Flambards Theme Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Flambards Theme Park

Previously known as Cornwall Aero Park The Flambards Experience
Location	Culdrose Manor, Helston, Cornwall, England
Coordinates	50°05′31″N 5°15′29″W / 50.092°N 5.258°W / 50.092; -5.258
Opened	10 June 1976
Closed	4 November 2024
Owner	Hale family (1976–2013) Livingston Leisure Ltd (2013–2024)
Slogan	"Best Day of the Week"
Operating season	Easter–October with winter opening of undercover exhibitions
Area	27
Attractions
Total	15
Roller coasters	0
Water rides	1

Rides at Flambards, seen from where the Hornet Coaster used to be

Flambards Theme Park was a popular amusement park located near Helston in Cornwall, England. It was a fun place for families, known for its exciting rides and interesting indoor exhibitions. The park first opened its doors in 1976 and was a favorite spot for many years. Sadly, Flambards Theme Park closed permanently on November 4, 2024, after 48 years of creating memories.

Park History and Changes

The main entrance to Flambards Theme Park

Flambards began its journey in 1976 as the 'Cornwall Aero Park'. It was started by Douglas Kingsford Hale MBE. Over time, the park grew, adding many aircraft, models, and special displays.

Key Moments in Flambards' Story

In 1984, a unique exhibition called "Britain in the Blitz" opened. It was a life-size recreation of a street hit by bombs during World War II. This display helped visitors imagine what life was like during that time.

By 1990, the park had become much bigger and was renamed "The Flambards Experience." Some of the early rides included the Dragon Coaster and the Canyon River Log Flume.

More rides were added over the years. In 2007, The Rocking Tug, The Carousel, and The Space Shuttle joined the fun. The Cornish Mine Train ride was added in 2008.

In 2010, a new ride called Skyraker 001 opened. It was known as the UK's first twisting drop tower. At this time, the park was renamed again to "Flambards Theme Park."

New Owners and Exciting Additions

In 2013, Livingston Leisure Ltd bought the park, bringing new ideas and investments. They added the 'Sky Swinger' ride in 2015.

A permanent exhibition called "Jurassic Journey" opened in March 2016. Here, visitors could explore a world of dinosaurs. In 2017, a thrilling ride called Sky-Force was added.

The park continued to make improvements, redecorating and updating its facilities. In 2021, a new ride, 'The Western Mine Train,' opened. The park also updated its outdoor play areas.

Between 2022 and 2023, the 'Balloon Race' ride was replaced with the 'Samba Balloons,' which was perfect for younger visitors. 'Ferdi's Indoor Play' also became part of the main park admission.

The Final Season

In early 2024, Flambards welcomed a new waltzer ride called 'ThunderDome'. The indoor exhibits also received a refresh.

However, on June 3, 2024, Flambards announced that several of its thrill rides were no longer working. By June 5, it was confirmed that four major thrill rides – 'The Thunderbolt', 'Sky Swinger', 'SkyForce', and 'Hornet Coaster' – had permanently closed. To make up for this, the park lowered its entry price and added two new rides: Flying Planes and Dodgems.

Later, in August 2024, Flambards surprised everyone by bringing SkyForce back into operation after fixing a motor issue. But the other closed rides remained out of action.

The Park's Closure

On November 4, 2024, Flambards officially announced its permanent closure. This was sad news for many people who loved the park.

After the main park closed, 'Ferdi's Indoor Funland,' the indoor play area, reopened as a separate attraction on November 17, 2024. It is now the only part of the original site that remains open.

What Happened to Flambards' Treasures?

After the park closed, many items from Flambards were sold. The owners wanted to keep the special Victorian Village and other indoor displays together.

In February 2025, an auction called 'The Flambards Sale' was announced. It was a three-day event to sell off thousands of items from the park.

Just before the auction, a big announcement was made on March 13, 2025. The entire Victorian Village exhibition was sold to Kynren. Kynren plans to move and rebuild the village as a new show in 2026. The rest of the items, including the "Britain in the Blitz" collection, were sold at the auction in March 2025.

Fun Rides and Attractions

Flambards Theme Park had a variety of rides and attractions for all ages before it closed.

Family Fun Rides

Here are some of the main rides that were at Flambards:

Ferdi's Funland for Younger Guests

This area was specially designed for younger children.

Jurassic Journey

This exciting area featured life-size dinosaurs! You could see a huge 5-meter tall brachiosaurus, a mighty T-Rex, and a triceratops. There was also a "Dino-Nursery" with baby velociraptors and a "Dino-dig" where kids could pretend to unearth dinosaur fossils. After the park closed, some of these dinosaurs were sold.

Indoor Attractions and Exhibitions

Flambards was also famous for its amazing indoor displays.

Victorian Village Exhibition

A street scene inside the Victorian Village

The Victorian Village was a fantastic recreation of life in the Victorian era. It started with just three rooms in 1979 and grew to include about 50 shops and cottages. You could see a butcher's shop, a bakery, a blacksmith's, and a sweet shop, all looking just like they would have over a hundred years ago.

A special part of the village was William White's Chemist Shop. This shop was found locked away and forgotten since 1909! It was carefully moved and rebuilt at Flambards, with every item placed exactly as it was originally.

As mentioned, the entire Victorian Village was sold to Kynren in March 2025 and will be moved to a new home.

The Britain in the Blitz Experience

A scene from the "Britain in the Blitz" display

Opened in 1984, this exhibition was a life-size replica of a London street during the World War II Blitz. It showed what it was like when bombs fell on the city. This entire exhibition was sold at 'The Flambards Sale' auction in March 2025.

Other Interesting Exhibitions

• The War Gallery – This gallery honored the brave men and women from Great Britain and The Commonwealth who served in World Wars 1 and 2.
• Memory Lane – This display showed a century of wedding gowns, from the mid-Victorian period to the 1970s. One dress was even made from a parachute during wartime!
• The Aviation Experience – This interactive exhibition celebrated key moments in flight history. It featured a full-scale flight deck of the Concorde aircraft.
• Operation Sealion – This exhibit gave a glimpse into Germany's plans for a possible invasion of England during World War II.

Entertainment and Play Areas

Flambards offered various entertainment options:

• Outdoor Stage – This was a place for live shows and performances.
• Pirate Outdoor Play – A fun outdoor play area with a pirate theme.
• Ferdi's Indoor Play – This indoor play center, formerly known as One2Eleven, is now the only part of Flambards that remains open as a separate attraction.

Past Attractions

Over the years, Flambards had many different rides and attractions that are no longer there. Some of these included the Extreme Force pendulum ride, the Dragon Ride rollercoaster, and the Space Mission coaster. Other past favorites were the Cornish Mine Train, the Space Shuttle, and the original Balloon Race ride.

Food, Drinks, and Souvenirs

Flambards had several places to eat and drink:

• Village Cafe – A cozy spot for coffee, lunches, and afternoon tea.
• Ferdi's Burger Bar – A fast-food outlet for burgers and quick bites.
• Ferdi's Indoor Play Cafe – Located inside the indoor play center, offering drinks and snacks.

There were also kiosks around the park for cold drinks, snacks, and ice creams.

For souvenirs, visitors could stop at:

• Past Times Gift Shop – Located near the entrance, selling a variety of memorabilia.
• Humbugs Victorian Sweet Shop – Inside the exhibitions building, this shop sold old-fashioned sweets and vintage gifts.