Funland Hayling Island is an amusement park on Hayling Island, in the Havant district, in the county of Hampshire, England.
Funland Hayling Island contains 18 rides, an amusement arcade (as well as various independently operating arcades nearby), Diane's Diner, a kids' play area and a pirate-themed golf course.
The park is a typical funfair-styled park with the rides mainly being travelling rides from various independent funfair operators, with some rides sourced from other amusement parks.
History Funland amusement park opened in 1984 on the site of a former Butlins which dated back to the 1930s. In 1977 the freehold for the land was passed from Billy Butlin to the Hill family who had been tenants on the land since the 1940s. The Hills built the park and upcycled signage from a nearby closed amusement arcade known as Funland. The modern Funland has survived three generations with the Hill family and is currently operated by Marshall Hill.
2000's
The 2003 season saw the addition of some brand new rides: The first was Tornado, a frisbee ride. Other rides that were added were a Breakdance, and a themed Teacups ride called Cannibal Pots. The park's Pirate Ship was also removed that year.
In 2004, a new larger Pirate Ship ride named Galleon was added to the park, replacing the older smaller ship. The Park's Zyclone coaster was removed from the park that year.
For the 2005 season, after the Zyclone coaster was sold to Tier Prince Fun Park, the park purchased Drayton Manor's Klondike Gold Mine coaster. The Drop Tower formerly sourced at the Trocadero was finally added to the park after two years of troubled planning permissions.
In 2006, the park added a second smaller Log Flume in the park's former car parking lot called Blizzard Falls. In 2007, the Tornado Frisbee ride was replaced with a new model called Tornado 2.
In 2008, Funland purchased many rides from Drayton Manor's Robinsons Land section after its transformation into Thomas Land. Rides that were added were the Super Dragon coaster, the Whirlycopters, the Frog Hopper, Cadbury's Junior Pirate Ship and the Samba Balloons. At the end of the season, the Galleon Pirate Ship and the Junior Pirate Ship were closed and sold.
For the 2009 season, a Plane Ride was added.
2010's No new rides were added in 2010, however Tornado 2 was sold onto independent operators after that year. A traveling orbiter ride named Speed Flip was added to the park for the 2011 season alongside 2012 to replace it.
The 2013 season saw the park purchase a Miami Extreme ride from an independent operator, while the 2014 season saw the park purchase a traveling Twister ride, named Cyclone, which was added to the park that year replacing Breakdancer, which was sold to Luna Park Sunny Beach. 2014 also saw the removal of Toy Town Express.
The 2015 season saw two-new rides added to the park; A pirate-ship-themed Galleon ride, alongside a new addition to the park's Dinosaur-themed section called Jurassic Safari, a car ride that replaced the Toy Town Express convoy ride. The Blizzard Falls log flume was renamed to Dino Falls in order to match the theme.
In 2016 a new roller coaster replacing the Klondike Gold Mine, which is called Runaway Mine Train, originally located at Gulliver's World as the Wild Mine Ride. In June, the park added a new Snake Helter-Skelter ride replacing the old one, and the Super Dragon returned after a refurbishment with a new dinosaur theme and name; Funlandosarus. After the 2016 season ended the Woody Coaster was removed from the park.
In 2017, two new rides were opened: A Tilt-A-Whirl called Neptune's Fury, which replaced the Woody Coaster, and a Mini Paratrooper ride. Both had been acquired from Pleasure Island Family Theme Park after its closure in 2016. The Mini Paratrooper was later replaced with a Carousel that was purchased from the Liseberg amusement park in Sweden, which the park has since purchased some rides from. The Drop Tower was removed from the park after the end of the 2017 season after standing there but not operating.
For 2018, a caterpillar-themed Rock 'n' Tug ride was added to the park. No new rides were added in 2019. After the 2019 season the Super Dragon was removed from the park and sold.
2020's In 2020, Funland purchased a Flying Elephants ride and a Viking ride from Liseburg.
In 2021, the tarpaulin was removed from the middle of the park. a Ghost Train called "Destination Z" was added to the park upon opening for the 2021 season.
Rides
Rollercoasters Name Year Operational Status Manufacturer Description Runaway Mine Train 2016 Operating L & T Systems A roller coaster based on a spinning wild mouse ride, This coaster was formerly located at Gulliver's World. Spinosaurus 2022 Operating A Spinning Coaster. It originally soft-opened during Funland's Winter Wonderland event in December 2021 before fully opening in February 2022. It was originally located at Gulliver's Land as "Twist 'N' Joust".
Dark Rides Name Year Manufacturer Description Destination Z 2021 A Ghost Train ride with live actors. This is housed inside a former arcade near the beach. The ride was previously used as an outdoor train ride at Oakwood Theme Park and beforehand Camelot Theme Park. It only operates during evening sessions.
Flat Rides Name Opened Manufacturer Description Cyclone 2015 P.W.S A standard Twister ride. It was originally owned by various independent operators before being purchased by the park as a permanent attraction. For 2024, the ride will see a new colour-scheme. Dodgems Unknown Barbieri A standard bumper car ride. It is located in the main Funland building, where the arcade is. Dragon's Breath 2020 Zierer A Viking boat ride where boats rotate similar to a carousel and go through water. It previously operated at Liseberg. Was known as Viking Boats for 2020. Dragons Rush 2025 Zierer A Sea Storm ride formerly located at Paultons Park, where it was known as Dragon Roundabout. Flying Elephants 2020 Interlink A standard elephant-themed jets ride that previously operated at Liseberg. The ride opened on the former site of the Super Dragon roller coaster but moved following the 2021 season to make way for the new Spinosaurus rollercoaster. The ride currently sits on the former site of Neptune's Fury Soaring Seagulls 2022 Zamperla A Magic Bikes ride that was purchased from Dreamland Margate. Surf's Up 2024 Technical Park Giant Miami ride, the largest of its type in the United Kingdom.
Water Rides Name Opened Manufacturer Description Jungle Splash 1990 Big Country Motioneering A large-scale log flume with a large drop. Previously known as "Flume of Doom" (2020-2022), "Wild River" (1990-2014) and "Beaver Creek Log Ride" (2015-2019). The ride was planned to be scrapped in late 2022 as it was past the end of its life with an expanded Dino Falls taking over, but the park instead decided to invest in the attraction giving it a refurbishment and a complete 'reimagining'.
Children's Rides and Attractions Name Opened Manufacturer Description Aztec Falls 2023 Zamperla A Zamperla magic bus style ride that was relocated from Paultons Park. The ride is located on the site where Dino Falls log flume formerly was. Carousel 2017 Preston & Barbieri A modern version of a classic Carousel ride. It previously operated at Liseberg in Sweden. Giant Yo-Yo Ride 2024 S&W Amusement Sales A junior Chair-O-Planes ride. Formerly operated at Adventure Wonderland. Jurassic Safari 2015 Zamperla A car ride with a dinosaur theme. Pirates Adventure Golf Unknown Unknown A miniature golf course with a pirates theme. Ride on Bikes 2016 Unknown A bumper car styled ride. Samba Balloon 2008 Zamperla A Samba Balloon ride which previously operated at Drayton Manor. Snake Helter-Skelter 2016 Zapfun A snake-themed helter skelter that previously operated at Adventure Island. It is also known as Sid's Sizzling Snake Slide.
Removed Attractions Name Added Removal Description Crazy Caterpillar 2018 2024 A small Rock and Tug ride themed as a caterpillar, manufactured by Zamperla. It previously operated in the Romanian fairground circuit for a time. It was relocated to Lightwater Valley for the 2025 season and renamed as Spin Bug. Animal Express 1970 2023 A small novelty mini train ride built by Supercar that spins around in a circle. Formerly known as Trains (1970-2020). Currently sits in storage. Galleon Ride 2015 2023 A pirate ship-themed Jets ride built by Manorplan Leisure. The ride previously operated at Twycross Zoo for a time. It was sold after the 2023 season to Fishers Farm and renamed as Flying Galleons. Extreme 2013 2023 A standard Miami ride built by Nottingham UK. The ride was previously owned by an independent operator and also operated at Bayside Fun Park. The ride was dismantled and sold at the end of the 2022 Season to independent operators to fund costs for the refurbishment of the Flume of Doom, although it eventually went under refurbishment in 2023, and returned to the park in July under loan. Dino Falls 2006 2022 A small Dinosaur-themed Log Flume Manufactured by L&T Systems that was built on a portion of the park's former parking lot. It was planned to be expanded for the 2023 season replacing Flume of Doom, but the park instead sold the ride to Fishers Farm in Wisborough to then operate as Jungle Glume. Previously known as Blizzard Falls (2006-2015). Neptune's Fury 2017 2021 A Tilt-A-Whirl ride with seashell-type cars built by Empire Amusements that previously operated at Pleasure Island Family Theme Park. Was later sold to the Gulliver's Theme Park chain and currently sits in storage at Gulliver's Valley. Frog Hopper 2008 2020 A mini drop tower built by Zamperla and was originally located at Drayton Manor (1998–2007). Removed and sold off after the 2020 season. Super Dragon 2008 2019 A small Pinfari MD31 junior coaster originally located at Drayton Manor (1984–2008), being added in the park's former car-parking spot.
The coaster operated as is for many years (although the tarpaulin's "DRAYTON MANOR" text was altered slightly to read "DRAGON MANOR"), until receiving a support repaint a few years into operation at Funland, making the supports purple while receiving an unofficial secondary name of "Junior Dragon Coaster".
In 2016, the ride was refurbished with a dinosaur theme, with the track being painted green and dinosaurs placed all around the ride, being known as Funlandasarus.