Alpamare Waterpark: First look at reopened waterpark in Scarborough by Flamingo Land operators
The once eye-catching Alpamare waterpark had become a ghost of its former self following its shock closure late last year.
However, with Flamingo Land operators now at the helm of the attraction, we take a first look inside the waterpark which opened to the public on Tuesday..
Alpamare, which means ‘we bring the Alps to the sea,’ first opened in 2016, with four state of the art slides, a wave pool, a splash and play area, a cafe, two outdoor pools and a bar area.
While it has had its own rollercoaster ride of success and financial struggles, the sun is shining once again on the North Bay attraction.
Flamingo Land Chief Executive Gordon Gibb - who has grown up in the leisure industry - said it’s a personal endeavour that he had to revive this landmark.
Mr Gibb said: “Secretly it puts a big smile on my face that I’ve managed to help get the heating and lights on again.
“I’ve had a few opening days in my time but nothing quite like this in terms of the sheer scale of it and how important it seems to be for people in Scarborough and surrounding areas.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to get to this point.”
Like any new operation, Mr Gibb said it was all hands on deck to take care of any snagging issues but he’s confident that their engineer has resolved some of the main costly issues in the plant room.
On the surface however, customers returning to Alpamare this Summer can expect business as usual with the same features as before, following a “superhuman effort,” by the council and Flamingo Land, said Mr Gibb.
Sip drinks at the outdoor poolside bar, overlooking Scarborough’s North Bay.
Slide, swim, splash and play inside or chill out on one of the sun loungers.
The only difference is the upstairs spa being closed because it is still being refurbished, getting ready to welcome local businesses to deliver its services.
Mr Gibb said: “My team kept telling me off for being too optimistic. I wanted the spa ready for opening but that was too ambitious.
“It was right to focus on the main target but it shouldn't take too long.
“I won't make any promises, I keep getting told off for that.”
The council said they want to help Flamingo Land “get their feet under the table,” in the hope that the operators will continue past the 12 month contract.
They’ve previously hinted that possible subsidies will be in place to help the operator.
Operators have already applied for an alcohol licence which would be for seven days a week from 8am until 10pm.
Flamingo Land previously mentioned the potential of a shuttle bus from the theme park to Alpamare as well as having on site accommodation.
Mr Gibb said he is ambitious but realistic.
“For a number of years we've tried to develop the old futurist site on South Bay and unfortunately that hasn't been possible and this became available and we decided to throw our hat into the ring and we were fortunate to win the bidding process and here we are,” he said.
Similarly to Alpamare, Flamingo Land itself had previously gone bankrupt in its original guise as a country club. It was then rescued by cinema entrepreneur Edwin Pentland Hick who used the land for a zoo in 1959.
After a challenging tenure in 1978 the site was sold as a theme park and zoo attraction, the first of its kind in Europe, to the Gibb family.
Mr Gibb has already been looking back at the original plans for Alpamare in the hope of developing the site should they be successful in securing its long term future once the 12 month lease is up.
He said: “We hope we’re here in perpetuity.
“There’s been no development here yet. It’s the same as before.
“It’s a case of suck it and see.”
Mr Gibb however has his sights firmly set on what he believes to be the only attraction of its stature in the borough.
He said: “Plans I saw for the original concept had a fifth ride which I’ll be investigating in full over time and there was also a lazy river planned.
“It’s very intriguing. I’m actually speaking to the owner of Alpamare on Thursday, I’ll be picking his brain about those.
“There was also a plan to get a lift to the top of the slide and as a father of a lot of kids having to carry those four man dinghies up, I would say that would be the most sensible way to spend any profits if we hopefully create them in the future.”
Alpamare remains in the ownership of North Yorkshire Council with the firm behind Flamingo Land operating the site in the hope that there'll be a long term plan by the end of the year.
There are likely to be changes in the future including subsidies for local residents but at the moment it really is a case of “suck it and see,” with high hopes for this landmark on the North Bay.