When discussing theme parks in west Wales, most people would immediately think of the now-sadly defunct Oakwood Park in Pembrokeshire. The Narberth attraction, which shut its doors in 2005, was integral to countless childhoods, with thrilling rides on Megafobia and Snake River Falls becoming the stuff of legend over the years.

However, it wasn't the only theme park that once forged treasured memories for many families, and for some, it was every bit the equal of its more celebrated rival. In 1994, another attraction was preparing to welcome its first visitors. The £1 million Grove Land Leisure Park opened in St Clears, Carmarthenshire, having been transformed from a working dairy farm, reports Wales Online.

The park offered something for everyone, boasting unforgettable rollercoasters including Thunderbolt, Cyclone and Cyber Space. Visitors could also enjoy the 'Dance Master' waltzer, thrilling twist rides such as the legendary 'Rodeo Rider', the Snake Slide, dodgems and go-karts.

Other attractions included a pirate ship, laser clay pigeon shooting and pedalo boats.

Barmy Barny served as the park's mascot and appeared prominently on its emblem. This was especially appropriate given the herd of pedigree Freisians that had been cultivated at the dairy farm by the Williams family across four generations, earning recognition throughout the agricultural community.

It was the herd that provided the spark behind John and Janet Williams' decision to transform 30 acres of their 210-acre Grove Farm home into a theme park.

At the time, they described how the pleasure and knowledge gained from presenting their herd and welcoming large crowds, coupled with a passion for sport and leisure, led to the park's establishment, alongside their recognition of "the pressing need to impede any further decline in the local rural economy."

The theme park, which operated seasonally, was expected to give tourism a significant lift while creating employment for up to 70 people in its inaugural year, rising to 300 within the first three years.

Organisers predicted that 75,000 visitors would flock through its gates during the first season to enjoy what would be a "country show ground atmosphere", featuring calf parades and animal showmanship, alongside a range of rides and attractions selected for their interactive appeal and family-friendly nature.

The park was highly affordable, with adult admission priced at £7.50 and children's tickets at £5.60. Guests would pay at the entrance, and once inside, all rides and shows were complimentary.

Takeaways, burger bars and a picnic area were available for families seeking a break from the excitement of the attractions.

Jade Walsh was employed at the park for two to three seasons from the age of 16 as a summer job. Miss Walsh, now 40, who worked as a ride operator, said: "I worked a lot on the bumper boats and the pedalos which I enjoyed. I remember people would often get stuck in the reeds and things so you would often have to go out and rescue them.

"The boats would also have to be tested in the morning, and it was all young people who would work there seasonally and we'd all enjoy that. Mr Williams who ran it was lovely, and was such a nice guy.

"Thunderbolt was a gravity rollercoaster and how fast it went would depend on how heavy you were. Sometimes we would have to load it with sandbags if there was only a couple of kids in it. If it got stuck at the top, you'd have to climb up it, run across the tracks, push it, then get down to the bottom so you could stop it at the end. Health and safety wasn't a thing then, but I loved it!

"My favourite part of working there was the people. It was a nice environment to work in. If you can imagine a nice seventies movie with children working at a funfair, it was like that.

"We had a lot of people who would come over and over again. Some people would visit a couple of times in the summer and come back every year. It was better for smaller children than Oakwood and there was less queues and things like that. It was just a much more relaxed atmosphere. It felt very safe. You could literally see everything from one place so parents could relax and let their children run from ride to ride.

"Everyone was really sad when it went, because there wasn't a hell of a lot to do around here. Everybody missed it."

Gemma Daniels has treasured childhood recollections of visiting the park on regular end-of-year school outings between the ages of six and nine while attending Ysgol Llwyn Yr Eos School in Penparcau, Aberystwyth.

Miss Daniels, now 36, said: "Trips to Grove Land are a core childhood memory for me. One ride that sticks out for me the most was rodeo-themed and it had a big mechanical horse in the middle with a cowboy on it. Basically, it was a sizzler ride. They also had a rollercoaster where the carriage you were in, it looked like a gold mine.

"The ride that we all avoided was a slide, it was like a big dipper, and it was the first time I had ever seen a ride like that. I remember kids coming off it with friction burns! They had a protector mat but you would bounce off it, because it was really fast."

She added: "I remember that it was never crowded like you see at theme parks these days, and you didn't have to queue long for rides. You'd have a chance to go on everything and see everything. When we were on school trips they would let us go off and we'd have to meet at a picnic table to have our packed lunch at lunchtime. It was really safe.

"I remember the little shop they had there where people used to get those water worms, that was the fascination at the time, and kids would also used to get snap bangs and use them on the bus on the way home.

"If it was open now, it's a place I'd take my son to. It's somewhere that I'm pretty gutted my kids won't get to go."

Regrettably, the attraction shut its doors permanently in 2005, with its rides redistributed elsewhere, including Thunderbolt, which was transported to Loudoun Castle, and Cyclone, which was relocated to Killarney Springs Family Park.

In 2008, it emerged that the site had been placed on the market for £3.3 million.

By April 2014, proposals for a "massive development" at the location had received approval from Carmarthenshire Council, which would deliver 32 newly-constructed holiday cottages, 26 holiday accommodation units and accompanying leisure amenities.

In 2018, the planned accommodation project had yet to materialise, though it is believed the site eventually opened at the start of the year, taking the form of a static caravan park.

It has been 21 years now since Grove Land welcomed its final guests. Yet for the thousands who spent their summers visiting or working at the attraction, it has left behind cherished memories that endure to this day.