Flambards Theme Park in Helston Ceases Operations After 48 Years

A theme park located in Cornwall, which commenced operations 48 years ago, is shutting down due to escalating expenses and a decline in visitor numbers. Flambards theme park in Helston declared its closure “with immediate effect” on Monday. In a statement disseminated via social media, the park’s management conveyed appreciation to its patrons and personnel for their backing, adding, “Flambards has been a cherished destination for generations and it is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell”. The park’s indoor play facility, Ferdi’s Funland, is scheduled to reopen as a distinct attraction later in November, as per the statement. Managers stated that they arrived at this “difficult decision” after exploring all available alternatives and “fully recognised the impact of this closure on the local community and the sense of loss that it may bring”. Challenges in procuring components for older rides and the necessity for “extensive remedial work” on its Victorian village were cited as contributing factors to the decision, the statement indicated. It further mentioned that managers would investigate possibilities to “preserve and honour” its distinctive collection, which encompasses vintage aircraft and a Victorian pharmacy that has been maintained as a time capsule for nearly 80 years. Local MP Andrew George commented that the “awful” news represented the “saddest day of the week”, a phrase echoing the theme park’s slogan. “After almost half a century, Flambards has been a constant in our lives, for visitor activity, employment, community events and parties.” He reported that the owners had assured him that “redundancies will be kept to a minimum”. However, he noted that this assurance would not “lessen the blow for those who will lose their jobs”. Mike Thomas, Cornwall Councillor for Helston North, expressed being “very sad indeed” about the closure. “For Helston it’s a place full of memories, going back decades,” he said. “It’s a place full of deep personal memories and associations.” “People will miss it, what else can I say, it’ll be an absolute hole in the life of the town.” He anticipated a significant ripple effect on tourism within the town but also suggested it was a “time to reflect and be really proud of what Helston has hosted for so many years”. Thomas, a former educator, shared that many of his past students, as well as his own daughter, had been employed at the park, and his family held a season ticket. He stressed the importance of safeguarding the “wonderful Victorian village” and proposed that if there was “no chance of a recovery”, the site possessed “the potential to unlock” future economic development and job creation. Miles Kenchington, Helston’s mayor, characterized the closure as a “very sad day” for the town and conveyed that he was “so sorry for those people who are going to be without a job coming up to Christmas”. He described the current period as “quite a worrying time” for the tourism industry. “We’re not getting so many people coming in now and the impact is going to be significant for the whole of Cornwall.” “Tourism is a major part of our income as a county.” He recounted visiting the “iconic theme park” in the 1970s when it was known as Cornwall Aero Park and later taking his children there in the 1990s and 2000s. “My grandson was there at the weekend with his parents and had his first – and now his last – log flume ride because he’d reached the minimum height,” he added. Flambards commenced operations in 1976 as Cornwall Aircraft Park, subsequently becoming the Aero Park before expanding throughout the 1970s and 1980s to incorporate rides, a Britain in the Blitz exhibition, and a Victorian village. The park later underwent a rebranding to Flambards, named after a popular television period drama, to better reflect its broadened attractions. It featured several outdoor rides, and earlier this year, it had already announced that several, including Thunderbolt, Sky Swinger, Sky Force, and the Hornet Rollercoaster, would not be operational for the season. This announcement follows the recent closure of another Cornish attraction, Dairyland, and Dingles vintage fairground museum on the Devon and Cornwall border, which ceased operations for the final time last week. For further updates, follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC assumes no responsibility for the content of external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available for review.