A Welsh company has put forward a proposal to restore Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, aiming to transform the shuttered site into a “national leisure destination.”
The plan, submitted by a newly formed company named Richens Leisure Projects (RLP), comes in the wake of the park’s closure in March last year. Oakwood, once regarded as Wales’ premier theme park, was shut down by its Spanish owners, Aspro Parks, citing declining visitor numbers and rising operational costs.
RLP, founded by a Carmarthenshire-based entrepreneur who has requested anonymity, has confirmed that a formal acquisition proposal is now under review by Aspro.
“We don’t just want to reopen the park — we want to enhance it, evolve it, and build something Wales can be proud of on an international scale,” a spokesperson for RLP stated.
The company has pledged its full focus to the revival project, which it describes as a long-term commitment to West Wales and its communities. The park’s proposed rebirth is not just about nostalgia, the company insists, but about “rebuilding pride” through community ownership and sustainable planning.
Oakwood Theme Park once drew over half a million visitors annually and was famed for attractions such as the wooden roller coaster Megafobia, which gained international acclaim.
The founder of RLP recalled Oakwood as a central part of his childhood, calling it “a rite of passage for kids in this country.” He emphasized the intent to create new generational memories backed by a “Welsh-facing identity” and a robust infrastructure plan.
“We’ve planned the infrastructure, the rides, the workforce, and the branding,” he said. “Now we just need the door to open.”
RLP has already reached out to key stakeholders across Wales, including the Welsh Government’s economy and tourism departments and Visit Wales. At the time of the park’s closure, Wales’ First Minister, Eluned Morgan, described the news as “deeply saddening.”
Although RLP has not disclosed visual plans for the park’s redevelopment, the group made it clear that this effort is not a commercial asset flip, but an attempt to revive a site with “pride, roots, and identity.”
According to RLP, significant fundraising efforts are already underway and contingent on approval from Aspro Parks. “The public response has already been overwhelming — what’s missing is movement from the owners. We’re ready when they are,” the spokesperson added.
