Oakwood Theme Park opened on 14 April 1987 as a small family-owned park with minimal attractions. The park later began to incorporate larger thrill rides, including Megafobia, which has been praised by coaster enthusiasts,[2] Vertigo, Drenched (originally Hydro), and Speed: No Limits, which opened as the steepest coaster in the United Kindgom.
On 4 March 2025, it was announced that the park would permanently cease operations after four decades, citing "challenges presented by the current business environment", and a decline in financial performance "making further investment unsustainable".[3][4]
History
Until March 2008, Oakwood Leisure Ltd. was owned and developed by the McNamara family, Pembrokeshire farmland owners who diversified into the leisure industry in 1987 after the introduction of milk quotas.[citation needed] The park took twelve months to research.
A 15in (381mm)gaugenarrow-gauge railway opened at the park in 1987, providing a transport link between the amusement park and the car park. The park also included BMX courses, a wooden play fort, a 3D cinema show, and go-karts.
Following an increase in visitor numbers after the installation of the Snake River Falls water slide in 1994, management decided to pursue the development of the park into a more thrilling park. In 1996, the park installed a wooden roller coaster built by Custom Coasters International at a cost of £1.7 million. The coaster, Megafobia, boosted the park's attendance to 500,000 visitors in one season for the first time in the park's history. In 1996, Oakwood also began an annual After Dark event, with late-night opening, fireworks, entertainment, and discounted evening entry.[5]
Several major additions would follow in the coming years. In 1997, the park purchased Vertigo, a Skycoaster. Bounce, a drop tower, opened in 1999. Hydro (later Drenched), a shoot the chute, was installed in 2002, followed by Speed: No Limits, a steel roller coaster, in 2006.
The only themed area in the park began as the wild west-themed "Jake's Town". In 2000, the area was rethemed as "New Orleans" with the opening of a new dark ride, Voodoo Mansion. Several of the other rides in the section were rethemed to match the new theme during this time as well.
The park was sold to Aspro Parks of Spain in March 2008.[6] The New Orleans area was reverted to a wild west theme in 2012. Later that year, the park announced that it was entering a five-year investment plan, beginning with the redevelopment of the Kidz World section into Neverland for the 2013 season.[7][8] This redevelopment was completed, and opened to the public on 23 May 2013. A second themed children's area, "Circus Land", was also introduced in 2013.
A themed soundtrack was introduced in 2018, produced by Nick Hutson, including songs for the park itself, the After Dark event, and Megafobia.
In early 2025, rides begin to be dismantled.[9] On 4 March 2025, it was announced that Oakwood Theme Park would permanently cease operations.[4][10][11]
Originally located at M&D's under the names Cobra (1998–2001), Express (2003–2004), and Space Coaster (2006–2015). In 2017, it was moved to Oakwood Theme Park and renamed Flight of the Giant Peach, as part of the new Dahl Land section. In 2018, the theming was removed and it was renamed to Creepy Crawler[12] in the Spooky Street section.
Crocodile Coaster
25 May 2013
Manorplan Leisure
A steel powered kiddie coaster located in the park's Neverland section. Originally located at Camelot Theme Park[13] as Junior Dragon Coaster (1992–2012).
A wooden roller coaster with a twister-style layout. The ride received a retrack by The Gravity Group during 2023, which also reprofiled some parts of the ride.
A steel Euro-Fighter that held the title of the world's steepest roller coaster between April 2006 and July 2008. It was the United Kingdom's first roller coaster with a beyond vertical drop,[15] and the first of its ride model to open in the United Kingdom. It has since been relocated to Walygator Sud-Ouest.[16]
A track ride seating 4 guests per car, located in the park's Neverland section.
Witches' Brew
2014
I.E. Park
A junior teacups ride that previously operated at Camelot Theme Park. Located in the Spooky Street section.
Past attractions
Name
Opened
Closed
Manufacturer
Description
Nutty Jake's Gold Mine
14 April 1987
2013
Imagination, Rex Studios
A tracked dark ride. In its original iteration, Nutty Jake's Gold Mine, which lasted until 1999, riders were taken through a gold-mine themed tunnel in the Jake's Town section. In a retheme done by Rex Studios, the ride was transformed into Brer Rabbit's Burrow in 2001, which took the riders through Brer Rabbit's burrow.
Spooky 3D
2000
2022
Rex Studios
A tracked dark ride with 3D UV effects in which guests wear 3D glasses. In 2023, the ride was closed, pending a retheme. It originally opened as Voodoo Mansion, and was rethemed to Spooky 3D in 2003. Located in the Spooky Street section.
A steel powered kiddie coaster. Located in the Circus Land section, and closed along with the rest of the section at the end of 2018. It was relocated to Camel Creek Adventure Park, where it reopened in 2019.
Originally opened as Hydro.[20] A shoot the chute ride, specifically of the Mega Splash model. It was one of only three built, and was the last one remaining at the time of its closure.[21]
A drop tower ride, specifically of the Shot'n'Drop model, reaching heights of 45 metres (147 ft). The ride closed in 2016 and reopened in 2022 following a refurbishment.[22][20]
On 15 April 2004, 16-year-old Hayley Williams died after falling approximately 30.4 metres (100 ft) from the top of the ride. The incident was attributed to human error, as CCTV footage showed that staff had not properly checked to ensure the rider's restraint was secure.[23][24] Following the accident, the ride was closed for the remainder of the season, and later reopened with more secure over-the-shoulder restraints, replacing the original lap bars.
A 2006 coroner's inquest returned a narrative verdict, indicating that the accident was primarily due to the restraints being improperly secured by staff, rather than being fundamentally unsafe. CCTV evidence showed that the victim’s lap bar was in an “open and unsafe position” and that ride operators failed to adequately check passengers' restraints.[25][26]
On 18 May 2007, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced that Oakwood Theme Park would be prosecuted. In February 2008, Oakwood Theme Park was charged with failing to ensure that guests were safely restrained. The case was heard at Swansea Crown Court on 7 July 2008, where the park pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. On 18 December 2008, the park was fined £250,000 plus £80,000 in legal costs. High Court Judge Justice Lloyd-Jones noted that safety breaches at the park had created “the potential for really serious injury to very large numbers of people”.[27]
Treetops
On 23 October 2022, a rider was ejected from one of the rearmost carriages of the ride. The park was evacuated and closed whilst the HSE investigated with Dyfed-Powys Police.[28] The HSE determined there had been no fault with the ride, and declared no further action was necessary.[29] The rider's injuries were stated to be non-life threatening.[30]
Bounce
On 10 July 2024, the drop tower ride Bounce came to a sudden stop, described by park management as a "programmed emergency stop procedure”. Around eight people received first aid treatment on site, while six others visited hospital for further treatment.[31]
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