Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire has announced its immediate closure after nearly 40 years of operation.
Aspro Parks cited financial challenges and declining visitor numbers as reasons for the closure, despite investing over £25 million since its rescue in 2008.
Oakwood was opened on 23 May 1987 by William McNamara and family after the introduction of milk quotas impacted their farm income, and later built four large rides: Megafobia, Vertigo, Speed, along with Hydro – which was renamed as Drenched after a fatal accident in 2004.
It was a particularly favourite with Irish families and school tours as it is just twenty miles from Fishguard and ten miles from Pembroke, as ferry companies offered ferry and park admission packages from Rosslare for €50.
A 16-year-old girl died after falling around 100ft (30m) from the top of the ride, and a 10-year-old boy was also injured in an incident that resulted in a £250,000 fine.
Aspro Parks expressed its deep sadness over losing a beloved destination that served as a rite of passage for many young visitors.
The operator plans to improve other parks using resources and teams, expressing gratitude to staff and visitors for their support over the years.
Spanish-owned Aspro Parks says it employs more than 2,000 people at 68 leisure parks and attractions in Spain, England, France, Finland, Portugal, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria.
Aspro Parks Group shared: “In the entire history of Aspro we have never closed any park or attraction. We, and our dedicated team of staff has strived to overcome numerous challenges to continue to bring joy to families and visitors across the region and country. Unfortunately, we could no longer see a sustainable way forward and will seek to improve our other parks using the assets and where possible team elsewhere. We are aware that Oakwood has been a much-loved destination for generations and a rite of passage for many young visitors. It is for this reason we feel such a sense of sadness. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedication and commitment of our team members past and present, suppliers and contractors who have loyally supported us and of course all those that have visited Oakwood Theme Park over the years. We are sincerely grateful.”
The story of Oakwood
Oakwood started in 1987 with BMXs, a wooden fort, a 3D-style cinema experience show, go-karts and a water chute ride. The park later incorporated four large thrill rides: Megafobia (1996), Vertigo (1997), Drenched (2002, as Hydro) and Speed (2006) which is a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter roller coaster with a 97-degree drop.
Snake River Falls water slide followed in 1994 and Megafobia in 1996, the wooden roller coaster from the American firm of Custom Coasters International.
n 1996, Oakwood also began an annual After Dark event, with late-night opening, fireworks, entertainment and discounted evening entry. Several major additions would follow in the coming years: Vertigo, a sky swing, in 1997, Bounce, a shoot and drop tower, in 1999, Hydro (later Drenched) in 2002 and Speed: No Limits in 2006.
An area containing the Nutty Jake’s Gold Mine dark ride and Jake’s Puppet Theatre, with a wild west theme, was rethemed as ‘New Orleans’ with the opening of a new haunted dark ride, Voodoo Mansion, replacing the puppet show.
Nutty Jake’s Gold Mine was changed to Brer Rabbit’s Burrow in 2001. In 2003, Voodoo Mansion was rebranded as “Spooky 3D” with updated scenes.
After the park was sold to Aspro in March 2008. In 2012 the New Orleans area was rethemed back to a wild west theme and on 23 May 2013 Kidz World reopened as Neverland. Some of the children’s rides were relocated to form a second themed area called ‘Circus Land’, occupying the former ‘Plane Crazy’ area
Skull Rock (log flume from Camelot Theme Park), Crocodile Coaster (also from Camelot), Tink’s Flying School (formerly Plane Crazy), Neverland Chase, Lost Boys Adventure, Jolly Roger, Hooks House of Havoc (indoor play area), Journey to Neverland, Aerodrome and the London Taxi Ride. Sky Leap rebranded into Moon Landing, children’s rides relocated to the former Plane Crazy area and a new ‘Circus Land’ consisting of the Clown Coaster, Kids Carousel, Circus Express and Scorches Playground. Brer Rabbit’s Burrow closed in 2013,
Dahl Land, to be based on the works of Roald Dahl opened in 2017, including Flight of the Giant Peach. In 2018 it was rethemed to Spooky Street, with Flight of the Giant Peach renamed Creepy Crawler. In 2019 the teacups from Circus Land were moved to Spooky Street and renamed Witches’ Brew.
