After four decades of bringing fun and thrills to the people of Wales, Oakwood Theme Park has announced its sudden closure.
The Pembrokeshire attraction was closed over winter as normal but in a statement on March 4, the park said that it would not be opening for the 2025 season. It cited a drop in visitor numbers and ‘unrelenting economic challenges’ from electricity costs, ride parts and changes to national insurance contribution.
Home to exhilarating wooden ride Megafobia and the UK’s very first beyond vertical drop coaster, Speed, Oakwood was Wales’ largest theme park. As someone who grew up there myself, it was a regular destination for school trips and family days out and I have countless memories of being let loose to board its swinging pirate ship, zoom down its bobsleigh run and get drenched on its waterslides.
Aspro Park, the owner of the themes park, is also in charge of numerous attractions across the UK and Europe, including Hastings Castle and Bristol Aquarium. It said of the decision: ‘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.’
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