The theme park has been left in a tragic state after closing to guests for good after practically 40 years.
The theme park first opened in April 1987 (Picture: John Myers)
After practically 40 years, a well-liked UK theme park closed its doorways for good final 12 months and has been left to rot ever since. Many iconic constructions have been dismantled or left to the weather. Metal curler coaster Velocity: No Limits was bought and relocated to the amusement park Walygator Sud-Ouest in France. The positioning, positioned in Pembrokeshire, Wales, continues to be being monitored by safety with measures in place to stop trespassing.
For years, Oakwood Theme Park was a significant attract west Wales and have become recognized for thrill rides comparable to its iconic wood curler coaster, the Megafobia, and water sights like Drenched (previously Hydro), which was one of many tallest water rides in Europe. When the Megafobia got here to the theme park in 1996, it boosted customer numbers to a whopping 500,000 in only one season for the primary time within the park’s historical past.
The theme park locatated in west Wales shut in 2025 (Picture: John Myers)
Nonetheless, firstly of March 2025, it introduced with “a lot unhappiness” that it could be closing down for good and with rapid impact.
Lately, it was brutally dubbed the “UK’s worst theme park”, and plenty of detrimental evaluations appeared on TripAdvisor.
The theme park was the nation’s largest theme park, and Wales’ First Minister, Eluned Morgan, stated she was “deeply saddened” by the closure.
She stated that the closure “highlights the pressures dealing with the tourism and hospitality business.”
She added: “This can be a large blow for the devoted employees, the local people, and the tourism financial system of Pembrokeshire.”
Regardless of a number of years of funding and refurbishment, with reportedly over £25 million invested in it since Aspro took over in 2008, the corporate stated rising working prices, inflation, and lowered customer numbers had made continued operation unsustainable.
The theme park had a complete of about 30 sights (Picture: John Myers)
A press release on the Oakwood web site stated on the time: “All doable avenues have been explored to keep away from the closure, and we absolutely recognise the impression of the closure on the local people and the loss that might be felt consequently.
“Aspro Parks has invested over £25m since rescuing the park from being prone to closure in 2008. Most not too long ago, a significant refurbishment of Megafobia, the long-lasting wood rollercoaster, was accomplished to nice success and acclaim from lovers and followers of the park.
“Regardless of the continued funding customer numbers have declined, the monetary efficiency of the park has suffered, making additional funding unsustainable.
“The unrelenting financial challenges forward, will increase in prices, affecting all areas of the operation from; journey components to electrical energy prices, meals and beverage inflation, will increase in NLW and modifications to nationwide insurance coverage thresholds have all impacted the choice.”
A press release from Aspro Parks Group additionally said: “In the whole historical past of Aspro we’ve by no means closed any park or attraction. We, and our devoted workforce of employees has strived to beat quite a few challenges to proceed to carry pleasure to households and guests throughout the area and nation.
“Sadly, we may now not see a sustainable method ahead and can search to enhance our different parks utilizing the property and – the place doable – workforce elsewhere”.
“We’re conscious that Oakwood has been a much-loved vacation spot for generations and a ceremony of passage for a lot of younger guests. It is because of this we really feel such a way of unhappiness.
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“We want to lengthen our heartfelt because of the dedication and dedication of our workforce members previous and current, suppliers and contractors who’ve loyally supported us and naturally all people who have visited Oakwood Theme Park over time. We’re sincerely grateful.
“Thanks for making Oakwood Theme Park a particular place.”
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