ONE theme park in the South West is adding two new rides this year – and one will be the tallest in the region.
Crealy Theme Park & Resort has announced a huge expansion with two rides that will be a first for the Devon theme park.
The first ride to open at Crealy will be Pirates’ Plummet which when it opens will be the tallest ride in the South West.
The drop tower will be familiar to some as it was previously known as ‘Magma’ in Paultons Park and has been transported to Devon.
Crealy said it’s a “dramatic free-fall experience unlike anything currently available in the county, offering a new level of excitement for older children, teenagers and adults”.
Pirates’ Plummet will open in spring 2026.
The second ride coming to Crealy is Rotor: The South West’s First Inverted Ride which is set to open in summer 2026.
Crealy said: “The high energy ride will spin and flip guests, representing a major milestone in the Resort’s evolution and further strengthening its appeal to thrill-seekers.”
Currently, Crealy Theme Park & Resort has more than 60 rides and attractions along with live entertainment and play areas.
The theme park did big at the UK Theme Park Awards last year.
Crealy won Gold for ‘Best Theme Park for Families’, Gold for ‘Best Theme Park for Toddlers’, and a Silver for ‘Best New Entertainment’ with Sooty’s Disco Dance Off.
Speaking of Sooty, Crealy Theme Park is home to the UK’s only Sooty Land based on The Sooty Show that aired back in 1955.
Fans of the show can watch live shows on the mischievous yellow hand puppet called Sooty.
Sooty Land opened back in 2022 and features a host of rides dedicated to the on-screen bear and his furry pals.
One of the themed rides is Sooty’s Magic Bus, which moves park-goers up and down.
There’s also Sweep’s Flying Circus, Soo’s Sweet Balloon Ride and Izzy Wizzy Let’s Get Dizzy.
The park has plenty of indoor attractions too which are found inside the Pier including carnival games and a mirror maze.
Day tickets to Crealy Theme Park & Resort during the winter season start from £14pp (those under 92cm can enter the park for free).
The resort also features on-site accommodation, serving as a short-break destination for families.
There are camping options, caravan holidays, themed glamping and even luxury hot tub lodges.
Glamping breaks during February half-term start from £299 – these include theme park tickets.
One Travel Reporter gives her verdict on Crealy’s Theme Park & Resort…
Travel Reporter Cyann Fielding gives her verdict on Crealy Theme Park…
Local theme parks can often be discredited as not as good as major theme parks like Thorpe Park or Alton Towers, but Crealy in Devon actually does have something for everyone.
Having spent more times than I can count there when I was growing up, it is the ideal theme park if you have kids of different ages.
And thanks to lots of indoor areas, when it is raining the attraction is still a great spot.
Train-themed rollercoaster Maximus is the perfect introductory ride for children if you are planning to take them away to larger theme parks in the future.
If your kids love animals, head to the theme park in the spring when they often have lambs that visitors can feed.
In the summer months, the Wilderness area is a must.
A lot of families skip this part but for curious children it is a feast for the eyes and imagination as it is full of treehouses, obstacles, lakeside walks and ‘Walk on the Wildside’ with farm animals.
Definitely go on the log flume last if visiting the park – it is a brilliant ride and one of the best log flumes I have been on to date, but you do really get soaked.
If you make the mistake of going on the flume before heading elsewhere in the park then there is a giant human drying machine outside the ride which costs a couple of quid.
Parents wanting to feel nostalgic should definitely explore Sooty Land – there are four Sooty-themed rides, meet and greet opportunities and the world’s first Sooty store.
For more new rides, Alton Towers will launch ‘world-first’ rollercoaster that even toddlers will love this year.
And here’s ALL of the exciting new rides and rollercoasters opening in the UK and Europe in 2026.