Theme parks come and theme parks go. Just in the past few months we said farewell to Wales’ biggest theme after four decades, while a few weeks later it was announced that the UK will soon become home to Europe’s first Universal park. Now, one former pleasure ground in Bournemouth is about to make a big comeback.
Adventure Wonderland started life as a pick-your-own fruit farm but gradually expanded to become a full-blown theme park inspired by (you guessed it) Alice in Wonderland, who is thought to be based on a woman who lived in nearby Lyndehurst.
In its heyday, the park was home to a rollercoaster, a £1 million indoor play area and dozens of other classic rides. Sadly, the park pulled its shutters down in 2023 due to rising costs. But two years later it has revealed that it’s making a grand return (of sorts).
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When it closed, the theme park said in a statement: ‘The current trading climate and steep increase in key costs across the board is not conducive to the existing theme park model.’ However, it teased that there were ‘exciting plans’ in place for a simpler attraction.
Now, those plans are coming to fruition. Official proposals have been submitted to see Adventure Wonderland repurposed and transformed into a smaller adventure park, featuring go-karting track, mini golf and a maze. The shop and cafe of the previous site will also reopen.
In its planning application, the park said: ‘The aim of this proposal is to create a site which is better adapted for use by the occupants of Merritown, Discovery Village and Diverse Abilities. All of these tenants want to create sustainable spaces which focus on creative outdoor spaces which are stimulating environments with outdoor play, sensory gardens, water play, and utilise the existing external spaces and buildings on site.’
An official reopening date hasn’t been revealed yet. But if the plans are approved, it’s hoped that Adventure Wonderland will relaunch later this year.
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