Time travelling tourist attraction Wookey Hole Caves has whipped up the wow factor above and below ground to welcome a new generation of visitors.
The family favourite at the foot of the Mendip Hills in Somerset has upgraded its attractions above and below ground as it drives forward a £5m investment programme aimed at creating an all-year-round inland resort to draw the crowds whatever the weather.
The latest addition is a herd of animatronic dinosaurs shipped in from China – introducing eerily authentic moving, growling and roaring creatures familiar to fans of the Jurassic World franchise, Walking with Dinosaurs and Primeval.
Gayle Pennington, Marketing Director at Wookey Hole Caves, said: “The animatronic dinosaurs bring us bang up to date with today’s super-savvy youngsters who demand the best from a day out – whether it’s to the cinema or a real-life attraction like ours.
“Our caves have attracted visitors from Roman Times, through to torch-bearing Victorian explorers and film and TV crews looking for spectacular sets and backdrops. It’s great to think we are now providing a magnet for the internet generation.”
Wookey Hole Caves has also taken a leaf from another Hollywood epic – drilling into the living rock to open up jaw-dropping new chambers previously glimpsed by exploring cave divers.
“It was real Journey to the Centre of the Earth stuff – allowing us to link through to immense new caves that had only been reached via the underwater passages hundreds of feet beneath the Mendips. More people had walked on the moon than explored these caves.”
Engineering experts were brought in to blast through more than 1,000 tonnes of limestone to create a new tunnel which connects visitors to the huge new cavern, which opens up above a subterranean lake and features a rare fluted rock wall which has baffled the experts.
“We have also installed new lighting and wi-fi to ensure our visitors make the most of the new caverns, so they can upload their selfies with the new rock formations.
“The tunnels opened last year and are now firmly established – but we can’t afford to sit back and relax so this year we have upgraded the lighting further and invested in the latest animatronic dinosaurs to add to our above-ground attractions.”
In addition to expanding their attractions, Wookey was able to secure the massively popular Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs™ – The 4D Experience for the younger visitors.
The eye-popping 3-D film is available for viewing every day and is included within the Wookey Hole Caves’ entry fee.
There are a further 20 indoor and outdoor attractions to keep the family busy including circus shows and the Wild Wookey After Dark caving experience – featuring stoops, crawls, abseils and zip wires.
Gayle Pennington said: “We recognised that suitable overnight and holiday accommodation was the last piece of the puzzle – allowing families with small children or teenagers to make the most of everything on site without cutting short their visits.”
Holiday packages at Wookey Hole Caves range from pitching a tent on the campsite at just £39.99 through to luxury cabins with hot tubs. Accommodation is available at the onsite hotel, onsite luxury lodges or at the nearby Bucklegrove Holiday Park which boasts camping, touring and lodge facilities as well as a restaurant, swimming pool and live music.
