Editing The Milky Way (amusement park)

{{Short description|Amusement park in North Devon, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Coord|50.9804|-4.3840|display=title|region:GB_scale:5000}}
'''The Milky Way Adventure Park (Downland Farm)''' is an amusement park in [[North Devon]]. It was named as Devon's Large Attraction of the Year by Visit Devon in 2023/24<ref>{{cite web | title=Winners & Finalists | website=Devon Tourism Awards | url=https://www.devontourismawards.org.uk/winners | access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> and as one of the UK's best amusement parks by [[Trip Advisor]] every year since 2015 in their Travellers Choice Awards.<ref>{{cite web | title=Best of the Best Amusement & Water Parks in Europe | website=Tripadvisor | url=https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/TravelersChoice-ThingsToDo-cAmusementWaterParks-g4 | access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref> The Milky Way park has over 110,000 sq ft of indoor and outdoor activities.<ref>{{cite web | title=Award winning family day out North Devon & Cornwall | website=The Milky Way | date=2 December 2024 | url=https://www.themilkyway.co.uk/opennow | access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>

The Milky Way park has roller coasters, adventure rides, indoor [[dodgems]],  bouncing pillows, exhibition of [[Sci-Fi]] memorabilia (including ''[[Star Wars]]'' and ''[[Doctor Who]]'' costumes),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.themilkyway.co.uk/rides-attractions/sci-fi-memorabilia|title=Sci-Fi Memorabilia at The Milky Way in North Devon|website=www.themilkyway.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-01-16}}</ref> a mini-train, [[birds of prey]] displays, [[archery]], and huge indoor [[soft-play]] areas for all ages. It also runs a daily programme of shows, with some featuring Merlin from [[Britain's Got Talent]].

Its soft-play centre, Little Stars, opened in 2014.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} It is designed specifically for children aged 0–6 and has areas set aside exclusively for those aged 0–3 and 0-6, including a [[sensory room]] for babies.<ref>{{cite web | title=babies, toddlers, preschoolers | website=The Milky Way | url=https://www.themilkyway.co.uk/rides-attractions/little-stars-1 | access-date=13 December 2024}}</ref>

==History==
On 1 April 1984, changes to [[European Union]] [[milk quota]]s resulted in the Stanburys' successful dairy farm and cattle dealing business collapsing almost overnight, through no fault of their own. Trevor and Christine Stanbury made the decision to diversify, and opened the farm to the public three months later on the 1st of July. Over the years, the family have transformed the farm into an all weather adventure park with the addition of various attractions, rides and shows.

In 2007, Trevor Stanbury was awarded a [[Member of the British Empire|MBE]] for his services to tourism in southwest England. In 2009, he said he was keen to promote businesses in the area as he felt the most qualified of workers in Devon tended to move away.<ref name=ndj>{{cite news|url=http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/dairy-farm-tourist-attraction/story-12160743-detail/story.html|title=From dairy farm to a top tourist attraction|work=North Devon Journal|date=26 November 2009|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref>

In 2015, the park opened The Old Barn, a DIY wedding venue in a converted 17th century barn located on the edge of the site.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Old Barn|url=https://oldbarnwedding.co.uk/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref> In 2016, the park was listed by [[Tripadvisor]] as one of the ten best amusement parks in Britain.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news/north_devon_theme_park_named_in_uk_s_top_10_1_4612046|title=North Devon theme park named in UK's top 10|work=North Devon Gazette|date=11 July 2016|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref>

==Attractions==
The park organises events all year round.<ref name=ndj/> These include an annual [[Santa's Grotto]]. In 2015, the theme park started offering weddings in the ground, complete with rides on [[dodgems]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.northdevonjournal.co.uk/hire-milky-way-adventure-park-wedding/story-25907553-detail/story.html|title=Rollercoaster DIY weddings at The Milky Way Adventure Park could be smashing|work=North Devon Journal|date=22 January 2015|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref>

The [[Lynbarn Railway]] is a {{RailGauge|1ft11.5in|lk=on}} [[narrow-gauge railway]] inside the park's grounds. It is a renovation of the old [[Lynton and Barnstaple Railway]] and uses coaches that were previously used in [[Thorpe Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/page/lynbarn-lbs-fund-raising-railway|title=The LynBarn – the L&B's Fund Raising Railway|publisher=Lynton and Barnstaple Railway|accessdate=15 August 2016}}</ref>
The park also has the cosmic typhoon roller coaster, cosmic caterpillar roller coaster and [[ziggy's blast quest]], a unique mix of a dark ride and rollercoaster.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|www.themilkyway.co.uk}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Milky Way (Amusement Park)}}
[[Category:Amusement parks in England]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Devon]]