Closure of Oakwood Theme Park
Renovation of the "Megafobia" wooden roller coaster at Oakwood Theme Park was completed recently. Now, the Welsh amusement park won't reopen its gates.
(eap) Oakwood Theme Park will not reopen its gates for the upcoming 2025 season, as the park has stated now. Aspro Parks – owner and operator of the leisure destination in Wales – has made this decision following a strategic review of the business due to the challenges of the current business environment, according to an official statement. All options to avoid the closure have been explored.
The Spain-based operating group had invested more than GBP 25 million (around EUR 30 million at the current exchange rate) in the park since it was saved from closure in 2008. A comprehensive renovation of the wooden roller coaster “Megafobia” was just recently completed (c.f. EAP News of 31 Jan 2023). Despite ongoing investments, visitor numbers have declined and the park’s financial performance has suffered to such an extent that no further investments are sustainable. Current economic challenges, which are reflected in an increase in costs in all areas of operation – from ride parts to electricity costs, risen F&B prices and increases in labor costs – have also influenced the decision to close the park.
“In the entire history of Aspro we have never closed any park or attraction. We, and our dedicated team of staff have strived to overcome numerous challenges to continue to bring joy to families and visitors across the region and country. Unfortunately, we could no longer see a sustainable way forward and will seek to improve our other parks using the assets and where possible team elsewhere,” says an official statement issued by Aspro. ■
