Sadly, this news wasn’t much of a surprise but my heart goes out to everyone who has lost their jobs today as Oakwood theme park has shut down immediately in a statement released by the park today.
The park has been operating for 40 years but a recent sharp decline in visitor numbers has forced Aspro Parks to close the park.
Aspro Parks took over Oakwood in 2008 to prevent its closure then and invested over £25 million in refurbishing rides such as the wooden ride Megafobia.
The park has been in a state of disrepair for many years with many poor visitor reviews where it was ranked as the worst theme park in the UK via TripAdvisor reviews.
Rides weren’t entirely in the best shape and there were murmurings last year regarding the park’s closure that have now sadly come true despite previous rescue efforts.
The full statement reads as follows:
“It is with much sadness that we have to announce the immediate closure of Oakwood Theme Park and confirm the park will not open for the 2025 season.
Following a strategic review of the business, Aspro Parks, owner and operator of Oakwood Theme Park, have reached this difficult decision due to the challenges presented by the current business environment.
All possible avenues have been explored to avoid the closure, and we fully recognise the impact of the closure on the local community and the loss that will be felt as a result.
Aspro Parks has invested over £25M since rescuing the park from being at risk of closure in 2008. Most recently, a major refurbishment of Megafobia, the iconic wooden rollercoaster, was completed to great success and acclaim from enthusiasts and fans of the park.
We are aware that Oakwood has been a much-loved destination for generations and a rite of passage for many young visitors. It is for this reason we feel such a sense of sadness.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the dedication and commitment of our team members past and present, suppliers and contractors who have loyally supported us and, of course, all those that have visited Oakwood Theme Park over the years. We are sincerely grateful.”
A sad, sad day for theme park fans as despite its appearance it did have its charm and some great rides amongst its line-up with Speed being one of the country’s best Eurofighter models and Drenched being one of the most insane water coasters in the world, let alone the UK.
Rest in Peace Oakwood theme park. Thanks for the memories!
