An iconic amusement park that has delighted generations of Britons has abruptly announced it is closing.
Flambards Theme Park in Helston, Cornwall, was founded in 1976 and saw more than 76,000 people visit during its first season alone.
Now boasting 15 attractions, the site included day-out go-to’s like the Hornet rollercoaster and log flume as well as recreations of a Victorian village and what life was like during the Blitz.
Yet the park has faced an increasingly long list of woes, including rising costs, declining ticket sales and closing rides in June amid a shortage of specialist parts.
At the time, Helston’s mayor Paul Kenchungton said the theme park ‘is here and it’ll stay’.
But Flambards Theme Park abruptly announced today that the site in Culdrose Manor will ‘close its doors permanently with immediate effect’.
‘Flambards has been a cherished destination for generations, and it is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell,’ the park said in a statement.
‘To our loyal supporters and dedicated team, who have given their unwavering commitment through difficult times, we extend our sincerest gratitude.
‘Thank you for making Flambards a special place.’
Flambards bosses made the ‘difficult decision’ to shut down the park after ‘exhausting all possible options’.
‘We fully recognise the impact of this closure on the local community and the sense of loss that it may bring,’ the statement said.
‘Despite significant and ongoing investment since its rescue from closure in 2012 by the current owners, rising costs and a steady decline in visitor numbers have made the park’s operation and further investment unsustainable.
‘Over the years, Flambards has strived to evolve, overcoming numerous challenges to continue bringing joy to families and visitors from across the region.
‘Unfortunately, this year saw the retirement of several older thrill rides, as the increasing difficulty of sourcing specialised parts and maintenance expertise became insurmountable.
‘Additionally, the much-loved Victorian Village exhibition now requires extensive remedial work; it will remain closed while we investigate alternative options to preserve and honour this unique collection.’
The park isn’t gone for good, however.
The indoor play centre Ferdi’s Funland will re-open as a ‘standalone attraction’ on November 17.
On Facebook, locals said Flambards’ closure was ‘awful’. Some remembered days spent in the arcade with their parents, while others worry that children in Cornwall are having fewer and fewer things to do.
‘So sad, I remember collecting the coupons out of the Cornishman so my children could have a Season Ticket to go whenever they liked with their friends all through the school holidays,’ said Julie Payne.
Tiff Wingfield Hodgson added: ‘I watched a video recording of Flambards in 1993.. queues to get on the rides, shoulder to shoulder with people, winning big toys on coconut shy type games. Parrot shows. Peddle boats. The old arcade. The bumper boats. Those were the days.’
Rebecca Bartram said: ‘So many years of memories at Flambards when we visited as children on holiday. So happy I got to experience the happiness with my own children.’
Flambards was opened as the ‘Cornwall Aero Park’ by former Royal Navy officer Douglas Kingsford Hale in June 1976. Some 25 years – and 100 million visitors – later, Kingsford was given an MBE in the New Year honours list.
‘People think of me as a tourist attraction, but a lot of my time is spent lobbying for Cornwall to try and make sure we get our fair share when it comes to tourism,’ he told the Somerset County Gazette at the time.
Livingstone Leisure Limited, which owns various nature reserves, bought the park in 2013.
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