Despite an in-depth investigation, headed by Blackpool Pleasure Beach's HR manager Pam Roberts, herself a keen angler, there was no conclusive proof of what mysterious object lurked beneath Infusion Lake.
But on Friday 29th March 2013, things came to a head when a new photograph (below) was published which revealed what has been seen beneath the ripples and who are set to make waves at the UK's favourite tourist attraction, which also answers the perplexing mystery: where do Nickelodeon's newest heroes like to go to rest, relax and unwind after keeping the streets of New York City safe from villains?
Nickelodeon's very own Heroes in a Half Shell - Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mikey!
On Good Friday 2013, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles rose from the depths of one of Blackpool Pleasure Beach's most famous roller coasters on their way to the UK's only Nickelodeon Land!
The Turtles are believed to have travelled from the murky darkness of the sewers in New York, across the Atlantic and made their way through the tunnels beneath Pleasure Beach to emerge into the waters of Infusion.
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, have swung into Nickelodeon Land for Easter, joining their Nick UK pals at the six-acre area of the park which has 12 amazing rides, the UK's only Nickelodeon Shop and the Big Pizza Kitchen, serving the Turtle's favourite food - Pizza!
From Good Friday guests at the attraction will have the chance to meet the Heroes in a Half Shell when they appear on Nickelodeon Land from midday. They will appear throughout the Easter holidays and every day, showing off their moves and adding to the experience of a trip to Nickelodeon Land!
The Blackpool Gazette is reporting that upon their first sighting at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, Nick's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been a huge hit at Nickelodeon Land, wowing families with their moves!
Book your wristbands to visit Nickelodeon Land at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool online now.
Below is Blackpool Pleasure Beach's press release announcing the TMNT news, from the news area of Pleasure Beach, Blackpool's official website, blackpoolpleasurebeach.com:
THE MYSTERY FROM THE DEPTHS IS REVEALED…Also from Blackpool Pleasure Beach's news section:
Half-Shell Heroes Emerge at Blackpool Pleasure Beach from 29th March.
Over the past few weeks there have been unusual sightings in Infusion Lake leading people to believe something strange was lurking in the water beneath…
Despite an in-depth investigation, headed by Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s HR manager Pam Roberts, herself a keen angler, there was no conclusive proof of what mysterious object lurked beneath Infusion Lake.
But now we can reveal what has been seen beneath the ripples and who are set to make waves at the UK’s favourite tourist attraction.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have risen from the depths of one of Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s most famous roller coasters on their way to the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land!
The Turtles are believed to have travelled from the murky darkness of the sewers in New York, across the Atlantic and made their way through the tunnels beneath Pleasure Beach to emerge into the waters of Infusion.
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will swing into Nickelodeon Land from Easter, joining their Nick UK pals at the six-acre area of the park which has 12 amazing rides, the UK’s only Nick Shop and the Big Pizza Kitchen, serving the Turtle’s favourite food!
From Good Friday guests at the attraction will have the chance to meet the Heroes in a Half Shell when they appear on Nickelodeon Land from midday. They will appear throughout the Easter holidays and every day, showing off their moves and adding to the experience of a trip to Nickelodeon Land.
Nick Thompson, Deputy Managing Director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, said: “We are delighted to have the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at Nickelodeon Land. They are set to bring their own mix of fun and action to Blackpool Pleasure Beach and I cannot wait for our visitors to meet them.”
Editor’s notes:
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will appear on the Nickelodeon Land meet and greet stage from Good Friday at noon and every day throughout the Easter holidays and the 2013 season. The 42-acre amusement park is open until 8pm every night over the Easter weekend – that means there’s even more time to enjoy all of the rides, attractions and shows. On Good Friday full park wristbands are just £20 and from March 30th to April 14th full park wristbands are £25 when booked online in advance at www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com
EASTER EGG-CITEMENT AT BLACKPOOL PLEASURE BEACH!Also, from the Blackpool Gazette:
Enjoy an egg-citing Easter experience like no other at Blackpool Pleasure Beach!
The 42-acre amusement park is open until 8pm every night over the Easter weekend – that means there’s even more time to enjoy all of the rides, attractions and shows.
On Good Friday full park wristbands are just £20 and from March 30th to April 14th full park wristbands are £25 when booked online in advance at www.blackpoolpleasurebeach.com. Experience the thrills on the UK’s tallest roller coaster, the Big One, the twists and turns of Infusion and the award-winning dark ride Valhalla.
For the younger thrill-seekers there’s the six-acre Nickelodeon Land with 12 amazing rides, a chance to rub shoulders with some of your favourite Nick Toons characters and enjoy a bite to eat in the ultra-cool surroundings of the Big Pizza Kitchen as well as picking up a great souvenir at the UK’s only Nick Shop.
Speaking of pizza, everyone’s favourite amphibians will be arriving on Nickelodeon Land this Easter as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be making an entrance. Yes, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo will be at the Meet & Greet stage every day from Good Friday.
On Easter Monday the annual Ice Skating Festival returns to the Pleasure Beach Arena for a week-long ice fest and is open for everyone from beginners to higher levels of skaters. For more information on the festival and categories of competition log on to www.pleasurebeacharena.co.uk
Entertainment is in full swing this Easter with Ken Webster back celebrating 25 years at the Pleasure Beach with his adult only Mentalist Hypnotist Show in the Horseshoe every Saturday from March 30. For tickets call 0871 222 9090.
Also there’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! on Ocean Boulevard open every day and why not test your golfing skills at the amazing 12-hole Adventure Golf course and if you are feeling peckish try out The Grill at the Casino Building.
Kicking off the season in styleAlso from the Blackpool Gazette:
Easter weekend in Blackpool.
A BUMPER and sun-drenched bank holiday weekend kicked off Blackpool’s season in style.
Thousands of families thronged the Promenade and the resort’s landmark attractions with traders reporting a booming first date of the 2013 calendar.
Tourism bosses from the resort’s major operators are now hoping for more of the same in the coming weeks after the season got off to a frenetic start.
Ian Hawkins, head of Blackpool cluster at Merlin Entertainments Group, said: “It’s been really positive. What we have seen as far as visitor volume coming in has been really good and after some pretty crummy weather over the last few weeks, which hasn’t been helpful, it has become quite settled.
“The weather was just about perfect for keeping everybody in the town happy.”
A spokesman for Blackpool Pleasure Beach added: “It’s been a positive start to what we hope will be a great season for Blackpool.
“Thousands of families have enjoyed the sunshine at the attraction with many of them getting a sneak peek of the new Wallace & Gromit Thrill-O-Matic ride ahead of its official April 24 opening.
“The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been a hit at Nickelodeon Land, wowing families with their moves since arriving on Good Friday.”
The Sea Life Centre recently welcomed Big Daddy, a 9ft Japanese spider crab, to the aquarium, and Mr Hawkins says the attraction has been a crowd-pleaser.
He added: “Big Daddy has been fantastic. We did some face to face surveys with our visitors and 40 per cent said they were coming because of the crab, which shows new features bring visitors in.”
Adrian Smirthwaite, owner of The Albany Hotel, Albert Road, Blackpool, says his hotel was busy over the weekend, but called for a bosses to build a new attraction.
He added: “We were quite busy and full of Finnish dancers. Between ourselves and my neighbours we did well and had people everywhere.
“It was busy over the weekend but it was as if everyone was here for the Blackpool Dance Festival.
“Blackpool is in desperate need of a major attraction.”
Holidaymakers descended on Blackpool during the weekend and were impressed with what they found.
Pensioner Pat Gordon and friend Philippa Brookes, 45, from Long Eaton, were enjoying the Comedy Carpet.
Mrs Gordon added: “They’ve made a lot of improvements since the last time I was here and they are brilliant. We are really impressed with the Tower.”
Mrs Brookes added: “I come here every year and it’s great for the Illuminations.
“We love cycling and always cycle along the coast to our friends in Warton.”
The Boyer family, from Poole, Dorset, were also admiring the Comedy Carpet.
Mum Susan, 48, said: “I used to come here every year for 20 years but haven’t been in a while. It’s lovely and very upmarket.”
Katie Little, 26, from Nottingham, was visiting as part of a hen party. She said: “The weather is nice and we are going to Funny Girls.”
Julie Jackson, 50, from York, added: “The Comedy Carpet is a great idea, but you need a full day to read it all.”
Weekend of fun for all the familyAlso, below is a review of the popular British seaside town Blackpool by Stephen Martin from the official website of the British national daily tabloid newspaper Daily Mirror, also known as The Mirror:
THERE will be fun for all the family across the Fylde coast thanks to a bank holiday weekend bursting with exciting events.
An Easter extravaganza will feature across the weekend as farms, parks and attractions offer a taste of Spring for all the family.
Penny Farm, on Preston New Road, Marton, is giving youngsters the chance to meet horses and ponies.
There’s also an Easter egg hunt, badge making and a colouring competition and organisers are encouraging families to turn up whatever the weather as events can be moved inside.
Two new foals were recently born at the farm and children will be able to take part in a competition to name them during the bank holiday activities.
Zoe Clifford, visitor officer for Penny Farm, said: “We are open from Good Friday to Easter Monday so people can meet horses and ponies and have an Easter egg hunt.
“If the weather is poor people can still come along and do everything indoors.”
Thrillseekers will get an extra treat at Blackpool Pleasure Beach thanks to some new visitors who have made an appearance underneath the Infusion ride.
Attraction bosses have revealed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo – will be available to meet and greet visitors in Nickelodeon Land from Easter.
The Pleasure Beach will be open until 8pm every night over the Easter weekend, and with even more time for thrillseekers to enjoy the rides, full park wristbands are £20 on Good Friday when booked online in advance.
The Easter holidays will take on a nature theme across Wyre as the council’s rangers and various parks organise activities for families to experience wildlife.
Easter Monday, April 1, begins with an afternoon of egg hunting and a nature quiz at Hawthorne Park, Thornton, from 2pm to 3pm.
Youngsters can decorate a pot with signs of spring on Wednesday April 3 at Memorial Park, Fleetwood, and then choose a colourful flower to go inside to celebrate Easter.
Wyre Council’s Countryside Rangers will be available from 2pm to 3pm and families should meet at the War Memorial.
For those who like to keep fit, Blackpool’s under-threat Hire-a-Bike scheme is returning for Easter.
The whole scheme remains under review, with Blackpool Council still looking for a new operator for the bikes.
But this week, until April 3, people will be able to borrow bikes, including some children’s cycles, from a manned hub at South Pier daily between 10am and 4pm
Coun Fred Jackson, cabinet member for street and transport, said: “This is a great opportunity for both local people and visitors to enjoy all that Blackpool has to offer.
“As well as being a great way to keep fit, cycling is a fantastic way to get around Blackpool, particularly because of the work we have done in the past to create cycle lanes.”
Blackpool rocks: The jewel of the north still has some magicYou can view the photographs of Blackpool accompanying the original article here on the official Daily Mirror website, mirror.co.uk.
It’s been a family favourite for decades and now the new Resort Pass makes Blackpool even more accessible and affordable than ever before
Blackpool, the jewel of the north with the beach that goes on for miles. Well, that was the way I remembered it from a childhood holiday in the 1970s.
The question, four decades on, was would it still have the magic?
And would my hyper-choosy, hard-to-impress daughters Rosie, 11, and Charlotte, nine, be as bowled over as I was back then?
The answer to both issues, I’m happy to report, is yes. And it was pretty clear from the off that we were on to a winner. Rolling down the prom in our taxi from the station as the winter sun sparkled off the sea, Charlotte spotted something in the distance.
“Dad, is that the Eiffel Tower?” she asked, pointing ahead looking slightly puzzled.
“No,” I replied. “It’s better than that... it’s The Blackpool Tower.” And she was impressed, very impressed!
Our mission
Our mission was to give a family road-test to the new Blackpool Resort Pass, which in one single ticket gets you entry to nine attractions and saves you up to £55 per person.
With so much to choose from the only problem was where to start. We plumped for Blackpool Pleasure Beach, home to more thrill-tastic rides than you can shake a stick of rock at.
Being far too much of a scaredy cat family to ride on the Big One or Infusion, we headed for the more sedate stuff. And Blackpool Pleasure Beach is big enough and slick enough to have plenty of that, as well as the white-knuckle rides for which it’s better known.
We ambled round Nickelodeon Land and loved it: It’s home to 12 great rides and attractions for younger kids and you can meet Dora the Explorer.
The park’s been revamped recently (there’s also a new Wallace & Gromit ride about to open) and there are great places to go for a coffee and a bite to eat or, if you’re in the mood, a glass of champagne.
With Charlotte still fixated by The Tower, we jumped on the tram and headed back into the middle of town and into this remarkable building.
It’s 518ft tall, is a Grade I listed building and needs five miles worth (yes, five miles) of electric cabling to keep the lights on and the lifts working.
We shot up to the SkyWalk glass-floored viewing platform near the top.
Stepping out on to it and looking straight down to ground level at the Comedy Carpet and beach is every bit an adrenaline rush as the rollercoasters at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Make sure you do do it though, it really is worth it. My wife Caroline (not usually one for heights) got into the spirit as the girls and I bounded around admiring the incredible views.
You look out over the Irish Sea in one direction then go up the stairs for an incredible view of the Lancashire hills behind you and the Lake District to your left.
On the way up you can also check out the new Blackpool Tower Eye 4D Cinema Experience which takes you on a futuristic trip round the resort... complete with real sea spray. And pop your head into the beautiful ornate Tower Ballroom where a tea dance was under way when we looked in. It really is an astonishing room, which gives you a fabulous glimpse of yesteryear.
From there we hot-footed it round the corner to The Blackpool Tower Dungeon, which uses actors to scare the wits out of you. And by heck they are good at it!
If, like mine, your children are obsessed with blood, gore and unpleasantness, then the dungeon is a must-see ... especially when Dad gets selected from the audience to take a seat in the torturer’s chair. Nice. Not!
Less scary but a good laugh is Madame Tussauds on the seafront just down from the tower. It’s more than a collection of wax figures... you can interact with some of your favourite celebrities. Ever wanted to sit between Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh on The X Factor judging panel? Well, now’s your chance. Although, as my wife pointed out, even in the best possible light I really don’t look much like Tulisa or Gary Barlow!
It was time to rest our feet and have a well-earned drink back at base. We stayed in a family room at the Blackpool Hilton where there’s entertainment at weekends and during the week at high season.
The room had two bunk-beds in a tucked-away alcove for the girls, which was ideal. There’s a kid-friendly buffet dinner at the hotel, with decent food in a relaxed setting.
Blackpool nightlife is what draws many of the visitors, of course, and there’s plenty of family friendly stuff going on.
While we were in town the unmissable Horrible Histories stage show was on at the Grand Theatre.
Saved from demolition in the 1970s, it’s been given a new lease of life. Poke your head round the door and you can literally feel the history of the place.
There was no time to dally though... there was fun to be had!
Our Resort Passes got us access to the Sandcastle, the biggest indoor waterpark in the UK. And what a place! We whooshed our way round the chutes, tunnels and slides with the girls loving every minute.
The Master Blaster is the king of them all. It uses an explosion of water to send you uphill before blasting you back down again. It’s spotlessly clean and the staff are friendly and proper ambassadors, not just for the Sandcastle but for Blackpool as a whole.
Don’t worry if three hours in water is not your thing. There are places around the pool to sit and relax with a drink and a snack.
Your Resort Pass is valid for a week, so you can take your time exploring. If you’ve not been for a while or, perish the thought, if you’ve never been at all, then take my advice and visit Blackpool.
Does it still have the family magic? Well, Charlotte and Rosie say it does. And that Eiffel Tower? Paris is welcome to it... because Blackpool still rocks!
TRAVEL FILE
What you get
There’s something for everyone, enjoy up to nine great attractions. Simply choose from one of the great value packages, or bolt on extras to personalise your Resort Pass – it’s just the ticket!
What you see
The original Resort Pass includes Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Nickelodeon Land, The Blackpool Tower Eye 4D Cinema Experience, The Blackpool Tower Dungeon, SEA LIFE Blackpool and Madame Tussauds Blackpool. The Resort Pass + is the original Resort Pass PLUS Blackpool Zoo, Sandcastle Waterpark and Blackpool Model Village & Gardens.
What it costs
Resort Pass is £52.50 per person representing a saving of £40. The Resort Pass+ is £77.50 representing a saving of more than £55 per person. Both passes are valid for one visit to each attraction over seven days. Bolt on a transport pass for Blackpool buses and trams from only £3.75.
Tel: 01253 478222
