There’s something quite eerie about abandoned amusement parks. You can almost understand why so many are just left to crumble, instead of people having to face up the creepy remains of rollercoasters and ghost trains.
One such example is Frontierland in Morecambe, which first opened in 1906 but has been sitting empty and run-down since 1997. Also known as Fun City and West End Amusement Park during its lifetime, there’s not much of the original theme park and its attractions left.
Two decades after shutting its gates, nobody has done anything with the Frontierland site. Planning permission to do something with the area has been granted twice in the past but expired both times. Finally, though, it seems real moves are being made. Lancaster City Council bought the site in 2021 and has since invited local business and members of the public to submit plans or ideas for the 7.5-acre plot of land.
The council received eight different proposals and is now looking to hire a development partner to work on ‘leisure-led ideas’ for the former theme park. Potential ideas apparently include hotels, swimming pools, music venues and public spaces to be used for events and festivals.
Phillip Black, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: ‘I’d urge everyone to get involved, tell us what they think about the objectives we’ve drafted, and help us to shape this important project.’
And this isn’t the only development that Morecambe has to look forward to. This time last year it was confirmed that the seaside town will become home to the Eden Project’s northern counterpart, which is due to open in 2026.
Did you see that this much-loved seaside attraction in Cornwall has been forced to shut?
Plus: Manchester is getting a massive new ice rink.
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