Blackpool Zoo
Blackpool Zoo was the first location for a Grand Ghost Tour not held at the Grand Theatre. The zoo, which opened on 6 July 1972, has quite a history of paranormal activities occurring; and that is not surprising when you look at the background of the buildings and the land it was built on!
It was constructed on the former site of the original Blackpool Municipal Aerodrome, which was built in 1929 and opened in 1931. The aerodrome became the Stanley Park Aerodrome In 1939 and when World War II broke out, on 3 September of that year, the RAF requisitioned the aerodrome. Originally there was an air traffic control building and one hangar, however an additional four hangars were built where Wellington bombers were assembled and flown from during the war years. When the war finished the aerodrome closed and was never used for flying again.
Many of the original aerodrome buildings and hangers are still standing; the A-Zoo nursery and keepers flats are housed in the old air traffic control building with the hangars being used to house the elephants, for food storage, quarantine and maintenance of the zoo site itself.
For further information on Blackpool Zoo and Dinosaur Safari, please visit their website: www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk.