The Tragic Decline of a Once-Beloved UK Attraction
For nearly four decades, Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire served as an annual pilgrimage for countless schoolchildren, offering thrills and cherished memories. Today, the site presents a starkly different picture: overgrown, silent, and abandoned, with its rides dismantled and its gates permanently shut. This dramatic transformation marks the end of a 38-year journey for an attraction that, in its final years, was frequently branded the "worst theme park in the UK" by disillusioned visitors.
A Sudden and Permanent Closure
In March 2025, Oakwood's operators, Aspro Parks, announced with "much sadness" that the park would not reopen for the season or beyond, confirming a permanent shutdown. The decision was attributed to severe financial difficulties, driven by a dwindling visitor count and escalating operational costs. Aspro Parks, which had invested millions into Oakwood since taking control in 2008, cited "unrelenting economic challenges" as the primary cause. These included soaring expenses for ride parts, electricity, food and beverage inflation, increases in the National Living Wage, and changes to national insurance thresholds.
Despite initial hopes for a revival, the park has remained closed and deserted for over a year. Rides have been systematically taken apart and removed from the location, leaving the vast countryside setting eerily quiet. The site is now guarded by enhanced security measures, including counter-surveillance systems, to deter trespassers and vandals.
From Peak Popularity to Harsh Criticism
During its heyday in the 1990s, Oakwood drew enormous crowds, with long queues for iconic attractions like the Megafobia rollercoaster, which opened in 1996. However, in recent years, the park's reputation plummeted. It accumulated over 1,000 negative reviews on TripAdvisor, where it was labelled a place to "avoid at all costs!". Social media influencers often used the park for content, highlighting its decline to entertain followers.
Common complaints centered on poor value for money, inadequate maintenance, and inconsistent ride availability. Journalist Rhodri Harrison, who visited in 2021, noted the steep entry fee of £35.50 compared to other UK parks offering more attractions. He arrived to find Megafobia closed and described many rides as "worse for wear," observing significantly fewer visitors than in past decades.
Personal Accounts of a Fading Magic
In 2024, journalist Taite Johnson revisited Oakwood, recalling fond memories of summer days out from her childhood. However, her adult experience was starkly different. She reported shock at the minimal visitor numbers, arriving just 15 minutes after opening to find only a handful of cars in the parking lot. The absence of security checks left her feeling uneasy, and she described the park as "dreary and run down," with little changed since her youth.
"Not much had changed since I visited as a child which did give me a sense of nostalgia, but didn't fill me with excitement to explore it all again," Johnson remarked. She also noted the complete lack of queues, allowing her to ride attractions multiple times without waiting—a far cry from the park's bustling prime.
An Uncertain Future in the Pembrokeshire Countryside
Located about five miles from the bustling town of Narberth, Oakwood's future remains unclear in 2026. The park, once set within acres of picturesque countryside, now stands as a haunting reminder of its former glory. While it thrilled generations with rides for all ages, from Vertigo to child-friendly attractions, its legacy is now tinged with sadness and abandonment.
The closure underscores broader challenges in the UK tourism and leisure sector, where economic pressures can swiftly transform beloved landmarks into relics. For now, Oakwood Theme Park remains a silent, overgrown testament to a bygone era of family entertainment, its buzz and excitement fading into memory.
