The Ghosts of Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach has been thrilling visitors since 1896, making it one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. But alongside the roller coasters and funhouses, there are other residents who never leave - the ghosts of those who worked and visited the park. Ride operators who loved their jobs so much they still show up for work. A mysterious man in the cellars. A lady who sings. Children who play in the gift shop after hours. At Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the thrills continue even after death.

The Park’s History

The Beginning

Founded in 1896:

• By Alderman William George Bean
• Originally called “South Shore”
• Rides and attractions
• A Victorian pleasure ground
• Still family-owned today

The Growth

Over the decades:

• World-famous rides added
• The Grand National (1935)
• The Big One (1994)
• Millions of visitors
• Generations of memories

The Workers

Employees devoted their lives:

• Some worked for decades
• They loved the park
• It was their life
• And for some, their afterlife

The Ghosts

Cloggy

The most famous ghost:

• A former ride operator
• Worked the wooden coasters
• Still heard walking
• In clogs (hence the name)
• Checking his rides

His Pattern

Cloggy appears to:

• Walk the catwalks
• Check the mechanisms
• Inspect the tracks
• Appearing at night
• When the park is closed

His Identity

Believed to be:

• A devoted employee
• From decades ago
• So dedicated to his job
• He never truly left
• Still on duty

Karl Marx

Not the philosopher:

• A different Karl Marx
• Worked in the cellars
• Storage and maintenance
• His ghost still seen there
• Going about his duties

The Lady Who Sings

In certain areas:

• A woman’s voice is heard
• Singing old songs
• When no one is there
• Perhaps a former performer
• Still entertaining

The Gift Shop Children

After hours:

• Staff hear children playing
• In the gift shop area
• Laughter and running
• But the shop is empty
• Ghost children still enjoying the park

The Locations

The Cellars

Below the park:

• Storage and service areas
• Karl Marx’s domain
• Other figures seen
• Sounds with no source
• Staff avoid going alone

The Wooden Coasters

The oldest rides:

• Where Cloggy walks
• The Grand National especially
• Night inspections
• Footsteps on catwalks
• Empty but occupied

The Old Theaters

Performance spaces:

• Where the lady sings
• Old variety acts played here
• The energy remains
• Performers still performing
• For ghostly audiences

The Funhouse

Traditional attraction:

• Strange sounds reported
• Figures glimpsed
• The mirrors show things
• That shouldn’t be there
• Is it real or reflection?

Staff Experiences

Night Shifts

Workers report:

• Hearing their names called
• Seeing figures in closed areas
• Equipment turning on
• Doors opening
• The park is never truly empty

The Acceptance

Most staff:

• Accept the ghosts
• See them as colleagues
• Part of the park family
• Don’t find them threatening
• They’re just doing their jobs

The Stories

Every employee has one:

• Something seen
• Something heard
• Something felt
• Passed down through generations
• Part of the culture

Investigations

Paranormal Teams

Research has found:

• EVP recordings successful
• Photographic anomalies
• EMF readings
• Temperature changes
• Activity confirmed

The Challenges

Investigating an amusement park:

• Lots of electrical equipment
• Mechanical sounds
• Large spaces
• But personal experiences convincing
• Something is there

Ghost Nights

Occasionally offered:

• After-hours access
• To haunted areas
• Professional investigation
• Very popular
• Consistent results

The Nature of These Ghosts

Happy Hauntings

Unlike many locations:

• These ghosts seem content
• They loved their work
• They loved the park
• They’re not trapped
• They choose to stay

The Theory

Perhaps:

• Strong emotional attachment
• Creates lasting presence
• The joy of the park
• The devotion of workers
• Keeps them here

Not Scary

The Pleasure Beach ghosts:

• Aren’t frightening
• More like old friends
• Still part of the team
• Still enjoying the rides
• Harmless presences

The Park Today

Still Thrilling

Blackpool Pleasure Beach:

• Remains hugely popular
• World-class rides
• Family entertainment
• Over 125 years of fun
• And counting

The Ghost Element

Adds to the atmosphere:

• Another layer of history
• Stories to share
• A unique experience
• The past walking among the present
• Living and dead enjoying together

The Future

The ghosts will likely:

• Remain as long as the park does
• Maybe joined by others
• Who love the park so much
• They can’t leave
• An eternal workforce

The Question

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a place of joy.

Screaming on roller coasters. Laughing in the funhouse. Children’s excitement. Family memories.

For over 125 years, people have come here to have fun.

Some of them never left.

Cloggy still walks the catwalks, checking his beloved coasters. Karl Marx still works in the cellars. A lady still sings in the empty theater. Children still play in the gift shop.

They’re not trapped here by tragedy. They’re not tormented spirits.

They just love the park.

So much that even death couldn’t make them leave.

Is that scary? Or is it wonderful?

A place so full of joy that people want to stay forever.

Workers so devoted that they show up for eternity.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Thrills and chills since 1896.

The rides are amazing.

But the real magic?

Is in the people who never wanted to leave.

And never did.

Come for the roller coasters.

Stay for the ghosts.

They’re part of the family now.

They always will be.