Recognized for its mega curler coasters, this beloved UK theme park closed its doorways final yr, leaving the grounds eerily quiet and its thrilling rides deserted
The UK theme park was dwelling to some mega rides and curler coasters (Picture: John Myers)
As soon as a vastly widespread UK park that welcomed 1000’s of tourists yearly, it now lies utterly deserted, with its mammoth curler coaster left to rot.
The beloved theme park of Oakwood, in Pembrokeshire, was a treasured gem in Wales that first opened in 1987. It started as a modest family-run park however regularly grew into Wales’ largest theme park, with 35 thrilling rides and sights that drew guests from far and extensive.
There have been mammoth rides at Oakwood, together with the picket curler coaster of Megaphobia, the large log flume, Drenched, Wales’ quickest rollercoaster, Velocity and the UK’s tallest sky-swing, Vertigo. These have been usually dubbed ‘The Massive 4’ by guests, offering essentially the most thrilling twists and turns.
Throughout its heyday, it welcomed 1000’s of thrillseekers (Picture: John Myers)
Elsewhere, there was the gentler Treetops curler coaster, which supplied a scenic route by timber, together with the Creepy Crawler discovered within the part of the park named ‘Spooky Road’. Different notable rides and sights included the Cranium Rock, Snake River Falls, Bounce, Bobsleigh and the traditional Pirate Ship.
But, considered one of its most beloved rides was the picket curler coaster, Megaphobia, that was one of many park’s authentic rides. It consisted of twisting turns and sweeping drops at 48mph, reaching a peak of 85ft, and there was even part of the trip that sped previous towering timber for a fascinating expertise.
Oakwood had beforehand confronted difficulties and was taken over by Aspro Parks in 2008, who invested over £25m within the theme park to maintain it open. A few of its rides have been refurbished, however the park’s recognition began to dim.
Lately, it was brutally dubbed the “UK’s worst theme park”, and adverse critiques on TripAdvisor urged folks to “keep away from in any respect prices!” Sadly, after practically 40 years, the park introduced its everlasting closure in 2025 because of declining customer numbers, which led to monetary struggles.
The homeowners additionally cited “unrelenting financial challenges” from “trip components to electrical energy prices, meals and beverage inflation, will increase within the Nationwide Residing Wage and modifications to nationwide insurance coverage thresholds” as components behind its vital rise in prices.
Right this moment, the park stays deserted following its closure, regardless of short-lived hopes that Oakwood would reopen. Some rides have been dismantled and faraway from the park, whereas others lie dormant in a spot that after welcomed thrillseekers and households for a fun-filled day trip.
Right this moment, the theme park stays eerily quiet (Picture: John Myers)
In haunting images of the closed park, the grounds are eerily quiet alongside the uncared for rides, together with the previous favorite, Megaphobia. The picket curler coaster seems to be rotting away within the park, untouched, with no plans introduced for its elimination or relocation as of but.
In an announcement from Aspro Parks Group on the time of its closure, it learn: “In your complete historical past of Aspro, now we have 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 approach ahead and can search to enhance our different parks utilizing the property and the place doable workforce elsewhere”.
Followers have been gutted to listen to that Oakwood had closed (Picture: John Myers)
Guests have been heartbroken to be taught that the cherished Oakwood had reached its finish, with one fan posting on TripAdvisor: “Gutted Oakwood closed – it felt like saying goodbye to an previous mate! The rides had character, the reminiscences have been top-notch, however the park had been trying a bit drained for years. Nonetheless, nostalgia wins – as we are saying in Wales, ‘Dim ond yn yr hen hen ffordd y mae’r gorau yn dod’ – generally one of the best comes from the previous methods!”
Many different followers took to X, previously Twitter, to specific their disappointment, as one wrote: “Truly devastated about Oakwood closing… Velocity and new Megafobia have been a few of the greatest coasters within the nation, and the sensation of surviving the waterfall made the trek down there price it alone.”
“A loss for the Themeparkworld.. however not very shocking for somebody who has visited the park the previous few years,” one other commented. Whereas yet one more prompt: “I simply need a UK park to purchase Megaphobia, perhaps Thorpe Park or a smaller park that would use an enormous thrill trip.”
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