Summerland was rebuilt, but staff and visitors to the site reported the sounds of screaming, hearing footsteps along empty passages, and occasionally seeing ghostly people wandering around the area. Overview. It was indeed quite glamorous and I know for a fact my mum and dad spent more than a few romantic evenings there, (We kids got packed off to our grandparents house!) There was a charming wooden see saw, slide and roundabout. Looking at the picture of the pool makes me sad!! Behind the stage was the huge rock face. Julie was 14, and identified by her jewellery. It was a strange building, influenced by the geodesic structure of Buckminster Fuller's American Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal. of 1971. fire, which triggered a major change in fire regulations on the Island. Such a happy reunion but such a terribly sad sad time. The acrylic material melted, allowing more oxygen to enter, and dropping burning molten material, both starting other fires and injuring those trying to escape. RM R8WF63 - Oil wells drilled into the bed of the Pacific ocean at Summerland, between Santa Barbara and Los Angleles, California, United States of America, c. 1915. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. was the development of an entertainment complex, which was completed in 1970. Bid today! When Summerland opened it was sensational here on the IOM. Experts into wreckage of building 4. (en) dbo:thumbnail It was a lovely place but it's so sad the way it all ended. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. FREE membership. The Summerland disaster occurred when a fire spread through the Summerland leisure centre in Douglas on the Isle of Man on the night of 2 August 1973. When they couldnt locate me they began their search for me on the prom. on arrival above somerland we couldnt beleve the whole building was an infurno (just where we would have been had we not been delayed)we left the site not beleving such a tragity could be hapening to those poor people,and by the grace of god spared us.with the passing of time and no disrespect to those who loved ones perished or were injured i beleve that summerland was a fabulous venue of the time and should be under another name be reserected for the people of the island and visitors alike,the past is the past and nothing can remain a stain of the building/archetects or goverment who built it in good faith and by unforcene events that happend.the island needs a new complex to invest in tourisem and for the island people to enjoy in these hard days ahead bring life back to the island as it was before the doom and gloom merchants moved in.being a stopover from the late 60s and with three children who were born here i personaly would like to see an indoor complex such as summerland revived. on arrival above somerland we couldnt beleve the whole building was an infurno (just where we would have been had we not been delayed)we left the site not beleving such a tragity could be hapening to those poor people,and by the grace of god spared us.with the passing of time and no disrespect to those who loved ones perished or were injured i beleve that summerland was a fabulous venue of the time and should be under another name be reserected for the people of the island and visitors alike,the past is the past and nothing can remain a stain of the building/archetects or goverment who built it in good faith and by unforcene events that happend.the island needs a new complex to invest in tourisem and for the island people to enjoy in these hard days ahead bring life back to the island as it was before the doom and gloom merchants moved in.being a stopover from the late 60s and with three children who were born here i personaly would like to see an indoor complex such as summerland revived. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. I had a great time. I was at summerland in august 1973,and went to the groovey disco underneath,but it seemed a bit lacking in atmosphere compared to the clubs in Manchester.I was also in Douglas when Summerland set on fire and joined the long queue of people donating blood for the victims. As Bob says the smell of the place too & being in there when it was pouring down outside was amazing to us kids. The average house price in Summerland, Ramsey, Isle of Man IM8 is . This, coupled with the constant sirens of emergency vehicles, is what made this the worst night of my life. We stayed for a week and on all of the 4 nights preceding the evening of the disaster I had been to the complex for a swim and play around with new-found friends. CLOSED COMPLETELY! . 1. Find it on the Isle of Man | Business, Restaurants, Classifieds, Events and more To access your webmail, click Sign In Find it on the Isle of Man Click here to sign into webmail What's On? I wondered why she was fussing me so much and so upset, after all, I was fine. For me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week. We stayed for a week and on all of the 4 nights preceding the evening of the disaster I had been to the complex for a swim and play around with new-found friends. My dad played a lot of squash so I was always there watching him, well trying.. it took me years to be tall enough to see over from the spectators gallery properly.Every weekend it would either be rollerskating, swimming or the play area in the day and at night we would come back for the cabaret and more time in the play area.Through the week I would be in Summerland for 5-a-side football and swimming lessons with my school.For years I knew nothing about the fire but was told by my parents at a sensible age, from this moment on I wanted to know what the place looked like as their description made it sound out of this world and it was!I have spent many an hour researching everything Summerland.I have to admit I did feel very sad when I saw this place coming down.A newer more aesthetically pleasing version needs to be built, we need a more resourceful entertainment complex on the Island, everthing under one roof.. like Summerland! Property & houses for sale in Isle of Man *DISCLAIMER. I loved it so much and will always remember it . On the night of the fire I had decided, for some unknown reason, to spend some time on the ASTROGLIDE (who remembers that ?) Douglas Corporation, aided by grants from the Isle of Man Government, spent 1.5 million on the building and more cash was provided by The International Trust House Forte group who had taken Summerland LTD on as a subsidiary. Denis Cowley QC acted for the Douglas Corporation. The water in the pool was lovely and hot and we used to go out and stand in a cold shower and the cold foot bath then dive into the pool to get that even warmer feeling. Then with my children to manxland,their first birthday parties, my sisters-in-laws fashion shows & watching cousin's children do ballroom dancing & they're just a handfull of memories!Summerland was a one off & while the Villa Marina is a part of our islands history & heritage, there will never be another place like Summerland - it's in a league of it's own. Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. Everywhere we went afterwards there was requests for blood donors it was so sad, and I think we were all glad to get home. A period semi-detached double fronted town house built circa 1864, set along a quiet cul-de-sac, yet within easy walking distance of the shops and cafes of Parliament Street. The Majestic. I will never forget her and that night that I nearly died.Sincerely John McGimpsey, Newtownards N Ireland. JaxuttonOK.What's with the 3 school-boys, what caused the fire?Accident or sabotage was an investigation carried out?Tell us more! There's not much left of the place. I remember the main floor in front of the stage with all the deck chairs & the straw umbrellas, the music, the talent shows. Her Name was Julie Panter, and her friend Dawn Ellingham wrote to me to tell me this. A period semi-detached double fronted town house built circa 1864, set along a quiet cul-de-sac, yet within easy walking distance of the shops and cafes of Parliament Street. We went to a show to see the Black and White Minstrels, that's when I smelt smoke. "Services weren't equipped for Summerland disaster", "Article about the disaster based on the report by Dr Ian Philips", "Remembering the Summerland fire disaster, 40 years on", "Isle of Man 'shame' over Summerland fire disaster", "Remembering The Summerland Disaster 40 Years On", "Asbestos information centretrade names", "Summerland fire survivor: 'I don't blame dad for saving my sister and leaving me in blaze but I never got to tell him', "Summerland fire: Fifty victims remembered on anniversary", "Summerland disaster survivor: 'I still dream of people in flames', "THE SUMMERLAND SITE IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY", "Summerland fire memorial built to mark 40th anniversary", "Summerland fire victims remembered on 40th anniversary", 1972 amateur film of pre-disaster Summerland, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Summerland_disaster&oldid=1142829611, Fire disasters involving barricaded escape routes, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 16:12. slide somewhere near where the Hilton Hotel is now I think. But the dream was short lived. There was no attempt to evacuate the 3,000 people present[5] until the visible evidence of the flames prompted a panic-stricken mass rush for the exits. Manx Forums - A Discussion Board & Classifieds for the Isle of Man. I was 17 and with my boyfriend at the time. We got out past the swimming pool - as a lady carrying some keys ran towards the doors to unlock them. Its charred steel skeletal remains were demolished in 1975 and then rebuilt on a smaller scale, construction commencing in 1976, with a smaller area of glass than the original, and a highly advanced fire extinguisher and alarm system. Andy, LiverpoolAs kids we used to holiday in the Isle of Man either at port St Mary or Peel. ISLE OF MAN: Summerland Entertainment Center - Vintage Photograph 1399665 - 12.48. After a geotechnical team determined that the blocks could not be safely stabilised or removed, and that there was a risk they would fall into the buildings below, the site was scheduled for demolition. Zoom in to cu of Summerland Complex and fire damage 2. vs fire damage 3. Although I remember when the fire happened (as a relative was working there that evening and thankfully survived), my happy memories are also quite vivid as I used to go there many times, especially during school holidays. A girl I met that night but got separated from in the panic died. When we noticed the black smoke to one end of the building - and the crowds looking in that direction - we started to move towards the exit. We spent alot of time in Summerland it was a great venue for all the family. Property reference . [17], In October 2002, torrential rain caused damage to several structures, as well as two landslides behind Summerland which dislodged two 50-tonne concrete blocks that had once supported the roof of the original building, but had not been removed in the wake of the fire. The house has 4 good sized reception rooms, a breakfast kitchen, basement, 4 bedrooms, ensuite bathroom and separate wc and family bathroom. jimmy kitchin onchanon the night of the summerland fire,my wife and mother and father inlaw (in there late seventies) plus myself with a wife who was expecting a child,were due to have a drink in the top bar as a fairwell to there holls before returning to liverpool next day, due to a strange event my wife hair rollers broke down so delaying by half an hour our departure.we stoped at the laxey filling station only to be told the complex was on fire!! Gray 2017 Keystone Summerland 2980 BH with 1 miles for sale at public car auctions in Carville LA on 03-07-2023. 5. vs burned out building. Aug 27, 2019 - Explore Amanda Smith's board "Summerland IOM" on Pinterest. There is also a mysterious underground room in the castle where a male ghost has been seen lingering. Places - Lost in Time: Summerland Centre, Isle of Man - YouTube Hello, and welcome again to Places - Lost in Time, a series that looks back on the tale of places and locations that have. The water in the pool was lovely and hot and we used to go out and stand in a cold shower and the cold foot bath then dive into the pool to get that even warmer feeling. We never knew if she saved our lives. As kids we used to holiday in the Isle of Man either at port St Mary or Peel. I was too young to realise what had happened but it makes me feel cold now. Jade Harbour Restaurant. Brings back great memories of times spent on the island. The death toll brought about a public inquiry that ran from September 1973 to February 1974. My dad raised the alarm after I smelt smoke coming from a slot machine. With a year-round programme of shows and events, there's plenty of ENTERTAINMENT on offer at VillaGaiety. When we noticed the black smoke to one end of the building - and the crowds looking in that direction - we started to move towards the exit. For just over two years the centre attracted visitors from all over the world. I was 7 and on holiday with family,that inluded aunts,uncles and cousins.A lot of us had been holdaying in Douglas that week and we spent a lot of time in Summerland.It was a great place to spend the day.It had all the ammenities ,everything you wanted was there,a funfare ,indoor heated swimming pool,indoor amusement arcade.It had bars,a disco's everything.On the night of the fire, we just finished our evening meal in our hotel and we began walking up Douglas promenade ,going towards Summerland,when we noticed smoke billowing up from behind the building,the next instant the entire building was engulfed in flames.I remember seeing people pouring out of the building,some were on fire,it was horrific.We were standing some distance away and I could not take my eyes off it.The explosions from the burning building boomed across Douglas bay.I had never seen so many injured people before and it is something that I wll never forget.The following morning we all cut our holiday short and returned home,as the ferry was leaving Douglas we all stood on the boat deck ,staring at the burnt out shell of Summerland.Have never been back to IOM since that terrible fire. The fire quickly spread across the sheeting on the leisure centre walls and roof, and through vents which were not properly fireproofed. Department of Community, Culture and Leisure announces future of Summerland site, Redevelopment of the Former Summerland Site - The Wave. This, coupled with the constant sirens of emergency vehicles, is what made this the worst night of my life. My parents had been to the site of the fire thinking I was in there as I had been all week. But I have fond memories of summerland and I to did win the talent competion in summerland. We saw the fire take hold and like many others my parents were shocked and crying at the horror of the tragic loss of life. I remember seeing below us musicians from the group who had been on stage swimming across the learner pool, one of them with his guitar. Custom Mountain home in Tehachapi CA.-2 hrs from LA or 2 hrs from Central Coast. [16], Soon after the disaster, John Hinnigan was brought in from Blackburn fire and rescue to become the new chief. My legs went like jelly and the next thing I knew, flames shot up the sides of the windows. panels dropping in flames onto the ground and I guess, people below. In the summer everyone enjoyed the talent competitions which were great fun. I still remember those who died and those who lost loved ones. It was an example of Modernist architecture incorporating advanced controlled internal climate, built with novel construction techniques using new plastic materials. I was one of the worst things that has ever happened on our small Island and none of us will ever forget the event. Now it's completely gone & it is a shame but they will hopefully put something back there for the manx & visitors to enjoy & make their amemories last a lifetime too. We would spend alot of time up there because of the pool and because they could keep and eye on us and have a drink at the same time. On the third attempt, my uncle's door came open and several others followed. 14a Majestic Apartments King Edward Road Onchan IM3 2BD. When we finally reached the bottom the firemen were there to guide us out and just as we got outside, the whole place was engulfed by fire. Also had a vague recollection that the lads who were smoking near a kiosk which led to the fire, came from Liverpool. The island is in desperate need of some alternative. The rest is of course history. The panic started and we all headed for the fire exit down the steps, only to find the doors were locked. Located in the heart of Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man, the complex was a landmark of the island, offering a wide range of attractions for both locals and visitors alike. Phase II of a new Sports and Entertainment Centre, which would cost the council 8. The first responding fire crews realised additional resources would be required and almost every resource available to the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service was mobilised to the incident (93 of its 106 firefighters and all 16 of its engines). In 1973, the Summerland Complex suffered a tragic accidental Examples of their tools are kept at the Manx Museum. On the night of the fire my Mum and Dad were taking me to see the Black & White minstrels, my much older brother and sister didn't want to go and went on the prom. "A good batter, a tasty sauce, and the excellent fried rice with chives.". My Mum and I started to go towards a spiral staircase which led towards the main entrance but my uncle steered us further along the gallery to where there were fire exits leading to the swimming pool area. The new Entertainment Centre was named Summerland and opened in the summer Following many goes on the slide (the attendant was very friendly and let me have many free rides!) LizAlthough I remember when the fire happened (as a relative was working there that evening and thankfully survived), my happy memories are also quite vivid as I used to go there many times, especially during school holidays. It took me a long time to go on holiday again. It was my last night on the IOM with my BB Company from N Ireland. Ricky Rooney, DouglasFor me, Summerland was the hub of all my childhood memories, I would be there at least 4 times a week.
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