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A Titanic-themed ride and slide attraction at Graveley Fruit Farm near Hitchin, Hertfordshire, has faced criticism for being disrespectful to the victims of the Titanic disaster. The farm announced it would change the name of the ride following the backlash but later reversed its decision, citing support to retain the name.
Graveley Farm, which opened in 1981, plans to keep the name of its Titanic-themed ride following public support for it despite initial criticism. The ride returned in May after having operated for several years prior to its temporary removal.
Graveley Fruit Farm announced it would change the name of its Titanic-themed ride following public backlash, but later decided to retain it after receiving support from visitors. The farm stated, “Titanic has become almost a byword in the English language,” reflecting the ongoing debate over the appropriateness of the attraction.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how many supporters of the attraction’s name change versus those advocating for its retention have contacted the farm.
Activity farm faces criticism over Titanic-themed ride seen as disrespectful
A Titanic-themed ‘ride and slide’ attraction has been called ‘disrespectful’ for attempting to recreate the downed ship.
The children’s ride, featuring a replica of the 1912 sunken vessel, was promoted this summer at Graveley Fruit Farm near Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
Costing £2 per ride, the ship, depicted with two of its iconic funnels, tilts upwards before ejecting riders onto a crash mat.
But some families were left bemused by the attraction, claiming it was a ‘distasteful’ homage to the tragic sinking, which claimed the lives of some 60 children.
Andy Turner wrote on the farm’s Facebook page: ‘I’m sorry, but this is one of the most distasteful, disrespectful, and strange attractions for children.
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‘I cannot believe that you have created a game and ride based on a such a tragedy. Would you create a game based on Auschwitz or the twin towers?
‘The Titanic is infamous for sinking, causing the deaths of 1,500 people of which 60 were children. This is sickening and anybody who doesn’t see an issue with this clearly has no sense of morality.’
Claire Borchers commented: ‘Strange bunch of people who not only enjoy, but endorse this. A simple change to the name/colour of this ship would make it far less offensive and more appropriate as a children’s ride.’
‘There wouldn’t be a ride focused around the twin towers or other historical tragedies, so why is this acceptable?’, she added.
Graveley Farm opened in 1981 and offers a playground, crazy golf and strawberry picking during the summer.
The Titanic ride returned in May after having previously ran for several years.
Responding to criticisms, the farm said it would change the name of the ride ‘ASAP’.
However it later reversed this decision, saying it had received lots of support to retain the name, the Sun reported.
RMS Titanic sank on her major voyage after sailing into an iceberg on April 15, 1912.
Of the 2,220 passengers and crew onboard, nearly 1,500 lost their lives.
Graveley Farm told WTX that while it did receive criticism for the ride, it got a far larger backlash when it removed the Titanic name and ‘gave into the wokes’.
It added: ‘Titanic has become almost a byword in the English language.
‘There are no survivors, or for that matter children of survivors alive today. I would like to think if we could talk to the ghosts of the people who drowned over a hundred years ago when the ship went down, that if they knew that there was a children’s slide made in their memory that gives a lot of pleasure to so many people, then it would be met with a kindly smile.’