Future of £320,000 high ropes course under review

The future of an adventure-based attraction which was launched in Blackpool in 2015 is under review after demand dropped off following the Covid pandemic.

The high ropes course in Stanley Park cost Blackpool Council £320,000 which was funded through borrowing but it has been mothballed since closing at the end of summer 2023.

The structure, rising to 11 metres in height,  includes a zip wire, bridges, a rock climbing wall and obstacles. It did not re-open this summer following its usual winter closure, and will remain mothballed until a further review expected next spring.

However the council says it has not been closed permanently, with proposals being considered which could see it operate in future as part of a package of adventure activities at Stanley Park including more use of the lake.

A Blackpool Council spokesperson said: “Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the high ropes course at Blackpool Sports Centre was popular with schools and community groups as well as casual users.

“Unfortunately, when the course was finally able to reopen many of these organisations and users found themselves in a different financial situation and the number of bookings we received dropped considerably.  We were also faced with increased operational cost pressures.

“In order to prevent any further losses, the high ropes were effectively ‘mothballed’ pending possible investment into outdoor activities at Stanley Park.”

The high ropes course was built next to Blackpool Sports Centre on part of land which was previously the site for the council’s greenhouses and a car park.

When it opened admission prices started from £8 per person with the course including high and lower level aerial trekking ropes, with participation  suitable for anyone over the age of five.

Another adventure attraction which would also have included zip wires which had been proposed for part of the Stanley Park Golf Course was also axed in recent times.

The controversial plans to build a £45m adventure park called Adrenalin World met with local opposition and were dropped by the council and the developer in November 2022 with rising costs partly blamed for the decision.

Those proposals, first unveiled in August 2019, included 150 holiday cottages and zip-wires on the east side of East Park Drive.