"Hold tight ! ..."
Name Steeplechase Opened 2 Sept 1977 Manufacturer Arrow Development Lanes / Tracks Three
Although relatively modern in Pleasure Beach terms, opening in 1977, the Steeplechase can be traced back to the very earliest of amusement parks. The concept of a Steeplechase ride concept dates back to the turn of the twentieth century. The most famous of them all was the ride at Steeplechase Park in the amusement park Mecca of Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.
The Pleasure Beach ride represented the first major project to be undertaken by Geoffrey Thompson, who worked with Arrow Development to bring the latest the industry had to offer to the Pleasure Beach.
❓Did You Know❓
The park has a long association with the Red Arrows, the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The team performed at the opening of the Steeplechase and later collaborated with Pleasure Beach to create the Red Arrows Skyforce ride.
Hot on the heels of opening Motor Cycle Chase at Knott’s Berry Farm, Arrow designed a triple track racing coaster at the south end of the park, which was constructed by the Pleasure Beach staff.
The new ride would sit nestled among the Big Dipper, Roller Coaster and the Pleasure Beach Express and offered a second opportunity for visitors to race their friends and family, just as the Grand National had done when it was introduced 40 years earlier.