Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which operated for 38 years after opening in 1987, has been left abandoned following its permanent closure in March 2025. The owners announced the closure “with much sadness,” citing “unrelenting economic challenges” including rising electricity prices, food and drink costs, ride parts, the National Living Wage, and changes to National Insurance. Falling visitor numbers also contributed to the decision.
History and Growth
Originally a small family-run park established by the McNamara family on farmland, Oakwood grew into one of Wales’ largest and most popular theme parks. It was taken over by Aspro Parks in 2008, which invested millions into the site. At its peak, the park attracted around 500,000 visitors in a single season.
Notable rides included Megafobia, a wooden rollercoaster that opened in 1996, Vertigo (a skycoaster), the water ride Drenched, and Speed: No Limits, which was the steepest rollercoaster in the UK when it opened. The park also featured themed areas and events.
Closure and Aftermath
Despite investments, the business struggled in recent years. Since closing, most rides and attractions have been dismantled and removed, leaving the site largely empty. However, some structures remain, including the wooden rollercoaster Megafobia.
Di Clements, Welsh Conservative county councillor for the Martletwy ward of Pembrokeshire, told WalesOnline: “Locally there has been little discussion and comment about the future of the old Oakwood site. No plans have been made public or any that I am aware of. Other local attractions have, over the years, become popular with visitors and locals alike, so Oakwood's closure didn't really have that much of an impact locally, and it had been in steady decline anyway. Whilst some of the old rides have been removed, there are still a number of structures prominent to the skyline. Ideally, if there are no future plans for the site as a theme park, these should be removed. It's not particularly attractive to have rusting and rotting structures visible in such a beautiful area.”
Future Uncertain
The future of the Oakwood site remains uncertain, with no public plans for redevelopment. The abandoned park stands as a reminder of its decades of operation, but local officials hope for the removal of remaining structures to restore the landscape.
