Frontierland, once a beloved family theme park in Morecambe, Lancashire, now lies abandoned and decaying, a frozen relic of its former glory. Operating from 1906 to 1986 under various names including West End Amusement Park and Fun City, it was relaunched in 1987 with a Wild West theme to combat declining visitor numbers. At its peak, it was hailed as Britain's first 'genuine theme park'.
The park was acquired by the Thompson family in 1936, who also own Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Over the decades, Frontierland featured iconic rides such as The Rattler, the Cyclone rollercoaster (designed by Harry Traver for the 1937 Paris World Exposition), the short-lived 150-foot Big Wheel, the Ghost Train, The Wild Mouse, and Chair-o-Planes. The Sky Ride, introduced in 1989, offered visitors aerial views of the park and promenade.
Despite these attractions, declining footfall forced Frontierland to scale back operations in 1998. Rides were sold off and transported globally. By 2000, the entrance was sealed behind construction fencing, and the park remained abandoned until 2007. The Log Flume sat rotting until 2009, while the Polo Tower stood derelict until 2017 due to a mobile phone mast contract.
Local residents fondly remember Frontierland on social media, with one calling it 'a miniature version of Blackpool Pleasure Beach but with a Western theme'. Another recalled having an annual pass, while a third said they 'have dreams of Frontierland still being open'. The park's closure was not due to any dramatic controversy but simply because the business was no longer viable.
