Installed 1905 and still going strong today!

The River Caves of the World, installed in 1905, was designed by an American engineer at Coney Island, New York and also exhibited at Earl's Court in London.

The ride covered 1.5 acres and had fifty boats, each with a capacity of 10 passengers.

Currents generated by motors driven by the town's gas supply circulated 1000 gallons of water a minute through the channel, which carried the boats through eleven different scenes, some of which are detailed below.

Scenes included were;

Cave of Emeralds of Ceylon

The Blue Grotto of Capri

The Coral Cave of the South Sea Islands

The Mysterious Dripping Well of Arizona

The ride cost £3000 to build, and a ride cost 6d (2.5p)

Later scenes were painted by George Bernasconi, the resident artist at Pleasure Beach.

The ride is currently (as of 2024) still operational, being second only to Sir Hiram Maxim's Captive Flying Machines in terms of age...

Posted in Blackpool at 19:45 on 5th September 1906, our correspondent says that his journey from Blackpool to Birmingham on Thursday evening will take him from 4-45 to 9-45 pm - 5 hours!!

Mind The Cat With Love from Tom & Ralph

9:30 pm Aug 4 1905