Oakwood Discussion

[Enter Valhalla]

More importantly... Someone needs to rescue Waterfall.

Knockhatch also got rid of theirs end of last year, so there’s now none left in the UK, and it’s a rare ride generally.

 

[rob666]

I have just spotted the firewood prices at the local petrol station...do people really pay seven whole pounds on a small carrier bag sized bag of kindling?
The overall value of the oakwood woodpile has just gone up by fifty percent.
I would...wood...roughly estimate the coaster is worth a couple of million in scrap/souvenirs/kindling/firewood.
If it was in Blackpool Mouse prices for souvenir wood, it would be worth a billion or more.
Come on aspro, there is your way out.

 

[Ffinian]

I have just spotted the firewood prices at the local petrol station...do people really pay seven whole pounds on a small carrier bag sized bag of kindling?
The overall value of the oakwood woodpile has just gone up by fifty percent.
I would...wood...roughly estimate the coaster is worth a couple of million in scrap/souvenirs/kindling/firewood.
If it was in Blackpool Mouse prices for souvenir wood, it would be worth a billion or more.
Come on aspro, there is your way out.

Don't give them any ideas... knowing Aspro they'd likely put it all in the skip because the bags and labels cost money.

 

[AstroDan]

Quote from a French facebook page...

"It's time for Walygator Sud Ouest to grow up."

The amusement park located in the Southwest of France will be taking a break this winter. For the first time ever, the Christmas event will not be held... and it's to better prepare for the future!

An exceptional closure is planned to mobilize half the park for a major project: the construction of a major new attraction, expected to surpass the famous Boomerang in thrills.

According to Sylvain Chatain, park director: "This year, there will be work to be done. We want to impress the public."

So, what does Walygator have in store for us?

Rumours are rife. What if Walygator were to acquire Speed: No Limits, a 2006 Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter from the British Oakwood park (closed last year)? Both parks belong to the same group, Aspro Parks, and the closure announcement mentioned a redistribution of attractions...

Of course, all of this remains speculation. Perhaps the park will welcome a brand-new attraction... Who knows?

 

[DiogoJ42]

Speed can be moved. Treetops and the other shite excuses for kiddy coasters can be moved.

But let's make one thing clear guys.... 'Phobia is gone. Accept it and move on.
I'm still coming to terms with the loss of Ulty. I know. It sucks. But we have to move on.

Perhaps we can set up some kind of support group, if needed?

 

[jon81uk]

But let's make one thing clear guys.... 'Phobia is gone. Accept it and move on

Its very much in the wishful thinking realm but the only way I see it surviving is if Bluestone next door take it on. Its plausible, but very unlikely.

Personally I wish I wasn't so much of a wimp back on a scout camp in 1997 age 15/16 and wish I just rode Megaphobia back then.

 

[East Coast Mariner]

Thing is, Megafobia, is much, much better than the Ultimate. Doesn't matter what else leaves the park, but it would be a massive failure if no one keeps that open. Oakwood may well have become too big for its boots, and I don't care about Speed or Hydro, but having a small theme park there (with Megafobia) can, like Tenby, be one of the big attractions for that part of Wales.

 

[DiogoJ42]

Guys...... Even ignoring that it's a woodie, it's terrain specific. It's gone. Move on.

 

[Hid]

I think Aspro have been a complete disaster worse company in the world. They way they ran Oakwood was awful.

 

[Skyscraper]

Guys...... Even ignoring that it's a woodie, it's terrain specific. It's gone. Move on.

I think @East Coast Mariner was saying that Megafobia must be kept if (IF) the park was bought, not that it should be relocated (as you say, relocation would be near impossible).

 

[rob666]

If one company tried and failed to keep the park going, due to an overall lack of humans in the area outside the school holidays, I don't understand why people think it can be taken over and run at a profit.
You can't make real money if the punters aren't there forty five weeks out of fifty two.
Even with a big posh camp site next door.
There are now too many alternatives for leisure, people don't do parks the same as they did, hence the recent death or change of a number of small parks like this one.

 

[SuperMuscleMan]

If one company tried and failed to keep the park going, due to an overall lack of humans in the area outside the school holidays, I don't understand why people think it can be taken over and run at a profit.
You can't make real money if the punters aren't there forty five weeks out of fifty two.
Even with a big posh camp site next door.
There are now too many alternatives for leisure, people don't do parks the same as they did, hence the recent death or change of a number of small parks like this one.

Because it used to be run well and did make a profit. Hastings has 3 Aspro attractions 2 of which have never had any updates since the 90s. They have next to no budget to improve (I've done some marketing for 1 of them) and the marketing pictures are from the 90's too. The aquarium is a cast off from sea life that's had a paint job and and that's about it.

So my point is they didn't invest and im sure it could have worked if it was not milled dry.

 

[Matt N]

Folly Farm succeeds within the same broad local area, seemingly going from strength to strength. If Oakwood had maintained a strong enough product, I think it could easily have received more visitors than it did towards the end.

Yes, the attendance declined under Aspro, but the park was also hardly invested in and grew more and more decrepit during their tenure. Had a different owner taken the park on, one who were less averse to investing, I don’t think Oakwood would have reached this situation. Up until the Hydro incident and Aspro’s purchase, the park worked and worked well.

 

[rob666]

Maintaining your investment costs big.
New rides aren't cheap, the return on investment overall has to be worth it.
Sometimes, because expensive new stuff isn't invested in, and due to financial concerns by lenders in a cooling economy, parks go to the wall.
Belle Vue, Morecambe, Camelot to name a few on my local radar.
You can't improve if the trade isn't there.
Holidaymakers aren't throwing the same money about.
Those with the money have gone off on thirty quid flights.

 

[jon81uk]

Maintaining your investment costs big.
New rides aren't cheap, the return on investment overall has to be worth it.
Sometimes, because expensive new stuff isn't invested in, and due to financial concerns by lenders in a cooling economy, parks go to the wall.
Belle Vue, Morecambe, Camelot to name a few on my local radar.
You can't improve if the trade isn't there.
Holidaymakers aren't throwing the same money about.
Those with the money have gone off on thirty quid flights.

Also need to make the right investments. Hydro was a bad idea really even before the accident. If they had kept with megaphobia being the big attraction and focused on small/medium more charming family stuff it might have worked.
I agree overall the park isn't in a great location full of holiday makers compared to 30 years ago. But I just think Oakwood overshot by going after big thrills rather than family stuff.

 

[Ffinian]

Folly Farm succeeds within the same broad local area, seemingly going from strength to strength. If Oakwood had maintained a strong enough product, I think it could easily have received more visitors than it did towards the end.

Yes, the attendance declined under Aspro, but the park was also hardly invested in and grew more and more decrepit during their tenure. Had a different owner taken the park on, one who were less averse to investing, I don’t think Oakwood would have reached this situation. Up until the Hydro incident and Aspro’s purchase, the park worked and worked well.

Even after the Hydro incident, the park took a minor hit yet continued to grow in 2006. It was only when Aspro took over that Oakwood began to decline.