Theme parks hold fond childhood memories for many of us, but when we return as adults, it’s common to find things aren’t as we remember them.
WalesOnline reporter Taite Johnson had such an experience when she visited Oakwood Theme Park last summer, which in its heyday was one of Wales’ most popular tourist attractions.
She said: “My family and I would often join other holidaymakers from all over the UK for a day out at Oakwood. However, my recent visit as an adult was a stark contrast to those fond memories.”
The Pembrokeshire theme park was even dubbed the “worst rated” in the UK by YouTube giants The Sidemen.
Taite said she was unsurprised by news of the park’s closure, describing an unpleasant atmosphere during her last visit: “The park seemed desolate, with a palpable sense of gloom hanging in the air.
“I had been looking forward to revisiting this cherished place from my childhood, hoping to recapture some of that old magic. But sadly, that wasn’t to be.”
It seemed that even though Taite visited during what’s usually a busy time, the park wasn’t doing well: “Despite it being peak season, the park was eerily quiet, devoid of the usual throngs of families and long queue.”
While the light showers on the day she visited may have kept some visitors away, Taite noticed: “We arrived just 15 minutes after the park opened, and were shocked to find only a handful of cars in the car park.
“I planned to arrive as soon as the gates opened, having experienced queues in the past. However, this time, with only two other groups ahead of us, we strolled straight in without any delay.
“There was a single staff member at the box office for ticket purchases and another scanning pre-booked tickets at the entrance.”
Taite described the atmosphere as she wandered around Oakwood: “Maybe it was the weather that day, but the park seemed gloomy and dilapidated. Little had changed since my childhood visit, which evoked nostalgia but didn’t ignite a desire to explore again.”
She also found it difficult to navigate: “Throughout our trip, we often felt disoriented without a physical map and no internet signal to check online. We wished for more map posters around the park, but only found two, which were not prominently displayed.
“Despite the park’s relatively small size of 80 acres compared to other UK theme parks, we felt more maps would have been beneficial.”
But there were upsides: “One of the common complaints people have when visiting theme parks is the long queues, with fast-pass tickets often being snapped up quickly to bypass the wait for a ride. However, this wasn’t a problem during my last visit to Oakwood.
“I didn’t queue for any of the rides I went on, and even got to stay in my seat for a second go on one of them. This could be due to the weather, but a rollercoaster attendant told me that the previous day – which was rain-free – saw a visitor ride the same attraction 50 times in a single day!”
However, not all the rides were open on the day of Taite’s visit. While Megaphobia, Speed and Vertigo were in action, the log flume Drenched was closed.
Bounce, a drop tower ride had also been shuttered after an incident in July 2024 when the ride “experienced a programmed emergency stop procedure” and came to a sudden halt.
At the time, the park released a statement saying: “A number of guests reported minor lower back pain immediately after the occurrence and were attended to by our onsite team of first aiders, where assistance was provided. One group sought additional treatment locally, whilst others continued their day at the park.”
Taite wasn’t informed of these shutdowns on entry to the park, although they are mentioned online, with the site saying: “Whilst we continue to patiently await the return of our Drenched Boat from the ride manufacturer, where it has been undergoing a complete overhaul of the ride restraint system, we do not currently have an opening date for this attraction which remains closed at this time.”
Instead she headed for Megafobia, a ride she said had: “large drops, a fast track, and a multitude of twists and turns. Despite having ridden it multiple times, the number of drops still took me by surprise.
“Among all the attractions at Oakwood we tried, both my mate and I agreed that Speed was our favourite. I even dared to go for a second round, thanks to the short queue.”
But there was another unpleasant surprise when Taite went to visit thrill ride Vertigo, as the park were asking for an additional £25 on top of the admission fee, and the ride was “over in a flash.”
Taite said: “It’s no wonder then, amidst the shut down rides, the hidden ones (like The Creepy Crawler behind a giant pumpkin), and the poor food options – several were closed – that Oakwood’s time has come.
“It was disheartening to see a place I once adored as a child leave me feeling so disappointed. With ticket prices starting at £28.80 for kids and £36 for adults (an adult ticket bought on the day is £46), I expected to spend the whole day enjoying the park.”
The lack of facilities also made for a short day out, according to Taite.
“After arriving at 10.15am, we stayed less than four hours and were back home in Cardiff in time for tea.”
