Every source behind this investigation, including the ones that were tested and rejected. Filter by type or confidence.
How to read this page
✓Verified
~Supported
⇄Disputed
✕Rejected
?Unresolved
…Awaiting confirmation
No single item here was treated as sufficient on its own. The identification rests on convergence between multiple independent lines of evidence, including one item kept on record specifically because it turned out to be wrong.
First-hand account~Supported
First-hand account from a Wicksteed source
Date
Recollection given during the July 2026 investigation
Location
Wicksteed Park, Kettering
A person with direct, hands-on knowledge of the ride and its removal stated that the entire frame, both gondolas and the remaining ride equipment were exported together, that the shipment went to Kosovo, and that the ride was never stored at Rundle's yard.
What it proves
Provided the initial lead pointing to Kosovo and away from Rundle's. It was later tested against independently discoverable evidence rather than accepted alone.
What it does not prove
The exact shipment date, the buyer's identity, or the ownership chain after export.
Archive: Link pending (source identity protected)
Research note: Treated as a lead to test, not as proof by itself, per investigation method §3.
Sales listing~Supported
Facebook Marketplace listing: "HUSS Double Pirate Ship – For Sale"
Date
Found during the July 2026 investigation; listing includes an image timestamped 1 September 2023
Location
Listing stated location: Kosovo
A CCTV-style still labelled “…ovica-CAM 9” (Mitrovica, camera 9), showing the ride's tower and loading platform at night.
Date
Undated screengrab, not confirmed to be the same image as the 1 September 2023, 21:05 CCTV frame described in the source findings
Source
Screenshot from a gallery of images associated with the Kosovo sales listing
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo (per on-screen camera label)
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
IMG-CCTV-01
Research note: One of several images in a gallery (“2 of 6”); its relationship to the specific 1 September 2023 timestamped image referenced in the findings has not yet been confirmed.
A listing offering a complete twin-gondola HUSS Double Pirate Ship, naming Wicksteed Park as its previous location and Kosovo as its current one, describing a modernised control system, and displaying a price of €1,111,111.
What it proves
Directly links a Kosovo-based double Pirate Ship to Wicksteed Park in the seller's own words, and documents the ride's visible condition at the time of listing.
What it does not prove
Seller-written claims are not independent proof. The listing also reportedly gave 2017 as the final Wicksteed year (the ride's public operation ended after 2016), a known factual error that shows why every seller claim required checking.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Preserved via screenshots, the share URL and listing metadata per investigation method §5–6.
Timestamped image~Supported
Timestamped CCTV image within the sales listing
Date
Timestamp displayed: 1 September 2023, 21:05
Location
Kosovo
A CCTV-style still labelled “…ovica-CAM 9” (Mitrovica, camera 9), showing the ride's tower and loading platform at night.
Date
Undated screengrab, not confirmed to be the same image as the 1 September 2023, 21:05 CCTV frame described in the source findings
Source
Screenshot from a gallery of images associated with the Kosovo sales listing
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo (per on-screen camera label)
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
IMG-CCTV-01
Research note: One of several images in a gallery (“2 of 6”); its relationship to the specific 1 September 2023 timestamped image referenced in the findings has not yet been confirmed.
The Marketplace listing included a CCTV-style image bearing this on-screen timestamp, showing the assembled ride.
What it proves
That an image displaying this date and time was included in the listing gallery.
What it does not prove
The timestamp has not been independently authenticated, and the image alone does not establish current condition or operation.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Metadata was not treated as infallible (investigation method §19). The linked image is one frame from the listing's gallery; it has not been confirmed whether an on-screen timestamp appears on this specific frame or a different one in the same set.
Video footage✓Verified
Operating footage, both gondolas, abroad
Date
By at least 25 June 2021
Location
Kosovo
Boarding footage showing the Union Jack–liveried gondola beginning its ride cycle while the other slows to a stop.
Date
Date not yet verified
Source
Researcher's collection
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Rights
Researcher's own collection
Archive ref
VID-BOARD-01
Captions: No dedicated caption track yet. Audio is ambient fairground sound (music, crowd) rather than narration; the description above summarises the visible action.
Research note: Original audio track was replaced for publication; a version with the original audio is retained in the project archive.
User-uploaded video shows both gondolas moving on the complete twin structure abroad.
What it proves
That the ride had been reconstructed and was operating with both gondolas by this date, ruling out permanent dismantling or storage as spare parts.
What it does not prove
On its own, does not establish that this is specifically Wicksteed's original ride; that link comes from the structural and artwork comparisons alongside the first-hand account.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Findings §"Operating footage"; investigation method §11. The linked boarding video is illustrative of similar footage gathered during the investigation; its own capture date has not been individually confirmed as 25 June 2021.
Structural comparison~Supported
Structural / steelwork comparison
Date
Analysis conducted July 2026
Location
Comparing Wicksteed-era photographs with Kosovo footage
A wide daylight view of the twin lattice towers and loading area, with a large painted panel at the base.
Date
Date not yet verified
Source
Third-party video, obtained during the investigation
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
VID-STRUCT-01
Captions: No caption track available; footage has ambient sound only.
Research note: The painted panel's lettering is not clearly legible in this footage and has not been transcribed with confidence; no reading of it should be treated as established.
A comparison of permanent, hard-to-change characteristics (twin rectangular lattice towers, diagonal bracing, cross-members, tower spacing, platform geometry, suspension arms and gondola proportions) between Wicksteed-era material and the Kosovo ride.
What it proves
The rare twin-frame geometry corresponds closely, and the unusual double configuration substantially reduces the chance of confusion with an ordinary single Pirate Ship.
What it does not prove
This is an analytical, visual comparison rather than an engineering-certified match. It has not been confirmed against manufacturer drawings, serial plates or inspection records.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Investigation method §7.
Artwork comparison~Supported
Gondola artwork and Union Jack livery comparison
Date
Comparing earlier and later Kosovo footage
Location
Kosovo
Close-up daylight footage of the gondola hull, showing red-white-and-navy diagonal striping consistent with Union Jack-style livery.
Date
Date not yet verified
Source
Third-party video, obtained during the investigation
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
VID-LIVERY-01
Captions: No caption track available; footage has ambient sound only.
Research note: Used for artwork/livery comparison per investigation method §8.
Earlier Kosovo footage shows artwork, colours and Union Jack detailing resembling the Wicksteed-era gondolas. Later photographs suggest some of this livery was removed or altered.
What it proves
Corroborates the structural comparison when the two agree, and connects earlier Kosovo footage back to the Wicksteed-era appearance.
What it does not prove
Because livery changed over time, artwork alone is treated as a weaker, secondary identifier, not sufficient on its own. The orange-toned testing footage elsewhere in this archive shows the same ride without the Union Jack livery visible.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Investigation method §8.
Site-layout comparison~Supported
Site-layout match: Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica
Date
Identified during the July 2026 investigation
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
A daylight view across the river toward Mitrovica, with the ride's twin-tower structure visible among the town's rooftops.
Date
Date not yet verified
Source
Researcher's collection (AI-upscaled from a lower-resolution original)
Location
Mitrovica, Kosovo
Rights
Researcher's own collection
Archive ref
IMG-WIDE-01
Research note: This image has been AI-upscaled from a lower-resolution source; upscaling can introduce or smooth over fine detail, so it is not treated as reliable for close structural comparison.
The ride's position relative to neighbouring attractions, buildings, paths and a nearby bumper-car installation was matched across visitor photographs, video and aerial views.
What it proves
Strongly established the ride's specific location as Lunapark Aseba, distinct from other parks.
What it does not prove
Findings describe this as "strongly established" rather than independently certified by the park operator.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Investigation method §9.
Rejected lead✕Rejected
Rejected lead: TikTok bumper-car video
Date
Reviewed and rejected during the July 2026 investigation
Location
Unconfirmed, subsequently ruled out as Lunapark Aseba
A newly uploaded bumper-car video initially appeared to show a Pirate Ship structure in the background. Closer comparison of angle, building decoration, the neighbouring ride and support-structure position showed it did not match Lunapark Aseba.
What it proves
Nothing about the ride's location. It is retained here to document the correction, not as supporting evidence.
What it does not prove
Was publicly corrected once identified as a false match; kept in the archive to show the investigation's willingness to discard evidence that didn't fit.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Investigation method §10; §21 "Public corrections and credibility."
Drone / aerial footage~Supported
Recent aerial and drone imagery
Date
2025–2026
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Drone or aerial footage providing dateable views of the park and the ride's position within it, including an unrelated third-party drone video of Mitrovica's Iber Bridge (published 6 June 2026) that happens to capture the ride's structure in the distance.
What it proves
The ride's continued physical presence and assembled state well after the 2021 footage and 2023 sales imagery.
What it does not prove
Cannot by itself confirm daily operation, inspection status or internal mechanical condition.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Findings §"Recent aerial and drone imagery"; investigation method §18. The linked image's publish date (6 June 2026) is confirmed; the exact frame's capture moment within the video has not been separately verified.
Research note?Unresolved
Research note: swing height appears greater than at Wicksteed
Date
Observed during the July 2026 investigation
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
A single gondola swinging to a notably high, near-horizontal angle with one rider aboard.
Date
Date not yet verified
Source
TikTok video, obtained during the investigation
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
VID-SWING-01
Captions: No caption track available; the original TikTok watermark is visible in-frame.
Research note: Raises an open question about swing height compared with Wicksteed-era operation; see the related research note in the Evidence Room. Not published as an established technical fact.
A short video shows a single gondola swinging to a notably high, near-horizontal angle. The person who supplied it noted that the ride appears to swing higher than it did at Wicksteed.
What it proves
That this specific clip shows a high swing angle, worth further comparison.
What it does not prove
Does not establish a cause (differing motor or inverter settings, a different ride cycle, wind, rider weight, or normal variation). This is a working observation, not a published technical finding.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Flagged as a research note rather than a finding until it can be compared against Wicksteed-era footage and, ideally, the ride's technical documentation.
Research note?Unresolved
Safety observation: riders appear to stand during operation
Date
Observed during the July 2026 investigation
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Close-up daylight footage of the gondola hull, showing red-white-and-navy diagonal striping consistent with Union Jack-style livery.
Date
Date not yet verified
Source
Third-party video, obtained during the investigation
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
VID-LIVERY-01
Captions: No caption track available; footage has ambient sound only.
Research note: Used for artwork/livery comparison per investigation method §8.
Video footage appears to show riders standing in the gondola during operation, raising questions about restraint use and operating procedures.
What it proves
That this specific footage shows riders standing while the ride is in motion.
What it does not prove
The ride's exact restraint configuration and the applicable local operating and inspection requirements have not been independently verified. This observation is directed at the identifiable operator and equipment shown, not generalised to Kosovo or the region as a whole.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Findings §"Safety observations." Flagged as an open question, not a safety finding, pending independent verification of restraint requirements and enforcement.
Business listing?Unresolved
Research note: Google lists Lunapark Aseba as "Closed"
Date
Screenshot taken July 2026
Location
Liqeni Ibri, Rrugë Ibri, Mitrovica e Veriut 40000, Kosovo
Google's business listing for Lunapark Aseba, giving an address in Mitrovica and marking the venue's status as “Closed.”
Date
Screenshot taken July 2026
Source
Google Search / Google Business Profile
Location
Liqeni Ibri, Rrugë Ibri, Mitrovica e Veriut 40000, Kosovo (per listing)
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
IMG-GSEARCH-01
Research note: Google Business Profile “Closed” statuses are frequently stale or inaccurate; this alone does not confirm the venue's current operating status. See the related research note in the Evidence Room.
Google's business listing for Lunapark Aseba gives a specific Mitrovica address and marks the venue's operating status as "Closed."
What it proves
A specific street address associated with the park.
What it does not prove
A "Closed" status on a Google Business Profile is frequently stale or user-submitted and does not by itself confirm the ride or the venue's current status. It sits alongside, and in apparent tension with, the more recent assembled-and-operating imagery described elsewhere in this archive.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Flagged as an open question for direct confirmation, per the seller correspondence in Sources & Methodology. Superseded by a more recent listing check; see "Google Maps: active listing, updated hours" below.
Business listing~Supported
Google Maps: active listing, updated hours
Date
Checked 24 July 2026; opening hours updated by the business roughly two weeks earlier
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
As of 24 July 2026, Google Maps lists Lunapark Aseba as an operating theme park rather than a closed venue, with opening hours the business itself had updated roughly two weeks earlier.
What it proves
That the listing is being actively maintained by whoever manages it, and that it currently presents the park as open.
What it does not prove
A maintained listing is not the same as direct footage of the ride operating on a given day. Business owners occasionally update hours without the listing's other fields staying accurate.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Directly updates the earlier "Closed" observation above, which was based on an older check of the same listing.
Video footage~Supported
Recently dated footage and photographs, including from neighbouring businesses
Date
Gathered during the July 2026 investigation
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Additional footage and photographs with recent dates were found during the investigation, including images taken from nearby businesses whose premises look directly onto the ride.
What it proves
That the structure was visibly present and recognisable at these recent dates.
What it does not prove
Third-party photographs of the structure do not by themselves confirm the ride was operating at the moment each was taken.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Consistent with, and gathered alongside, the updated Google listing above.
Correspondence~Supported
Direct operator contact: Instagram exchange with @aseba_park
Date
24-25 July 2026 (conversation spans midnight UK time)
Location
Instagram Business chat with an account presenting as Lunapark Aseba
Image awaiting rights clearanceIMG-IGREPLY-01
Screenshot of an Instagram Business chat with an account presenting as Lunapark Aseba (@aseba_park), stating the ride is working in Mitrovica and sharing supporting video.
Date
Screenshots timestamped 00:55; conversation conducted 24-25 July 2026 (spans midnight UK time)
Source
Alexandra Freeman, from a direct Instagram exchange she initiated with the account
Location
Instagram Business chat with @aseba_park
Rights
Researcher's own collection
Archive ref
IMG-IGREPLY-01
Research note: Preserved as originally exported from Instagram, spelling and grammar included. The account's identity has not been independently authenticated beyond presenting itself as the park; see the linked evidence item for the full caution.
Alexandra Freeman contacted an Instagram account presenting as Lunapark Aseba directly, asking whether the ride was still there and requesting a recent photo or video, and explaining the Wicksteed research context. The account replied "Its woriking its in mitrovica city in kosovo" [sic], described the ride's condition as good with the colour a little faded, and supplied two video clips, a photo, and a TikTok link.
What it proves
That an account presenting itself as the park directly and unprompted confirmed, in its own words, that a double Pirate Ship is present and operating in Mitrovica, Kosovo, and supplied supporting video with that reply.
What it does not prove
Does not by itself establish that this is Wicksteed's original ride. That identification rests on the separate structural, artwork and site-layout comparisons documented elsewhere in this archive, not on this exchange. The account's identity has also not been independently authenticated beyond presenting itself as the park, and the clips carry no independently verifiable creation-time metadata; "a video from yesterday" is the account's own description, not a confirmed recording date.
Archive: Correspondence on file; screenshots and file hashes retained
Research note: Full transcript, screenshots and a SHA-256 integrity manifest for the supplied files are held in the project's working records. Spelling and grammar in the quoted reply are preserved exactly as sent.
Video footage~Supported
Operator-supplied daylight video
Date
Supplied 24-25 July 2026; described by the account as "a video from yesterday"
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo (per the account's own statement)
Daylight video supplied directly by the @aseba_park Instagram account, showing a gondola swinging against the twin lattice tower structure with Mitrovica's rooftops and a minaret visible behind it.
Date
Supplied 24-25 July 2026; described by the account as "a video from yesterday" (recording date not independently confirmed, no creation-time metadata in the file)
Source
Instagram account presenting as Lunapark Aseba (@aseba_park), supplied directly to Alexandra Freeman
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo (per the account's own statement)
Rights
Researcher's own collection
Archive ref
VID-OPDAY-01
Captions: No caption track available; footage has ambient sound only.
Research note: One of two clips supplied in direct response to a research enquiry; see the related correspondence evidence item for the full exchange and its caveats.
One of two clips supplied in the Instagram exchange, showing a gondola swinging against the twin lattice tower structure in daylight, with Mitrovica's rooftops and a mosque minaret visible behind it.
What it proves
That the account supplied genuine, unpublished-looking video matching the requested subject (the full double-ship installation) at the time of the exchange.
What it does not prove
The clip has no independently verifiable recording date, and a single clip does not show both gondolas together in one continuous shot.
Archive: Correspondence on file
Research note: See the main correspondence evidence item above for the full exchange and its cautions.
Video footage~Supported
Operator-supplied night video, lights off
Date
Supplied 24-25 July 2026
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo (per the account's own statement)
Night video supplied by the same account, described by them as having "the lights off," showing the gondola and structure close up in darkness.
Date
Supplied 24-25 July 2026; exact recording date not independently confirmed
Source
Instagram account presenting as Lunapark Aseba (@aseba_park), supplied directly to Alexandra Freeman
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo (per the account's own statement)
Rights
Researcher's own collection
Archive ref
VID-OPNIGHT-01
Captions: No caption track available; footage has ambient sound only.
Research note: The account itself noted the lights were off in this clip and offered to send a lit version later. See the related correspondence evidence item.
The second supplied clip, filmed at night with the ride's decorative lights switched off, a detail the account itself pointed out unprompted and offered to send a lit version of later.
What it proves
Internal consistency between what the account said ("the lights are off in this video") and what the footage actually shows.
What it does not prove
Does not establish a recording date, and does not on its own add to the Wicksteed identification beyond what the structural and artwork comparisons already establish.
Archive: Correspondence on file
Research note: See the main correspondence evidence item above for the full exchange and its cautions.
Video footage~Supported
TikTok video from the referenced account, downloaded and reviewed
Date
On-screen "On this day" caption reads 29 June 2025; not independently confirmed
Location
TikTok account "justt.meti", referenced by @aseba_park
Video downloaded from the TikTok account "justt.meti" referenced by @aseba_park, showing the ride with riders aboard in daylight. The clip carries TikTok's own "On this day" resurfacing caption, dated 29 June 2025.
Date
On-screen caption reads "On this day, Jun 29, 2025"; this is TikTok's own resurfacing feature, not independently verified
Source
TikTok account "justt.meti", downloaded via ssstik.io
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo (per the account's own statement)
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
VID-TIKTOK-01
Captions: No caption track available beyond the on-screen "On this day" text baked into the video; footage has ambient sound only.
Research note: The file's embedded metadata includes a TikTok video identifier consistent with a genuine TikTok export, which supports (but does not independently prove) that this is authentic platform content rather than a re-edited clip. The on-screen date is TikTok's own claim, not independently confirmed.
The @aseba_park account referenced a video on a separate TikTok account, supplying a short link and the account name "justt.meti." That video was subsequently downloaded and reviewed: it shows the ride with riders aboard in daylight, with a TikTok-generated "On this day, Jun 29, 2025" caption baked into the footage.
What it proves
That the referenced TikTok account does hold genuine footage of the ride, consistent with the operator's account. The file's embedded metadata includes a TikTok video identifier consistent with an authentic export.
What it does not prove
The "29 June 2025" date comes from TikTok's own resurfacing feature, not from independently verified metadata, and downloading via a third-party tool (ssstik.io) is not the same as independently scraping or archiving the original TikTok page directly.
Archive: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSXtV6moV/ (as supplied by the operator)
Research note: Upgraded from an unverified link to a reviewed item once the video itself was obtained. Independent retrieval of the live TikTok page itself was still not possible during preparation of this record.
Correspondence?Unresolved
Operator statement: inverter, motors and structure unchanged
Date
24-25 July 2026
Location
Instagram Business chat with @aseba_park
Image awaiting rights clearanceIMG-IGREPLY-02
Continuation of the same Instagram exchange, in which the account grants permission to use the supplied photographs, states the ride's inverter, motors and structure are unchanged, and confirms it remains listed for sale.
Date
Screenshot timestamped 01:15; conversation conducted 24-25 July 2026
Source
Alexandra Freeman, from the same direct Instagram exchange
Location
Instagram Business chat with @aseba_park
Rights
Researcher's own collection
Archive ref
IMG-IGREPLY-02
Research note: One of several screenshots from this exchange. A separate screenshot from the same conversation showed the archive's own access URL and password and has deliberately not been used anywhere on this site; that credential was rotated immediately once found.
Asked directly what work had been done on the ride, the account stated "Its the same everything inverter motors and structure" and that "Only the colors have changed and the lights have been added," with a hoped-for further upgrade "this winter." This sits in tension with an earlier sales listing (see the Marketplace listing evidence item) describing a modernised control system, safety sensors and inverter-controlled motors as though recently fitted.
What it proves
That the current operator's own account of the ride's mechanical history describes continuity (the same inverter, motors and structure) rather than a recent overhaul, and that any further upgrade is a stated future hope, not a completed fact.
What it does not prove
Does not resolve the apparent tension with the earlier sales listing's description. Neither statement has been independently verified by inspection, and "the same" could mean the original equipment was always inverter-based rather than that nothing was ever changed. Flagged as an open question, not resolved here.
Archive: Correspondence on file
Research note: See the main correspondence evidence item above for the full exchange.
Correspondence✓Verified
Operator grants permission to use supplied photographs
Date
24-25 July 2026
Location
Instagram Business chat with @aseba_park
Image awaiting rights clearanceIMG-IGREPLY-02
Continuation of the same Instagram exchange, in which the account grants permission to use the supplied photographs, states the ride's inverter, motors and structure are unchanged, and confirms it remains listed for sale.
Date
Screenshot timestamped 01:15; conversation conducted 24-25 July 2026
Source
Alexandra Freeman, from the same direct Instagram exchange
Location
Instagram Business chat with @aseba_park
Rights
Researcher's own collection
Archive ref
IMG-IGREPLY-02
Research note: One of several screenshots from this exchange. A separate screenshot from the same conversation showed the archive's own access URL and password and has deliberately not been used anywhere on this site; that credential was rotated immediately once found.
Asked directly, "Could i use your photographs and videos of this ride for archival purposes?", the account replied "You can use all the pics you have,and thank you."
What it proves
That permission was given, in the account's own words, for archival use of the material already supplied.
What it does not prove
The exact scope of that permission (which specific files, whether it extends to future material or to video as well as photographs) was not further specified and has not been separately confirmed.
Archive: Correspondence on file
Research note: See the main correspondence evidence item above for the full exchange.
Correspondence~Supported
Operator confirms the ride remains listed for sale
Date
24-25 July 2026
Location
Instagram Business chat with @aseba_park
Asked whether they planned to sell the ride to a future buyer, the account replied "We have listed it for sale but we are sceptical in the price." The intended meaning of that phrase is not assumed beyond what is written.
What it proves
That, as of this conversation, the ride is still listed for sale from the operator's own side.
What it does not prove
Does not clarify asking price, listing platform, or how this relates to the earlier Marketplace listing evidence elsewhere in this archive, which may or may not be the same listing.
Archive: Correspondence on file
Research note: See the main correspondence evidence item above for the full exchange.
Correspondence…Awaiting confirmation
Research note: a possible in-person research visit was discussed
Date
24-25 July 2026
Location
Instagram Business chat with @aseba_park
The account gave park hours as 16:00-24:00 Albanian time and said "I d be happy to tell you about it." Alexandra Freeman expressed strong interest in travelling to Kosovo to see the ride and meet the operator in person, and said she would make contact again before booking any travel.
What it proves
That a possible future research visit has been discussed and welcomed in principle.
What it does not prove
No specific date, access arrangement, or named on-site contact has yet been agreed.
Archive: Correspondence on file
Research note: This item will be updated if and when a visit is actually arranged or takes place.
Correspondence?Unresolved
Correspondence: A-Lift Crane Hire (dead end)
Date
July 2026
Location
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
A crane hire company local to the Wicksteed Park area was contacted about possible historical images or records of the ride's removal. Their Operations Manager replied that images from that period had been on an earlier company website that was later merged into their current one, that the originals could not be located in their storage, and that records from that far back predate his nine years with the business.
What it proves
That this lead was pursued directly with a company plausibly involved in the ride's removal.
What it does not prove
Did not yield any historical images, invoices or dated records: a dead end, included here to document the investigation's process rather than as supporting evidence.
Archive: Correspondence on file
Research note: The original email is retained in the project's working files but is not reproduced here, to avoid publishing the respondent's direct personal contact details alongside this public archive.
Publication✓Verified
CoasterForce publication
Date
July 2026
Location
Published online
The investigation's initial findings were published under the title "Wicksteed Park's original Double Pirate Ship has been found," with the exact Kosovo location initially redacted and only a selection of images released.
What it proves
That the write-up was published on this date, in this form, with these disclosure limits.
What it does not prove
Publication documents the investigation's own claims at that point in time. It is not independent third-party verification of them.
Archive: Link pending
Research note: Investigation method §20.
Business listing~Supported
Google Maps business listing for Lunapark Aseba
Date
Listing photo captured May 2025; accessed July 2026
Location
Mitrovica, Kosovo
Photo from Lunapark Aseba's Google Maps business listing, showing the fairground grounds including the ride's structure in the background.
Date
Image capture: May 2025 (posted to Google Maps December 2025)
Source
Google Maps listing photo for Lunapark Aseba
Location
Lunapark Aseba, Mitrovica, Kosovo
Rights
Third-party screenshot, used for research and identification
Archive ref
IMG-GMAPS-01
Research note: Downloaded directly from Google's own image hosting (googleusercontent.com) at full native resolution (5712x4284); capture date shown by Google as May 2025, posted/indexed December 2025.
Lunapark Aseba is listed on Google Maps as a "Theme park" at Liqeni ibri, Rruge Ibri, Mitrovica e Veriut 40000, with opening hours (observed "Closed - Opens 12pm") and one contributor photo of the fairground grounds, captured May 2025. The researcher identifies the white lattice tower structure partially visible in the photo's background as the Double Pirate Ship's frame, based on direct familiarity with the ride's appearance.
What it proves
Confirms Lunapark Aseba is an active, listed business at this exact location with recent (May 2025) photographic coverage of its grounds -- an independent, Google-hosted date anchor. Corroborates the ride's continued presence per the researcher's direct identification of the structure visible in the photo.
What it does not prove
The photo alone, independent of the researcher's own identification, shows only a partial angled structure rather than the ride's full distinctive twin-gondola silhouette.
Research note: Listing and photo accessed and archived 26 July 2026. Google's own business-listing data (name, category, address, hours) is a separate, independent source from the direct operator contact already in the Evidence Room, and corroborates it.
