I bought the theme park I loved growing up

'I bought the theme park I loved growing up'9 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleEmily Johnsonin RiponBBC/ Emily JohnsonJames Mellors is the new owner of Lightwater Valley Family Adventure Park, near RiponOwning a theme park is the stuff of dreams for some children, but for James Mellors, that dream has become a reality.When Lightwater Valley went up for sale last year, the Mellors Group director says he jumped at the chance to buy it."My auntie and uncle live in Dinnington, so this is where they would bring us for a day out," he says."We've visited the park throughout the years, so now it's really nice to actually say it's ours and think about what we can do with it."The North Yorkshire theme park opened near Ripon in 1969 and was once home to the longest rollercoaster in the world, the Ultimate, which held the title between 1991 and 2000.After being dismantled in 2023, Lightwater Valley then rebranded to cater to children under 12 years old."It's changed massively and, unfortunately, I don't think it's seen the investment it needed," Mellors says."When I think back to the days of the Ultimate or the Rat [the world's first and only subterranean rollercoaster built in 1987], they were things that people hadn't really done before."In my opinion, the previous owners really went in the wrong direction and went down to more of a younger age group."You have to remember that the 12 and unders still have parents that are in their mid-20s, 30s, 40s and they still want to have a great time as well."BBC/ Emily JohnsonMellors said new rides are coming to Lightwater Valley this yearMellors acquired another theme park, Fantasy Island, in Ingoldmells, in 2016 but says he has always had his eye on Lightwater Valley."If you can imagine it almost being like a Disneyland, that's where our vision is," Mellors laughs."We have to be realistic, though, we don&#...