Approval Granted for Housing Development on Former Camelot Theme Park Site
Controversial plans to build 350 houses on the disused Camelot Theme Park site in Chorley have been approved, 12 years after the initial redevelopment application was submitted. The decision will likely erase the last traces of the much-loved attraction that once brought joy to countless schoolchildren and families.
A Look Back at Camelot's Glory Days
Camelot theme park opened in 1983 by Park Hall Leisure, quickly captivating visitors with the legend of King Arthur, his knights of the Round Table, and the wizard Merlin. In its heyday, the park attracted half a million visitors a year, with its peak in 1987 drawing 2.5 million visitors.
The late 1980s marked Camelot's golden age, featuring rides such as Dragon Heights, Kingdom in the Clouds, Dragon Flyover, and Falcon's Flight. By then, Granada had acquired the Chorley attraction by purchasing its holding company, Park Hall Leisure. The park's archaic quirks and characteristics set it apart from other theme parks, with many children fondly remembering the thrill of rides like Knightmare, the Tower of Terror, and Excalibur.
Decline and Closure
However, by the mid-1990s, the glory days began to fade. Visitor numbers fell to around 500,000 a year in 1995, down from 2.5 million in 1987. Granada sold the park to Prime Resorts Limited, which axed rides including Excalibur and Tower of Terror while introducing Excalibur 2, Whirlwind, and the new Knightmare. Despite these changes, attendance continued to drop: 400,000 in 2000, 380,000 in 2004, and below 300,000 by 2009.
The park entered receivership, permanently closed in 2012, and has since been mostly demolished. Now, with the approval of the housing development, the final remnants of Camelot will be swept away.
Memories Preserved
To mark the development, we remember the fun park schoolkids eagerly visited every summer, in all its full, pseudo-medieval pomp. From the Dragon Flyer and Pendragon's Plunge to jousting tournaments and the Knightmare rollercoaster, Camelot offered a unique experience that remains etched in the memories of many.
According to Lee Grimsditch, Features Writer, “In its heyday, Camelot theme park in Lancashire attracted half a million visitors a year.” The park's legacy lives on through the nostalgia of those who visited, even as the site transforms into a housing estate.
