5 million people each year^{[citation needed]}. It is the fourth-largest amusement park in the UK by land area at 280 acres (110 hectares). The park is also home to Thomas Land and Drayton Manor Zoo, home to over 500 animals, including Red pandas, Eurasian lynx, Sumatran tigers and a variety of monkeys and gibbons.

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Quick Facts Location, Coordinates ...

Drayton Manor Resort

Location	Drayton Bassett, Tamworth, Staffordshire, England
Coordinates	52°36′39″N 1°42′48″W
Status	Operating
Opened	1 May 1950; 74 years ago (1950-05-01)
Owner	Looping Group
Slogan	Fun for everyone
Operating season	Theme Park Main season: March – November Drayton's Magical Christmas: late November to December February Half Term: selected days in February Drayton Manor Zoo Same Times As The Theme Park Drayton Manor Hotel Year-round Conference Centre Year-round
Area	180 acres (73 ha)
Attractions
Total	47
Roller coasters	5
Water rides	2
Website	draytonmanor.co.uk

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On 3 August 2020, Drayton Manor Park was sold to Looping Group, who own two other attractions in the UK, West Midland Safari Park and Pleasurewood Hills.^[1]

The land on which the theme park was built on once belonged to the Peel family. Drayton Manor mansion, built for Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet in 1835, had been reduced to ruins by 1926, with only the clocktower surviving at the park entrance. The British Army requisitioned it as a training post during World War II. After the war, entrepreneurs George and Vera Bryan borrowed £6,000 and bought the land (and the 17 huts that the army had constructed during their stay). In 1950, they opened a small amusement park with just a handful of children's rides. In 1954, Mrs. Molly Badham, who later opened the nearby Twycross Zoo, partnered with the Bryans and opened a zoo to complement the amusement park. The amusement park grew slowly in the 1950s, '60s and '70s, but, in the late '80s, the park began to install bigger and more thrilling rides to attract customers from all over the United Kingdom and to compete with rival theme parks. In 1992 Colin Bryan, George Bryan's son, became managing director of the park.

On 9 May 2017, an 11-year-old girl fell out of a raft on the Splash Canyon Rapids ride. She then climbed an 'algae-covered travellator' before slipping and falling into a deeper pool of water where she drowned. According to Drayton Manor's director, George Bryan, park staff responded immediately and rescued the girl from the water. The girl was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital, but was proclaimed dead from her drowning soon after arrival. The park was temporarily closed after the incident, and the ride remained closed until summer 2021.^[2]

In February 2020, the park suffered flood damage from Storm Dennis.^[3] Following this, the park was required to remain shut until July 2020.

On 3 August 2020, the park entered administration and was bought by the Looping Group who own various parks, zoos and aquariums around Europe such as Pleasurewood Hills and West Midland Safari Park. However, the Bryan family still play a key part in running the business, with William Bryan's role being managing director, even though under new ownership.

In December 2020, the park suffered a fire^[4] within the Thomas Land area of the park. The blaze started in a toilet block and was deemed accidental by investigators.^[5]

At the end of 2021 the park announced that something big was coming with the teaser Invading 2022 in a Nordic Viking style, hinting at the fact there was to be a new area in 2022 called Vikings. After a soft opening on 17 May the intricately-themed area officially opened on 28 May, featuring three new rides and the rethemed Buffalo roller coaster.^[6]

In either 2021 or 2022 the park announced a rebrand and a new logo, renaming from 'Drayton Manor Theme Park' to 'Drayton Manor Resort'.^[7]

In July 2023, it was announced that the park would be opening an Intamin family thrill Lift and Launch Coaster, which is due to open in 2024.

Drayton Manor is split into various themed areas, consisting of rides and attractions.

Drayton Manor is also home to a 15-acre (6 ha) zoo. It contains over 100 species from all over the world.

Drayton Manor offer a range of family-friendly events throughout the season.^[11]