An abandoned Lancashire theme park has been repurposed for an “eerie” new use, with further plans afoot for the long-neglected attraction.
The Magical Kingdom of Camelot, inspired by Arthurian legend, has sat derelict in Chorley since its permanent closure in 2012.
Opened in 1983, the attraction became instantly recognisable for its distinctive white castle entrance and thrilling rides such as Whirlwind and Excalibur.
During its heyday, the park welcomed approximately 500,000 visitors annually, establishing itself as a beloved destination in the North West.
The Knightmare roller coaster, which cost a reported £3million when it opened in late 2006, rapidly became the venue’s flagship attraction before the park’s fortunes began to decline.
Visitor numbers had already fallen significantly by 2005, when the Chorley attraction recorded just 336,000 guests.
The sprawling 140-acre site was valued at approximately £800million according to analysts at Together Money.
Urban explorer Matthew Holmes returned to the deserted park in 2017, having visited it as a teenager. He recalled: “I went inside and instantly all these memories came back from when I was a child.”
The once beloved Camelot theme park in Lancashire has been repurposed for an ‘eerie’ new use
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“It was quite sad to walk around, it is very dilapidated. All that excitement and fun to be replaced by empty space. It’s frozen in time. All these rides are still there.”
His melancholic reflection on the once-great attraction may have inspired its new use, drawing on its lonely, abandoned atmosphere.
The derelict site found a suitably macabre purpose in 2024 when it hosted the Scare City horror event, which promised attendees would depart “believing in pure evil”.
The acclaimed attraction featured 11 distinct zones of terror scattered throughout the crumbling grounds, combining elaborate sets with live performers to unsettle even the most courageous visitors.
Urban explorers discovered the park was ‘frozen in time’ before the terrifying new attraction moved in
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Nightmarish areas included the Slaughter House, where a resident cannibal prepared his annual feast, alongside Junkyard and Reaper’s Reach.
A new zone called Arakhne challenged guests to enter the domain of the spider queen.
The Carni Valley experience brought back familiar sinister characters, while the Resurrection Zone offered refreshments at the midway point.
However, the spooky new refit is not the only plan being laid for the once great attraction.
The Scare City horror event now occupies the site, which promises attendees would depart ‘believing in pure evil’
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The abandoned site has attracted interest from property developers, with Story Homes pursuing plans for a substantial residential scheme, per The Mirror.
The company previously submitted applications to demolish the theme park and build housing in 2017 and 2019, but both were turned down due to greenbelt concerns.
Story Homes has now submitted a revised proposal to Chorley Council for up to 350 properties, with half designated as affordable housing, plus a 186.9-square-metre community facility.
The planning documents state the development aims to address “the acute housing and affordability crisis in the Borough” while respecting “the wider Green Belt and woodland context”.