Oakwood Theme Park
Oakwood Theme Park was a Pembrokeshire, Wales attraction. It began in the late 1980s as a small family park. Early features included BMX bikes and a wooden fort. A 3D cinema, go-karts, and a water chute also entertained guests. The park added bigger rides in the mid-90s. Megafobia arrived in 1996, followed by Vertigo in 1997. Hydro opened in 2002, and Speed debuted in 2006. Speed was the UK's first Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter coaster. It was also the country's steepest at that time. Megafobia, a wooden coaster, stood 26 meters tall. Enthusiasts quickly ranked it among Europe's best.
The McNamara family owned Oakwood Leisure Ltd. until March 2008. These Pembrokeshire farmers moved into leisure in 1987. Milk quotas pushed them to explore new options. The park took a year to plan. After the Snake River Falls water slide boosted visitor numbers in 1994, managers aimed for a thrilling park. In 1996, Custom Coasters International built Megafobia for £1.7m. The ride helped Oakwood reach 500,000 visitors in a season. Oakwood also launched After Dark in 1996. This event featured late-night openings and fireworks. Vertigo, a sky swing, came in 1997. Bounce, a drop tower, followed in 1999. Hydro (later Drenched) opened in 2002, and Speed: No Limits in 2006.
Jake's Town was the only themed area then. It featured Nutty Jake's Gold Mine and Jake's Puppet Theatre, with a wild west theme. In 2000, the area became 'New Orleans'. Voodoo Mansion, a haunted ride, replaced the puppet show. Nutty Jake's Gold Mine became Brer Rabbit's Burrow in 2001. Voodoo Mansion was updated as "Spooky 3D" in 2003.
Aspro Ocio S.A. of Spain bought the park in 2008. In 2012, the New Orleans area reverted to a wild west theme. The park announced a five-year investment plan that year. This included turning Kidz World into Neverland in 2013. A themed soundtrack by Nick Hutson arrived in 2018. This covered the park, After Dark, and Megafobia. Oakwood previously used commercial music. Neverland opened in summer 2013, on 23 May. Some children's rides moved to 'Circus Land'. This second themed area occupied the old 'Plane Crazy' space, aimed at young children.
On 4 March 2025 it was announced that Oakwood Theme Park would permanently cease operations bringing 37 years of operation to an end.
