Hidden Valley Discovery Park

{{Infobox amusement park

| name = Hidden Valley Discovery Park

| image = 300px

| caption =

| address =

| phone_number =

| location = Tredidon, Launceston, Cornwall, England

| previous_names = Tredidon Trails

| opening_date = 1994

| closing_date =

| season = April to October

| area = {{convert|60|acre|m2}}

| rides =

| coasters =

| water_rides =

| owner = Pete Jones

| operator =

| general_manager =

| slogan =

| homepage = [https://www.hiddenvalley.co.uk hiddenvalley.co.uk]

|coordinates= {{coord|50|38|13|N|4|26|7.2|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title,inline}}

}}

Hidden Valley Discovery Park is a family-run visitor attraction near the town of Launceston, Cornwall, England, UK. Founded in 1994 by Pete Jones, as a simple treasure hunt and play area, the park has expanded to include a "Forbidden Mansion" with mazes and team treasure hunts. It also includes a {{RailGauge|7.25in}} gauge miniature railway system around the site, encouraging 11,000 visitors each year.

History

The park was founded in 1994 as Tredidon Trails, originally just including a treasure hunt and children's play area.{{cite web|title=Dart PR {{!}} New Chef Secret Ingredient at Hidden Valley|url=http://www.dartpr.co.uk/2014/03/31/new-chef-secret-ingredient-at-hidden-valley/|accessdate=13 August 2016}} The founder was Pete Jones, an engineering graduate who took much inspiration from the famous British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.{{cite web|title=In the press|url=http://www.hiddenvalleydiscoverypark.co.uk/in-the-press|website=Hidden Valley Discovery Park|accessdate=13 August 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213183732/http://www.hiddenvalleydiscoverypark.co.uk/in-the-press|archivedate=13 February 2015}}

The park currently receives about 11,000 visitors each year and includes several treasure hunt trails, a miniature railway and mazes. The reception area which resembles a pumping station from the Victorian era includes a restaurant and gift shop. The Forbidden Mansion in the grounds includes Victorian fixtures and fittings, but has been designed to include secret passageways and upside down rooms. Inside the mansion there are several treasure hunts for teams to work through to gain a crystal in the style of Crystal Maze.{{cite news|title=Beat the Mad Professor|url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/news/15445784DD9AA4D0?p=UKNB|accessdate=13 August 2016|work=Cornish Guardian|date=26 March 2015}}

The park's {{RailGauge|7.25in}} gauge miniature railway is named Porterswick Junction Light Railway. It was constructed in 2002 and was extended in 2003 to form a complete 900 yard loop. The line now includes two bridges which go over the top, as well as an engine shed, inspection pit and two locomotives which operate at the site.{{cite web|title=Porterswick Junction Light Railway - Miniature Railway World|url=http://www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/PorterswickJunction.html|website=www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk|accessdate=13 August 2016}}

class="wikitable" border="1"
Type ! No. ! Name ! Wheel arrangement ! Builder ! Built
Steam \| - \| William \| 0–6–0 \| Frank Birchall \| 2008
Diesel \| 01 \| Albert \| 0-4-0PH \| Roanoke of Barnstaple \| 1998

class="wikitable" border="1"

Type

! No.

! Name

! Wheel arrangement

! Builder

! Built

Steam

| -

| William

| 0–6–0

| Frank Birchall