How ambitious resident plans to reopen abandoned UK theme park and turn it into a tourist hotspot
An ambitious Welsh resident has vowed to revive an abandoned theme park and transform it into a 'booming' tourist hub.
The anonymous local is determined to re-open Oakwood Theme Park, based in the heart of Pembrokeshire.
Spread across 90 acres of countryside, the park first opened in April 1987, and went on to become a hugely popular and successful attraction in Wales, reaching its peak with over 400,000 visitors annually.
Spread across 90 acres of countryside, the park was known for its variety of family-friendly options, along with thrill rides such as Vertigo, Bounce, and Dizzy Disk.
It was also home to key attractions such as Speed, the fastest ride in Wales, and Megafobia, a world-renowned wooden roller coaster often ranked among the best in Europe and the UK.
However, after 40 years of providing fun for children and families, Oakwood announced the news of its sudden closure on March 4 - leaving locals devastated.
A statement released on the park's website earlier this year confirmed it would not open for the 2025 season, despite receiving a multi-million pound investment over the years from its owner, Aspro Parks.
The park added: 'Aspro Parks has invested over £25M since rescuing the park from being at risk of closure in 2008.
'Most recently a major refurbishment of Megafobia, the iconic wooden rollercoaster was completed to great success and acclaim from enthusiasts and fans of the park.
'Despite the ongoing investment visitor numbers have declined, the financial performance of the park has suffered, making further investment unsustainable.'
'All possible avenues have been explored to avoid the closure, and we fully recognise the impact of the closure on the local community and the loss that will be felt as a result.'
Though Oakwood's owner, Astro Parks, operates 68 other attractions across Europe, its Pembrokeshire location has left residents especially disheartened.
But one local hero has now made a commitment to re-open the beloved theme park.
Speaking to Wales Online, the anonymous resident said: 'I grew up in west Wales. I remember every queue, every hill climb, every first drop.
'Oakwood wasn't just a theme park - it was a rite of passage for kids in this country. You didn't just go there. You remembered it.'
The resident has since set up an organisation called Richens Leisure Projects (RLP), which has set out a proposal to revive Oakwood and boost employment with an estimate of over 100 seasonal job opportunities in the Pembrokeshire area.
RLP said is has developed a phased capital investment plan to restore infrastructure and 're-establish Oakwood as a national leisure destination.'
The organisation has contacted the current owner of the park with its proposal but no formal response has yet been received, according to Wales Online.
The resident added: 'This isn't about nostalgia - it's about rebuilding pride.
'It's about giving today's kids the same memories we had, only with something stronger behind it: community ownership and a long-term plan.'
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