Oakwood Discussion

[jon81uk]

The toboggens would also make some sense with Bluestone. They could have a nice mini-park with megaphobia, toboggens and a couple of smaller rides.

 

[Coaster]

A throwback to 2008 Oakwood. 10pm close with live bands every day during August, a much fuller ride lineup, crystal maze experience across the road, and £14.95 entry! Such good times.

 

[Benzin]

Crystal Maze experience was great fun when I did it.

 

[Enter Valhalla]

A throwback to 2008 Oakwood. 10pm close with live bands every day during August, a much fuller ride lineup, crystal maze experience across the road, and £14.95 entry! Such good times.

There were actually two versions of the 2008 map: the first one which the McNamaras did, which had loads more entertainment and live costume characters on it, and this one, which is the second version of the 2008 map to include all of Aspro’s cuts.

In 2007 and earlier, After Dark had several shows in different venues around the park, then the 21:30 show was a dance show on the main stage. In 2008, Aspro cut all of that and reduced After Dark to just a band on the stage and then the fireworks. In 2009 they then cut After Dark completely.

It returned in 2011 two nights a week. After Dark from 2013 to 2024 was actually still pretty good. Live bands and fireworks every night that the event was running.

 

[Coaster]

There were actually two versions of the 2008 map: the first one which the McNamaras did, which had loads more entertainment and live costume characters on it, and this one, which is the second version of the 2008 map to include all of Aspro’s cuts.

In 2007 and earlier, After Dark had several shows in different venues around the park, then the 21:30 show was a dance show on the main stage. In 2008, Aspro cut all of that and reduced After Dark to just a band on the stage and then the fireworks. In 2009 they then cut After Dark completely.

It returned in 2011 two nights a week. After Dark from 2013 to 2024 was actually still pretty good. Live bands and fireworks every night that the event was running.

Interesting! I remember vividly how incredible After Dark was in the years before 2008. I have memories of there being a fountain show, live bands on the stage and a buzzing atmosphere around the park. Also watching the entertainment from on Bounce, trying to get the side facing everything.

Did Megafobia always close early for the fireworks? I'm sure I remember riding it near on 10pm, many years ago, literally seconds before they started. Memory might be playing tricks though.

 

[JamesP]

Yeh it was always great and an incredible offering when they used to do it every night, something not offered at any other uk parks. I’ll have to dig out my 90s leaflets with after dark on. I remember the calypso bar which in recent years became the arcade by dizzy disk. Had occasional monsoon rain throughout the evening!

Megafobia used to run right up till fireworks, but as they were always launched from back there during the McNamara years, they must have closed it a bit before 10 to make sure it wasn’t running during the fireworks!

Edit: This Flickr account has scanned in a lot of old park maps which are a great nostalgia blast https://www.flickr.com/photos/197074979@N05/albums/72177720305110731/with/52617791806

 

[Enter Valhalla]

Did Megafobia always close early for the fireworks? I'm sure I remember riding it near on 10pm, many years ago, literally seconds before they started. Memory might be playing tricks though.

Not always. 2008 was the one year when the fireworks were set off from the other side of the park. This was (I presume) due to the Bluestone construction site being behind Megafobia, so on that year alone the fireworks were set off from a platform next to Speed. It was quite weird actually because you’d be watching the band on the main stage, then you’d hear the announcement saying “everyone turn around and look at Speed to see the fireworks”. But yeah, because of this, in 2008, Megafobia stayed open till 10pm (I rode it one time while the fireworks were going off on the other side of the park), and on those days Speed would close early.

In 2011, there were no fireworks during After Dark, so Megafobia would have been open till 10pm. Also in 2013, they ran After Dark every Wednesday in July with no fireworks (the fireworks were only in August) so Megafobia would have been open till 10pm then. The July late nights without fireworks were mainly put on for the ferry visitors from Ireland.

 

[Coaster]

Not always. 2008 was the one year when the fireworks were set off from the other side of the park. This was (I presume) due to the Bluestone construction site being behind Megafobia, so on that year alone the fireworks were set off from a platform next to Speed. It was quite weird actually because you’d be watching the band on the main stage, then you’d hear the announcement saying “everyone turn around and look at Speed to see the fireworks”. But yeah, because of this, in 2008, Megafobia stayed open till 10pm (I rode it one time while the fireworks were going off on the other side of the park), and on those days Speed would close early.

In 2011, there were no fireworks during After Dark, so Megafobia would have been open till 10pm. Also in 2013, they ran After Dark every Wednesday in July with no fireworks (the fireworks were only in August) so Megafobia would have been open till 10pm then. The July late nights without fireworks were mainly put on for the ferry visitors from Ireland.

Ahh yes, now that you say that I remember going to some of the ones without fireworks.

 

[JamesP]

Whilst I really disagree with people trespassing in the park (damage and theft could make a sale even less likely), images and videos from within the park keep coming up on my social media.

Across them I noticed that Tinks has gone from no ‘cars’ on site, to located nearby and now reattached to the ride. I have checked through a few different peoples images to ascertain as much as possible that it is in that order rather than the other way round!

Not sure there is much in it, but seems odd? Showing rides in operation to new owners before selling them on to other parks?

 

[JamesP]

Press release from the park regarding recent trespass:

Following our recent announcement regarding the closure of Oakwood Theme Park, we have unfortunately experienced incidents of trespassing on the premises.
We want to make it explicitly clear that Oakwood Theme Park is private property and is not abandoned. Our team continues to work on-site daily, and unauthorised access is strictly prohibited. To ensure the safety and security of both our staff and the premises, 24-hour security is in place, including regular police patrols and security dogs on-site.
Anyone found trespassing will be reported to the authorities and could face prosecution. We also ask that neighbouring businesses and properties are respected, and that no one attempts to use their sites as a means of access to Oakwood Theme Park.
We urge the public to respect the park, as well as the hard work and dedication of those who continue to maintain the site.
For any enquiries regarding Oakwood Theme Park, please contact our head office at [email protected]

Important Notice: Security Measures at Oakwood Theme Park | Oakwood Theme Park

The Best Adventure Park in Wales

www.oakwoodthemepark.co.uk

 

[Blackhole_Sun]

Crystal Maze experience was great fun when I did it.

Was this the one on a computer system where you had to swipe cards when you arrived at the games? I believe that one in wales was the last one remaining before it closed.

 

[DiogoJ42]

Was this the one on a computer system where you had to swipe cards when you arrived at the games? I believe that one in wales was the last one remaining before it closed.

It was utter crap. little more than a collection of vintage PCs playing educational DOS games (or more often than not, displaying an error message), with some fake vines and painted walls.
I seem to be the only one who saw it for what it was, though.

 

[slappyofmcguire]

Visited for the first time with the rccgb last year, and not surprised it ended up where it has ended up. Underwhelmed by Megafobia, surprised by speed in the dark.

Glad I went, but I was never likely to return.

Genuine shame for the people of Wales, and it's never a good thing to see a park go generally, but the industry is in a massive hole at the moment, and the potential arrival of the universal park will only add more questions than answers.

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[JamesP]

The latest accounts have recently been added to companies house showing an additional £2m loss last financial year. Whilst figures for visitor numbers aren’t included, dividing the turnover stated in the accounts by even a low average admission charge (and ignoring other guest spend) shows that the number of guests was down to the tens of thousands in a season. This compared to the half million it used to get in its prime.

It’s always difficult to calculate ‘what ifs’ but it indicates to me what I think we all know that even modest investment to keep people coming in, even if it was a couple of 100k less people a year than its prime, would still be enough to turn a profit. Very difficult to reverse once you’ve let the rot set in though as you need a huge injection of cash to turn it around. Even if you massively increase admission (which would put people off) you couldn’t make it work on visitor numbers that low. Once they get that low you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Although it’s just probably wishful thinking now, I think the figures show a decent operator with even fairly moderate investment could still make a local park work in that location.

 

[Tom]

Sadly I can't agree on the investment side. Is more a case of how much theme parks are a luxury for families right now - much of their market has been wiped out by disposable income squeezes.

 

[Jb85]

A shrinkage on disposable income coupled with staffing and energy cost inflation have lead us to this point im afraid.

Investment may have stopped the demise at Oakwood - possibly. But in all honesty - someone switching their visit to Oakwood may have lead to the demise of other tourist attractions.

Quite simply there isn’t enough money to go round.

 

[MaxPower]

Sadly I can't agree on the investment side. Is more a case of how much theme parks are a luxury for families right now - much of their market has been wiped out by disposable income squeezes.

Folly Farm seems to be doing quite well though.

I think the cost of living squeeze is making people more selective, but people still find the money to give the kids a day out even through tougher times.

Even as someone who loved Oakwood back in the day if it were a choice between that and Folly Farm, I'd have chosen the latter without hesitation.

 

[NuttySquirrel]

I don't buy the argument that Oakwood failed because money is tight and people don't go holidaying in Pembrokeshire anymore.

It failed because of lack of investment and commitment to upkeep. I've never visited a theme park anywhere else in the UK or Europe that looked so unloved. My first visit there was 2010, my last in 2023, and in that time absolutely nothing noteworthy had been added and there had been no investment at all in support services like F&B, transport rides, in fact even the minigolf had been mothballed by then. I'd paid £45 for that visit because it was an impulse trip and I hadn't been able to book in advance. Frankly I felt totally ripped off.

Oakwood's a bit of a trek for me but a viable day trip, however I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money again to visit such a dilapidated park. Now I'll make similarly long treks but to better parks like Thorpe and Paultons. The potential customer base for a park in Pembrokeshire is still out there, but you've got to give them a reason to want to make the effort. Aspro didn't.

 

[Quantum]

It's down to value for money. Parks that offer it will do well and with Oakwood it's a hard sell due to it's location and dilapidated state. Aside from Megaphobia there was zero reason to make the trek to Pembrokeshire.

 

[flyingguitar]

I don't buy the argument that Oakwood failed because money is tight and people don't go holidaying in Pembrokeshire anymore.

It failed because of lack of investment and commitment to upkeep. I've never visited a theme park anywhere else in the UK or Europe that looked so unloved. My first visit there was 2010, my last in 2023, and in that time absolutely nothing noteworthy had been added and there had been no investment at all in support services like F&B, transport rides, in fact even the minigolf had been mothballed by then. I'd paid £45 for that visit because it was an impulse trip and I hadn't been able to book in advance. Frankly I felt totally ripped off.

Oakwood's a bit of a trek for me but a viable day trip, however I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money again to visit such a dilapidated park. Now I'll make similarly long treks but to better parks like Thorpe and Paultons. The potential customer base for a park in Pembrokeshire is still out there, but you've got to give them a reason to want to make the effort. Aspro didn't.

I would agree, I would argue that the pay, NI, electric rises etc are more of an excuse that happened at the end.
the park has not really been invested in much, and I would argue that it isn't much based on the cost of living, but more because there is so much more leasure activities to do in the modern era.

some people prefer to stay at home playing video games with their friends. you also have masive areas with very unique experiences which are more taylored to peoples hobbies and needs, like baking? there is a bake off event you can attend, like pottery? there is many places you can go. these places are helped by the internet making it much more possible to search and find these unique experiences which may only attract a few people from one city.

I walk around sections of my city and see many places in old shops offering unique experiences based on hobbies and interests, all of these are normally quite popular I could see why people may be less inclined to go to a theme park if they instead could do something that caters more to their intrests.

I also think the pandemic may have had a role encouraging people into home hobbies, and learning that they can stay at home watch a movie etc for cheaper (and I personally enjoy the experience more) compared to going out to for example the movies