3 days Ago By Charlotte Bend
A BELOVED seaside attraction that offered "affordable memories" has left locals at a loss after unexpectantly closing for good. Following 20 years of service, which saw nearly 3000 members of staff pass through, the Essex theme park has been spotted desolate and all of the rides have been cleared. 4 The site previously underwent refurbishment in 2021 Credit: Getty 4 Locals have thanked the site for offering them affordable memories with their families Credit: Alamy 4 Scott and the team took to Facebook so announce the sudden closure Credit: Getty Leisure Island Fun Park, on Canvey Island, was a popular, family-friendly attraction that was particularly busy during school holidays.
The reason behind the closure has not been confirmed but the owner made sure to thank those who started their working careers at the park as teenagers. Making the announcement on Facebook , the post has already gained more than 1k reactions and over 500 comments. Many described the "amazing" and "happy" memories they had from the venue .
Read more Travel News MASKED WINNER The Masked Singer crowns Pufferfish as winner – who was behind mask? KNIFE HORROR Smirking man arrested after boy, 14, stabbed to death & five others injured Commenters discussed how "sad" they were to see the site close as they reminisced over the days out they had experienced with their families. One person wrote: "So sad to hear this, you gave my daughter her first job. She loved working at the park.
Was the first fun park I took my granddaughter too. She had a wonderful time. We will treasure our memories.
"Was such a lovely family park and so reasonably priced. We won't find anywhere like there again. "Wishing you and your family good luck for the future.
You will be missed xxx" Most read in News Travel IN THE BAG Pilot reveals suitcase they say never gets damaged...
and the kind to always avoid GO SEA IT Seaside village with top UK beach that's quieter than its busy neighbour TAKING OFF Tiny UK airport reveals major security change - & it's great news for passengers TAKE OFF TUI reveals cheaper holiday destinations Brits are choosing over as Spain Another said: "Oh sad times. We loved spending days up there in the summer. My children loved the rides and we have so many good memories.
Wishing you all the best in the future." Someone else put: "Oh no! My 3 kids absolutely loved that as an intro to fun parks! It was awesome and such good value. And santa experience was brilliant too.
First look at unseen images of what £2.5billion ‘UK Disneyland’ theme park could have looked like before being scrapped "Thank you for the years of fun! Good luck to you all for the future endeavours!" A third commented: "The man is a legend and made plenty of memories for lots of family's out there." One person added: "Thank you for your service, lovely memories we created there and staff always lovely.
"Sorry to see you go." A fellow user replied: "Thank you for the wonderful memories. You made our summers more affordable, for amazing days out at canvey island.
"Something myself and children will treasure." A spokesperson for Leisure Island Fun Park said: "We are sadly announcing the closure of Leisure Island Fun Park on Canvey Seafront. "The site has now been cleared of all rides and facilities.
"Can we thank EVERYONE who has supported us over the last 20 years we have been open. "Also can we thank the nearly 3000 members of staff who worked at the park over the years. As everyone knows 95% of our staff were 16 and 17 year olds and started their working life at the park.
"It’s so sad we have had to close the park but hopefully we have created loads of memories for the families that visited us." The small island can be found just off the coast of Essex situated entirely below sea level. It was home to just 300 people at the beginning of the 20th century and became a popular seaside resort with fairground rides and food stalls.
Founded by entrepreneur Frederick Hester, the site included a huge promenade and pier, as well as winter gardens and monorails, although many of these were destroyed over the years. However, the popularity of cheap package holidays in the 1970s to Europe killed this off, and the island has since become used for oil and gas storage. Now home to around 40,000 people, the island's main attraction is Canvey Wick.
Found behind a Morrisons supermarket, the 93-hectare site is an abandoned oil refinery. But it is now is one of the "most significant areas in the UK for invertebrates" according to the BBC , with 30 of the 1,500 species on the endangered list. Read more on the Scottish Sun DEEP FREEZE Exact time Scotland to be hit by snow as weather map reveals blizzard bomb IN THE MONEY Scott McTominay's off-field earnings revealed as he lands eye-watering payday Other rare species include orchids, while it's also hotspot for nightingales, lizards and adders.
And in 2005, it was designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and has become popular with tourists after it joined an 85-mile stretch of the Englan Coast Path last summer. 4 The theme park has received hundreds of comments praising the site Credit: Getty.
