Oakwood Theme Park, the largest theme park in Wales, has made a surprising announcement that it will not be opening for the 2025 season due to financial struggles. The decision has elicited mixed emotions from the public, with many expressing their feelings on the closure. The park, based in Pembrokeshire, has been operating for almost four decades and has been a popular attraction in Wales. However, dwindling visitor numbers and financial difficulties have led to its closure.
Spanish-owned leisure giant Aspro Parks, which acquired Oakwood Theme Park in 2008, cited “unrelenting economic challenges” as the reason for the shutdown. Despite investing over £25 million in revamping rides and facilities, the park faced increasing costs, including ride parts, electricity, food and beverage inflation, national living wage, and national insurance thresholds. Aspro Parks has decided to remove the park’s rides to repurpose them at their other attractions.
Many Wales Online readers have shared their views on the closure of Oakwood Theme Park. Some feel that the park could have been better maintained and updated to attract more visitors. Comments from readers highlighted issues such as high ticket prices, lack of new rides, and overall deterioration of the park over the years. Others reminisced about past visits to Oakwood Theme Park and expressed sadness at its closure.
Criticism towards Aspro Parks was evident in the comments, with some readers believing that the owners did not invest enough in Oakwood Theme Park to keep it thriving. The sentiment among some readers was that the park was allowed to decline over the years, leading to its eventual closure. Despite the closure, some readers still fondly remember specific attractions at the park, such as Megaphobia.
Aspro Parks Group released a statement expressing regret over the closure of Oakwood Theme Park, stating that they had made efforts to sustain the park but could no longer see a viable future for it. The company reassured that they would seek to enhance their other parks using Oakwood’s assets and staff where possible. The decision to close Oakwood Theme Park marks the end of an era for the beloved Welsh attraction.
The closure of Oakwood Theme Park has prompted discussions among the public about what could have been done to prevent its demise. While some attribute the closure to economic challenges and lack of investment, others believe that with proper care and investment, the park could have flourished. The news of Oakwood Theme Park’s closure has left many feeling nostalgic for the memories created at the park over the years.
The closure of Oakwood Theme Park signifies a significant loss for the tourism industry in Wales and has left a void in the hearts of those who have enjoyed its attractions over the years. As the park prepares to shut its doors for the final time, the conversation surrounding its closure continues among the community. Despite the challenges faced by Oakwood Theme Park, its legacy as a prominent Welsh attraction will endure in the memories of visitors past and present.