Adrenalin Quarry

Adrenalin Quarry is a family-owned visitor attraction and outdoor adventure park at Menheniot in south-east Cornwall, United Kingdom. The attraction occupies the site of a former stone quarry, locally known as Clicker Tor Quarry, whose industrial operation provided employment and supported the surrounding economy before closing in 1969. After the quarry became disused, it gradually flooded to a depth of about 22 metres, creating the lake and steep quarry landscape that later became central to the attraction's identity. The site's public-entertainment history predates the Adrenalin Quarry name. Clicker Trikes opened there in 1986 and evolved into the Quad Centre and later Kartworld. In January 2009, under the direction of owner Will Sneyd, construction began on a launch platform at the western end of the lake for the first major Adrenalin Quarry ride, The Zip. The attraction opened at Easter 2009 and subsequently expanded its activity range and visitor facilities. Adrenalin Quarry's offer is based principally on gravity, height, water and other physically demanding activities rather than on motorised theme-park rides. Its principal attractions have included The Zip, a quarry zip line; The Giant Swing; the Aquapark, an inflatable water-based assault course; axe throwing; and karting. The Aquapark opened at Easter 2018 and brought the advertised activity total to five. The combination of a flooded quarry, cliffs and open-air facilities gives the business a distinctive setting within Cornwall's visitor economy. The attraction presents itself as an environmentally conscious adventure venue. The quarry is identified as an area of special scientific interest, and the business has emphasised low-carbon gravity rides designed to have minimal or zero direct impact on the local environment. This positioning differentiates it from conventional amusement parks while linking the visitor experience to the site's industrial and natural history. Its customer base includes families, children and groups seeking unusual outdoor activities, as well as visitors looking for stag and hen events, celebrations and other group experiences. The venue has also been promoted as a possible wedding and event location. British newspapers and regional publications, including The Guardian, The Independent, The Sunday Times and CornwallLive, have featured the attraction in travel, family-day-out and adventure coverage. These media appearances have helped establish Adrenalin Quarry as a recognised Cornwall attraction, although it remains a local, privately operated visitor business rather than a large international leisure group.

The site now known as Adrenalin Quarry was formerly called Clicker Tor Quarry and remains known by that name locally. The quarry was worked by Blue Elvin Rock from 1932 until 1969. During its industrial period it was an important source of employment in south-east Cornwall. Following closure, the site became derelict and eventually flooded, with the resulting lake reaching a reported depth of approximately 22 metres. Public use of the site began before the current attraction was established. Clicker Trikes opened in 1986, followed by the Quad Centre between 1989 and 1992. The operation later became Kartworld, creating a continuing recreational presence at the former quarry. In January 2009, owner Will Sneyd began developing a new attraction focused on adventure activities. The first construction work was the installation of posts and a launch platform at the western end of the quarry lake for The Zip. Adrenalin Quarry opened to visitors at Easter 2009. Its initial concept centred on rides that used the quarry's natural elevation, water and gravity rather than energy-intensive mechanical systems. The attraction added activities and facilities over subsequent years, building a portfolio that included The Zip, The Giant Swing, karting and axe throwing. In Easter 2018 it opened the Aquapark, an inflatable, water-based assault course described in regional reporting as having a Total Wipeout-style format. This brought the advertised core activity total to five. The quarry is also identified as an area of special scientific interest. Adrenalin Quarry has consequently linked its business model to the site's existing landscape, presenting its low-carbon gravity rides as having minimal or zero direct environmental impact. This approach allows the venue to use the flooded quarry and its cliffs as the principal infrastructure for the visitor experience rather than replacing the landscape with a conventional built amusement park. Over time, the attraction has developed beyond individual rides. It has been marketed for family days out, children’s activities, group trips, stag and hen events, celebrations and weddings. Coverage in national and regional media, including The Independent, The Guardian, The Sunday Times and CornwallLive, has positioned it as one of Cornwall's more unusual adventure destinations. The available reference material does not establish a separate corporate parent, public listing or ownership change; the business is described as family-owned and remains active at its Menheniot site.

• 2018

  Aquapark launches

  [2]Total Wipeout-style water park opens in Cornwallcornwalllive.com

  A large inflatable assault course opened on the flooded quarry lake.

• 2009

  Adrenalin Quarry opens

  [1]Adrenalin Quarryen.wikipedia.org

  Development of The Zip began in January, and the new adventure attraction opened at Easter.

• 1989

  Quad Centre period begins

  [1]Adrenalin Quarryen.wikipedia.org

  The site's recreational operation developed into the Quad Centre and later Kartworld.

• 1986

  Clicker Trikes opens

  [1]Adrenalin Quarryen.wikipedia.org

  The former quarry returned to public use when Clicker Trikes began operating at the site.

• 1969

  Quarry operation closes

  [1]Adrenalin Quarryen.wikipedia.org

  The quarry ceased industrial operation and later became derelict and flooded.

• 1932

  Quarrying begins under Blue Elvin Rock

  [1]Adrenalin Quarryen.wikipedia.org

  The site began operating as a stone quarry under Blue Elvin Rock, becoming an important local employer.

Outdoor adventure attraction combining low-carbon gravity rides, water activities and group entertainment in a flooded former quarry.

• Zip-line ride · 2009

  The Zip

  The Zip was Adrenalin Quarry's first ride. It uses the quarry's elevated terrain and lake setting to provide a gravity-based zip-line experience and established the attraction's focus on low-carbon outdoor rides.

• Gravity ride

  The Giant Swing

  The Giant Swing is a large-scale outdoor swing ride designed around the quarry landscape. It is one of the attraction's signature height and gravity experiences.

• Water-based inflatable course · 2018

  Aquapark

  The Aquapark is an inflatable obstacle and assault course installed on the flooded quarry lake. Its format has been compared by regional media with the television programme Total Wipeout, and it expanded the attraction into water-based group and family activities.

• Target sport

  Axe throwing

  Axe throwing is one of the site's advertised activities, extending the offer beyond rides and water-based attractions into structured target-sport sessions.

• Motorsport activity

  Karting

  Karting continues the site's recreational association with motor activities, which began with Clicker Trikes and later included the Quad Centre and Kartworld before and alongside the Adrenalin Quarry brand.

• 2018

  Aquapark added to the attractionProduct launch

  Background

  Adrenalin Quarry had built its identity around rides and outdoor activities but had not yet offered a large inflatable water course on the quarry lake.

  Action taken

  The business opened an inflatable, Total Wipeout-style Aquapark at Easter 2018.

  Aftermath

  The new activity increased the attraction's advertised core offering to five activities and strengthened its family and group appeal.

  Source

• 2009

  Development of a low-carbon gravity-ride attractionStrategy

  Background

  The flooded former quarry offered a distinctive natural setting but required a new recreational use after its industrial period and earlier visitor businesses.

  Action taken

  Under Will Sneyd's ownership, the business developed The Zip and launched Adrenalin Quarry as an outdoor adventure attraction using the site's elevation, cliffs, lake and gravity.

  Aftermath

  The attraction opened at Easter 2009 and expanded with additional rides and facilities in later years.

  Source

1. 1Adrenalin Quarryen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Total Wipeout-style water park opens in Cornwallcornwalllive.com
3. 3Take the kids to … Adrenalin Quarry, Cornwalltheguardian.com
4. 4Trail of the unexpected: Adrenalin Quarryindependent.co.uk
5. 5Adrenalin Quarry official websiteadrenalinquarry.co.uk