Eerie photographs have revealed the crumbling remains of Pleasure Island in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, which has been left to rot for a decade while a £70million redevelopment plan struggles to progress. The 57-acre site, once a favourite for families and thrillseekers, closed for good in October 2016 and has now been reclaimed by nature, with images drawing comparisons to scenes from The Last of Us.
Nature takes over the abandoned park
Aerial images show the faded 'castle' buildings surrounded by vegetation, with 20ft-high shrubs creeping up their walls. Weeds have taken over the former dodgems building and waterpark features, while the vast site has become a magnet for urban explorers and anti-social behaviour.
Locals fear the attraction could be left to rot for even longer after the ambitious £70million redevelopment plan ran into issues. One local said: 'I don't understand why this has not been opened up again as another theme park in that time; it's been that long.'
'That would actually create jobs and bring in more tourists. My kids used to love this in the 90s, but at the minute it looks like a massive eyesore. It's such a huge chunk of land just wasted; I don't think any of us want to see it in ruin.'
Rides sold across the globe
Another local added: 'Something needs to be done, or else it's going to become even more of a hotspot for urban explorers. We can't be having it sit untouched like that for another ten years or so; it's not good for the area or the environment.'
Pleasure Island opened on May 27, 1993 and was divided into six themed areas: Africa, Kiddies Kingdom, Morocco, Old England, Spain and White Knuckle Valley. The park is now stripped bare of its iconic rides, with the vast majority sold to attractions around the world.
The family-favourite Boomerang rollercoaster is now at a park in Indonesia, while the Alakazam ride ended up more than 3,000 miles away at Kuwait's Winter Wonderland, where it is now called 'Fly Away'.
Redevelopment plan stalls
More than 3,500 days after Pleasure Island closed, the vast site is earmarked to become a 'Centre Parcs-by-the-sea' style destination. The £70million revamp includes 272 holiday lodges, a Lidl and its own Costa Coffee.
A planning application was submitted in 2023, but three years on, the council is still arguing over what will be built on the land. Late legal challenges from Tesco and another party questioning 'retail impact viability' and environmental details mean it could take years before the bulldozers clear the site.
North East Lincolnshire Council have deferred the final planning decision to an unspecified future date, leaving residents fearing the site will remain an eyesore for years to come.
