Much-loved UK theme park abandoned for nearly two years set to reopen

The decades-old amusement park was inspired by the Alice in Wonderland books (Picture: Adventure Wonderland Theme Park)

A theme park left abandoned for two years has revealed plans to reopen as an adventure park.

Adventure Wonderland opened in Bournemouth in 1992, with most of its 30 rides and rollercoasters inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

But the amusement park closed its outdoor rides in 2023 amid rising costs. The indoor attractions followed the tear after.

The park said at the time: ‘The current trading climate and steep increase in key costs across the board is not conducive to the existing theme park model.’

Adventure Wonderland has revealed it will relaunch as a smaller park.

The park’s outdoor rides closed in 2023 (Picture: Adventure Wonderland Theme Park)

The park did hint,however,that it would be back (Picture: Adventure Wonderland Theme Park)

The site’s maze will remain ‘at the heart’ of the park (Picture: Adventure Wonderland Theme Park)

Designs for the new park (Picture: Adventure Wonderland Bournemouth)

An opening date has yet to be announced,though the park hopes to welcome visitors this year.

Adventure Wonderland first announced the rebrand in September,with the website saying it is ‘closed for restructure’.

Adventure Wonderland began as a pick-your-own-fruit farm before becoming a theme park in the 1990s,welcoming 180,000 visitors a year.

The Jungle Falls log flume,Wild Bill’s Runaway Train,The Ghostly Galleon and the Dance with the Stars marquee all became quick hits with families.

The hedge maze in its centre is the largest natural hedge maze on the southern coast,with 1.5 miles of pathways

In 2005,the Aztec adventure play centre,Wild Thing! opened.

The re-opening date has not been announced (Picture: Adventure Wonderland Theme Park)

Many of the old rides are being repurposed (Picture: Adventure Wonderland Theme Park)

It once saw 180,000 people every year (Picture: Adventure Wonderland Theme Park)

Dad Michael W wrote in a TripAdvisor review only days before the park shut: ‘My kids love visiting this place and we’ve done so every year for the last five years.’

Another user said: ‘The maze is probably the best maze I’ve ever been to.

‘We had a really fun enjoyable day out and the kids have asked,“Can we go again?” which speaks volumes.’

Britain has lost dozens of amusement parks over the years,many battered by the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.

Popular parks Pleasure Island in Cleethorpes and Flambards Theme Park in Helston closed last year,citing financial troubles.