A family-run holiday park in a seaside town is celebrating 20 years of operation under the same family. Marine Holiday Park in Rhyl, North Wales, was purchased two decades ago by husband-and-wife team Wyn and Samantha Williams, who envisioned a holiday destination that their daughters, Paris and Rio, would cherish.
A Dream Come True
Rio Williams, now group director of Marine Holiday Park, was just 10 years old when her parents bought the site. She recalls fond memories of the swimming pool, arcade, and playground. "For any child, it was a dream come true. I would be brought to work with my mum and dad and be on the caravan park. I would make friends with all the holiday guests and the owner's children. We'd go on bike rides around the park and play on the playground. It felt like I was on holiday every day," she said.
From Childhood to Leadership
Today, Rio and her sister Paris Williams serve as group directors, continuing to welcome thousands of holidaymakers annually. The park offers family-friendly accommodation, live entertainment, leisure facilities, and a packed events programme in the heart of North Wales.
Notable Visitors and Awards
Over its 20-year history, Marine Holiday Park has hosted celebrities such as Frank Bruno, Howard Kendall, Joe Royle, Neville Southall, Neil Mellor, and Warren Gatland. Musical acts including The Real Thing, Brotherhood of Man, Showaddywaddy, Chico, N-Trance, and Ultrabeat have performed there. The park has also earned numerous accolades, including Holiday Park of the Year at the Go North Wales Tourism Awards in 2021, consecutive Booking.com Traveller Review Awards in 2023, 2024, and 2025, Tripadvisor Traveller Choice Awards in those same years, and the Hoseasons Diamond Award.
Appeal to Visitors
Rio noted that guests come from cities across the UK, including Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Stoke, and even London. "It's a great seaside town, and they are investing a lot in the local area. There are lovely places on the front where kids and families can enjoy themselves. Nothing really beats the seaside holiday. I've lived in North Wales all my life, and when you're in the city, there's nothing quite like a caravan holiday. The beach is less than a 15-minute walk away, and you have that holiday feeling within an hour's journey," she said.
20th Anniversary Celebration
To mark the milestone, the park is hosting a celebration from Friday, June 12 to Sunday, June 14, with main events on Saturday, June 13. Activities include giveaways, entertainment, and special surprises. Rio described it as "a traditional family fun day out by the seaside. We've got donkey rides, a birthday barbecue, live circus acts, and traditional acts that you might have seen on the promenade years ago where kids would join in all the activities. It's a really old-fashioned family fun day to get people involved."
