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
The original chine was a steep gault ravine overlooking Chale Bay, stretching around three-quarters of a mile down to the shore. It was visited by few people other than local fishermen and smugglers. On 11 October 1836 the cargo ship Clarendon was wrecked at the foot of Blackgang Chine, with the loss of many aboard.E. Stevenson & F. A. Owen (1855). "Old Humphrey". Owen Gladdon's Wanderings in the Isle of Wight (via Google Books). Retrieved 5 July 2008.
During Victorian times, people were seeking out new healthy holiday resorts, and 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 Dabell became friends with a publican who had recently built a hotel at Blackgang, which now forms the Chine Cafe and administration offices. In the light of the increasing popularity of Sandrock Spring (an adjacent chalybeate spring), he speculated that gardens could be set up that would appeal to the Victorians as a holiday destination. Dabell took out a lease for the site in 1842 and Blackgang Chine amusement park opened in 1843, 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. It has, as of 2008, remained a family business, owned by descendants of Dabell.Martin Collins and Norman Birch (2000). A Walker's Guide to the Isle of Wight. Cicerone Press. (Google Books, retrieved 9 July 2008)May 2000 report, Isle of Wight Postcard Club. . Accessed 5 July 2008. A 19 m fin whale skeleton, washed up near the coast of The Needles in 1842, is still a showpiece today.
The chine today
Owing to recurring landslides, the chine itself has been destroyed, and coastal erosion 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. Clifftop walks in and around the area give panoramic views of the English Channel and the south-western Isle of Wight coast.
Although the etymology is simply "black pathway", the theme park fosters the interpretation of a smuggling origin: visitors to the park are greeted by a gigantic fibreglass statue of a smuggler between whose legs they can pass to enter.
The Blackgang Chine park is featured in the book Bollocks to Alton Towers, concerned with "uncommonly British days out", and in a related documentary,Far From the Sodding Crowd. In a 2010 interview, actor Rupert Grint stated 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
Located below the village of Blackgang on the southern coast of the Isle of Wight, at the western end of the Undercliff, Blackgang Chine was historically a dramatic coastal ravine. In 1800 it was described as a "steep gaunt ravine" descending over about .
The area is located on unstable ground caused by underlying Gault Clay strata, leading to repeated landslides that gave the coastline a rugged appearance similar to the better-known Jurassic Coast of southern England.World Heritage / Geopark Study , Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment, www.coastalwight.gov.uk (retrieved 3 July 2008). Currently, the cliffs are eroding at a rate of about per year, although the process is irregular and unpredictable.
Continuing landslides and coastal erosion swept away the paths in the early 1900s, and over the following decades destroyed the original chine itself. The instability of the cliffs has repeatedly forced the park owners to move clifftop facilities further 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 ImageBlackgang Beach2024A 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 Robin2024 /25A 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. Extinction2023A 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. 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 2012Themed 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' (see separate description) and a pirate shooting gallery.
Pirate Cove was previously the site for New Adventureland.The Vortex 2011A 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 Smuggler1987A giant fibreglass smuggler located outside the current entrance to the park.Shop and entrance facilities1986The 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 Telescopes1990sCoin-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 (La Cantina), selling American-style food, and a shop (General Stores), 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.Dinostore2016A dinosaur-themed shopping outlet located in the former Hall of Mirrors area. Now an amusement arcade as of 2025.Boot Hill1976A 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 CryptLocated near Rumpus Mansion on the lawn.Pirate BlastaPirate themed water cannon shooting arcade game.iScreamIce cream parlour catering for humans and dogs.ChocoblocAn outlet selling sweet treats. Formerly the Waffle House. The building was originally a house called Brackadale. The Quack ShackA 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 GalleryShooting gallery with various life size interactive pirate characters located in Pirate Cove.Way Out West Shooting GalleryShooting 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 Dodos2013Wooden 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.