Named after a now-destroyed chine (a coastal ravine) in the soft Cretaceous cliffs, it is about 6 miles from Ventnor at the southern tip of the Isle of Wight just below St Catherine's Down.

Owing to the unstable land on which the park is situated, landslides occur frequently, meaning that attractions have been moved further inland to safer ground on several occasions.

During Blackgang Chine's early years, the area was a steep gaunt ravine, overlooking Chale Bay, stretching around three-quarters of a mile down to the shore.

It was a quiet place, visited by few people other than local fishermen with rumours of a thriving smuggling trade, which has now become a key theme of the park.

[1] On 11 October 1836 the cargo ship Clarendon was wrecked at the foot of Blackgang Chine, with the loss of many aboard.

In 1839 Alexander became friends with a publican who had recently built a hotel at Blackgang, which now forms the Chine Cafe (formerly Pirates' Pantry restaurant) and administration offices.

[1] After studying the gault and chine gorge, he knew instantly that gardens could be set up that would appeal to the Victorians as a romantic holiday destination.

Its initial theme of a general-purpose scenic and curiosity park led to one of its most famous attractions, a large whale skeleton, which had been washed up near the coast of The Needles in 1842, and is still a showpiece today.

[1] Owing to continual landslides, the chine itself has been destroyed, and coastal erosion still has a significant impact on the area today.

The park's focus now is themed entertainment for families with young children, lifesize animatronic dinosaurs being a noted feature.

[5] Clifftop walks in and around the area give panoramic views of the English Channel and the south-western Isle of Wight coast.

Thus visitors to the park are greeted by a gigantic fibreglass statue of a smuggler between whose legs they could pass to enter.

[6] Blackgang Chine is also featured in a documentary based on Bollocks to Alton Towers called Far From the Sodding Crowd.

[1] The location is based on unstable terrain owing to the underlying Gault Clay strata, resulting in a succession of huge landslips giving the area a very rugged appearance akin to the better known Jurassic Coast.

[10] Continuing landslides and coastal erosion swept away the paths in the early 1900s, and have since obliterated the chine itself and repeatedly forced the park owners to move the clifftop facilities inland.

[3] The park covers over 40 acres of cliff-top gardens and themed 'lands', containing outdoor rides and walkthrough attractions, plus heritage exhibitions.

Many of the original features from its first layout were retained during this move, the notable exceptions being Fort Buffalo, the trapper's cabin, and the Trading Post building.

This was originally part of Nurseryland, named Jonah's Whale, and featured aquaria containing live tropical fish.

As of 2025 the NurseryLand lookout viewpoint platform and talking telescope have been removed due to continual cliff erosion in the area .

Adventureland was the original location of the Crooked House, as evident by the still visible concrete base, and Smugglers Cave.

Including a bank, gold mine, saloon bar, jail, sit on horse and wagons, full size locomotive, blacksmiths and more .

Parts were removed following the 1994 landslip; the remainder was relocated uphill to form Buffalo Canyon, now the Cowboy Town.

FInally after the late 1980s moving to a new location near fantasyland with more animation and built around a building that was the old garage to a house called brackadale .

A 2007 guidebook says " magical beams of light make you a disco diva " Located on a park map where the shooting gallery now is in 2023 .

Closed in 1985 due to coastal erosion, a new shop and entrance were opened in 1986 in its current location .The old buildings were demolished in the summer of 1989.

This was produced in conjunction with the BBC programme Coast, and featured presenter Dick Strawbridge in its video exhibits.

It told the story of the island's coast and illustrated the cliff falls and erosion that Blackgang suffered over the years.

The remaining portion includes the park's original 19-metre-long skeleton of a fin whale, and a simulator designed to mimic the experience of the landslips which occurred at Blackgang.

In 2016, The Triassic Club attraction was removed, and the area was redeveloped as a new, larger space for 'The Mouth of Hell', which is now encircled by a new walkway themed with fallen angel statues and demonic sounds.

The animated 'Smugglers Cave' walkthrough was also removed and a new similar structure was built in its place to form the entrance to the 'Underwater Kingdom'.