A famous theme park that once attracted 500,000 visitors annually now lies derelict, yet its iconic £1.7 million wooden rollercoaster still stands. Urban explorers have ventured inside the deserted Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, which closed its doors in March 2025 after four decades of operation.
The Rise and Fall of Oakwood
The 1990s were a golden era for British theme parks. Alton Towers, the market leader, drew over three million visitors each year. Today, that figure has dropped to two million. Smaller operators have fared even worse, with many disappearing entirely. Oakwood Theme Park shut down in March 2025, with owners citing "challenges presented by the current business environment" and a decline in financial performance that made "further investment unsustainable."
Now, many of its attractions remain abandoned. Urban explorers from the Urbandoned collective gained access to the site, capturing images of the celebrated Megafobia rollercoaster. This ride helped Oakwood achieve its all-time attendance record of 500,000 visitors during the 1996 season.
A Last Look at Megafobia
"We'd heard that one of the main roller coasters is being dismantled currently," Alastair from Urbandoned said in a recent video. "So, it's kind of the last chance to see it in a somewhat abandoned state."
The wooden rollercoaster, Megafobia, was constructed in 1996 at a cost of £1.7 million. It now stands as a sorry reminder of the heyday of British theme parks. Its ramshackle appearance was intentional, according to the explorers. "They always make them to look as rickety as possible...you wouldn't trust it," they remarked.
Attractions Being Dismantled or Relocated
Some attractions are reportedly being dismantled for relocation. The Speed rollercoaster is expected to move to a French theme park. Other sections of the venue remain untouched. During their exploration, Alastair and his companions were startled when a motion sensor triggered sound effects within Oakwood's log flume attraction.
Accessing a closed theme park is extremely hazardous, which is why the property's owners employ round-the-clock security personnel to prevent trespassers.
"After covering more than we had hoped, our luck would eventually run out," the explorers revealed as they were discovered by a security guard. The guard was courteous but resolute, instructing them to leave. He noted that they had experienced a "lot of call-outs" concerning trespassers at the abandoned venue.
Urban Exploration and the Law
A fundamental principle of urban exploration is that explorers must not damage buildings they access and must never remove anything. Alastair explained: "At Oakwood, you could just walk in. It is a civil trespass law in England, meaning that entering the theme park isn't a criminal offence as long as we don't cause damage on-site, vandalise or steal."
Urban exploration is typically classified as trespass, a civil rather than criminal issue, which could result in legal proceedings from property owners. However, trespassers may face prosecution for criminal offences if they gain entry using force.
Tragedy at Oakwood
Even during its operational years, Oakwood was not without tragedies. Hayley Williams, a 16-year-old from Pontypool, died after falling from Hydro, a water ride that transported passengers in a 'boat' to heights exceeding 100 feet before sending them down a near-vertical drop into water. The ride had been marketed as "Europe's fastest and wettest watercoaster."
On April 15, 2004, Hayley visited Oakwood with her younger sister and parents. During the Hydro ride, she was thrown from her car because, as a subsequent inquest determined, "she was not properly restrained." She was airlifted to hospital but died from internal injuries.
A fellow passenger, 10-year-old Martin Rothwell from Swansea, required treatment for head injuries after being struck by Hayley as she fell. The theme park was fined £250,000 as a result. Hydro, which cost £1.7 million to construct and featured a nine-tonne, 24-seater boat that plunged into a million gallons of water, was shut down for 12 months after the tragedy. It was later renamed Drenched.
The park's then chief executive, Patrick McNamara, said: "We are very sorry that this tragic accident happened and our thoughts, as always, are with the family at this difficult time."
