Once filled with the sounds of joy and laughter, these once-beloved attractions now stand eerily abandoned. The South West has been home to some incredible theme parks, but faced with national competition from the likes of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, many have had to close their doors.
Sadly, a number of others have shut very recently – namely Flambards, Dingles and Dairyland which will stir up memories for many. However, photographs reveal the haunting sight of these parks, standing vacant and unused after years of providing joy and happiness.
Here are some unsettling images of the neglected attractions.
Spirit Of The West, Cornwall
The Spirit Of The West theme park that was based in St Columb Major in Cornwall was once a popular destination. The theme park was closed in 2009 and redeveloped into holiday lodges which use the name Retallack Resort and Spa, reports Devon Live.
Retallack Resort and Spa is a five star luxury self-catering holiday destination with holiday Lodges, watersports, spa, and entertainment. The Spirit Of The West theme park received lots of attention a few years back when pictures emerged of the abandoned theme park in publications such as the Mail Online, however the former theme park has now been completely demolished.
Blobbyland, Somerset
Based on the popular Saturday night TV show Noel’s House Party, which was set in the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom, Blobbyland was opened at Cricket St Thomas in Somerset.
At the peak of Blobbymania, the show featured a variety of Mr Blobby themed attractions, including the Animals of Farthing Wood safari ride, a deer park, and Dubblobbin, Mr Blobby’s brightly coloured house. However, the park closed in 1998 due to falling visitor numbers, and despite attempts to prevent trespassing, it was eventually demolished in 2014.
Tivoli Park
Meanwhile, nestled deep within the Cornish woods next to a scenic river, lie the overgrown remnants of Tivoli Park, a century-old pleasure garden inspired by Copenhagen’s renowned Tivoli Gardens amusement park. The abandoned fountains, arches, bandstand and swimming pool were once popular attractions within this forgotten park, created by China Clay magnate Frank Parkyn around 1920 after his visit to the Danish Tivoli.
Inspired by the fountains, the octagonal Glass Hall, as well as the arches at the entrance and on the Nimb Hotel of Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Parkyn cleared a large area of his woodland and built ornate structures and water features – including an octagonal pool – within the space. In 1922, Cornwall’s Tivoli Park was opened to the public, providing a new venue for the increasingly popular Lerryn Regatta.
However, the annual event, once known as ‘The Henley of the West’, was held for the last time in 1968, and though Tivoli Park remained relatively clear into the late 20th century, it has gradually been reclaimed by nature over the last few decades.
Dobwalls Adventure Park
It was a sad day a decade ago when Dobwalls Adventure Park announced its closure.
John Southern became a tourism pioneer back in 1970 when he converted his pig farm into one of the South West’s first tourist attractions. For more than 35 years, locomotives trundled along two-mile-long tracks at the park, just 20 minutes drive away from Plymouth.
The site quickly became number one for school days out for generations. For the price of admission, you could explore Krazee Kavern play barn, get unlimited rides on the park’s trains, head to Rocky Ridge sand and water play, check out the locomotive shed, and visit the Steam Back in Time exhibition.
The park’s main draw was its immaculately maintained steam and diesel trains. Visitors had the choice of two tracks – the Union Pacific Railroad and the Rio Grande.
The Rio Grande line, which opened first in 1970, featured a four per cent gradient, making it the steepest climb on a passenger-carrying miniature railway globally. Due to its success, the Pacific was added in 1979, closely modelled on the authentic Union Pacific Sherman Hill line in Wyoming.
However, a planned redevelopment of Dobwalls, including a new arts centre, stalled, and the 22-acre site was put up for sale with a guide price of £400,000 by sealed bid auction in 2012. In March 2013, Charteroak purchased the site and renamed it Southern Halt, now home to a collection of eco-friendly log cabins.
Over 20 years ago, Kitley Caves, one of Plymouth area’s most beloved tourist attractions in Yealmpton, temporarily closed and has remained shut ever since. These cherished landmarks in the woods at Yealmpton were a haven for school trips and archaeology enthusiasts for two decades.
The historic caves and grottoes along the Yealm estuary housed Bronze Age and Stone Age artefacts. Later, green marble was quarried there, some of which has been used in London landmarks.
Ever since a Devon labourer accidentally blasted open the caves, numerous discoveries have been made, including a 6,000 year old human bone and a lion. The caves became a tourist attraction in the 1970s, offering self-guided tours through the network.
The two primary chambers were dubbed Bob’s Cave and No Name Cave. However, in 1999, management decided that visitor numbers were insufficient and, after 114 years of operation, the caves were closed off.