The much-loved theme park first opened in 1906 and thrived for nearly a century before ceasing operations in 2000 – now it lies abandoned as a derelict reminder of its glorious past
Theme parks, those nostalgic havens of certified magic where many of us devoted a considerable portion of our childhoods larking around, brimming with excitement (or sugar rushes, perhaps?), giddy from that rollercoaster we were convinced was 200ft high. Amusement parks have become embedded in our cultural landscape for generations, with numerous ones experiencing a dramatic surge in popularity, particularly during the 70s, 80s, and 90s.
Some theme parks have existed in various forms for more than a century, and remarkably, the UK was home to one such marvel. Having welcomed the public since 1906, the celebrated amusement park was situated in Morecambe, Lancashire, and was cherished by residents and visitors for generations.
This Morecambe funfair became such a sought-after destination at its peak, it was famously dubbed Britain’s first “genuine theme park”.
Operating as the West End Amusement Park, Fun City, and Morecambe Pleasure Park from 1906 to 1986, the funfair was eventually renamed Frontierland in 1987 and relaunched with a Wild West theme in a bid to tackle dwindling visitor numbers – a challenge numerous other theme parks faced throughout the nation (and globally).
Frontierland was adored by the local community, with plenty voicing their fondness on social media. Posting on Facebook, one sentimental visitor recalled: “Loved this Fair, very happy memories. We all had an Annual Pass.”
Another commented: “Fabulous thanks for sharing. I spent many happy days there on various rides.” Meanwhile, another nostalgic visitor shared: “I have dreams of Frontierland still being open. I miss that park so much, it was awesome. I used to go every weekend in my teenage years, it was a miniature version of Blackpool Pleasure Beach but with a Western theme.”
The theme park was acquired by the Thompson family in 1936, when it was still known as West End Amusement Park. The family are also the owners of Blackpool Pleasure Beach – a legendary British landmark that has endured through the decades and remains enormously popular to this day, reports the Express.
Throughout the years, the Morecambe amusement park housed numerous iconic rides and attractions, including The Rattler, the timber rollercoaster Cyclone, designed by American engineer Harry Traver for the Paris World Exposition in 1937, the controversial (and short-lived) 150-foot Big Wheel which was taken down following neighbour complaints in 1982, the Ghost Train, The Wild Mouse, and Chair-o-Planes.
The celebrated Sky Ride was introduced to the funfair in 1989, giving visitors the chance to soar above the park and out towards the promenade before looping back around. It was regarded as yet another bid to breathe new life into the theme park’s declining visitor numbers.
The much-loved Log Flume water ride sat rotting at the deserted site until 2009, while the Polo Tower famously stood derelict and neglected until 2017, owing to a 20-year contract that permitted a mobile phone mast to remain at the top of the structure until the agreement expired. The Polo Tower was, in fact, the last major investment made at Frontierland, and its fate was effectively sealed shortly afterwards.
Why the beloved theme park shut its gates
The seaside town of Morecambe itself was battling declining visitor numbers and waning popularity, and Frontierland was no different, suffering the very same consequences as a result.
There was no dramatic or controversial reason behind the amusement park’s closure – the plain truth was that the business simply wasn’t performing well enough to survive.
Declining footfall forced Frontierland to begin scaling back operations in 1998, after 92 magnificent years of entertaining families. The demolition of the theme park was estimated to take around three seasons to complete, with the rear section of the park being the first to go.
As the new millennium dawned, Frontierland gradually shrank, with rides being sold off and transported to various locations across the globe.
By the close of 2000, Frontierland’s entrance had been sealed behind construction fencing, and the park remained in this sorry state – abandoned, deteriorating, untouched and forgotten – right through to 2007.
Plans for Frontierland today
In 2007, the rear section of Frontierland was transformed into three retail units built by Morrisons. These opened in 2008 and have reportedly remained in operation ever since.
The remainder of the theme park was left to rot, gradually falling apart over the following two decades, as the forces of nature slowly reduced it to a wasteland.
In 2021, Lancaster City Council purchased the abandoned site and called on prospective developers to submit proposals for its regeneration.
An update published by Lancaster City Council in October 2024 revealed the council was making progress with its development plans.
The statement posted on the council’s website read: “Frontierland has been a vacant eyesore on Morecambe’s seafront for over 20 years. For most of this time it was in private ownership and failed to find economically viable redevelopment proposals.
“The city council acquired the site in 2021 to ensure its future development achieves the best outcome for Morecambe. The three-hectare (7.5 acre) site is the largest development opportunity in central Morecambe for many years.”
Yet despite 35 developers expressing an interest in Frontierland’s future, no significant news has emerged for some time, leaving the once-cherished theme park crumbling and deserted – a mere shadow of its former glory.
