The new owner of Isle of Wight attraction Robin Hill has revealed he intends to turn the site into more of an "adventure park" and told the County Press he bought it because he wants to "give something back to locals".
Lee Priddle, an Islander, has confirmed he will look at adding accommodation to the park and plans to keep the much-loved toboggan.
He also sought to clarify how entry to Robin Hill would work, saying he has no idea where "premature" talk of free entry, with visitors paying just for parking, came from.
Speaking to the County Press, he confirmed the park is "nowhere near" ready for opening but hopes they will be in a position to do so next year, for the start of the next season.
He said: "It's way too early for pricing. We have got to get up there and start building stuff.
"The park has to make money. We do want to make it accessible to all.
"Plans are there to keep the toboggan and add more rides, but we're looking to become an adventure park not a theme park.
"We still want that country park feel. We want to make it a bit more extreme - a lot more activities."
He said the 4D cinema has already gone.
Despite rumours, Lee said he has not been in discussions with IW Festival organiser John Giddings, nor Bestival founder Rob Da Bank, about a return to the site.
He said: "I know John and Caroline Giddings and there's no plan for them to put an event on there and I know Rob as well, we've had no communication about them coming back."
He said he does want events there, however, starting with Warrior Festival in September and is hoping to put fireworks there in November for Mountbatten.
Read more: Isle of Wight music festival coming to Robin Hill this year
Before that, the car park at Robin Hill will be used for a car boot sale and farm market. Starting on August 11 and continuing every Sunday, it will also have catering.
Lee runs AMP Hire LTD, a portable toilet hire firm, and also has holiday letting business, Swysh Stays.
"We're going to look at accommodation which would link into Swysh Stays", he added.
Robin Hill already has planning consent for holiday accommodation to include 19 tree houses, 23 lodges and 40 glamping camps.
As previously reported, the sale of the site was announced yesterday, nine months after going on the market.
A spokesperson for Vectis Ventures, which owned Robin Hill for nearly 30 years, said: "We wish him every success with his future endeavours at the site.”
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