Mississippi Showboat & Jazz Band

From the outside guests would be forgiven for thinking this resident of Aqualand was just an old American paddle streamer. However it was not until guests were inside that it revealed its cargo of moving floors, spinning tunnels and weird mirrors, which gave visitors great surprises in this highly themed funhouse.

The route around the attraction took guests both through the internal corridors of the steamer and also along the decks, where they could walk whilst listening to the Jazz Band which often played around the attraction.

Despite being a popular attraction which offered a truly unique experience, the Mississippi Showboat closed at the end of the 1991 season, to be replaced two seasons later by a new station for the park’s miniature railway (today still in the park as the Mutiny Bay Sales and Information booth). The attraction was sold to a concessionaire based at Brean Leisure Park for the 1992 season and featured there until c.2000. It’s believed the Showboat then resurfaced in Poland at Silesian Amusement Park.

The Jazz Band remained for a few seasons after the Showboat closed, though moving away from the deck of the former funhouse and instead performing at the foot of Towers Street.