Camel Creek Adventure Park

Camel Creek Adventure Park is a family leisure destination near Wadebridge in Cornwall, England. The attraction began in 1989 when Terry Sandling opened Trelow Farm at Tredinnick to the public as The Shire Horse Centre. Its initial identity was rooted in rural and animal-based entertainment rather than the larger-scale theme-park positioning it later adopted. Over time, the property developed into a broader visitor attraction combining animals, rides, indoor play, seasonal events and other family activities. In 2004, the site was sold to Crealy Great Adventure Parks and rebranded as Cornwall's Crealy. The change connected the Cornish attraction with the Crealy family-park concept and marked a further move toward a mixed adventure-park model. The park subsequently changed ownership again in 2015, when John Broome CBE acquired Cornwall's Crealy and renamed it Camel Creek Adventure Park. The Camel Creek identity emphasized the attraction's Cornish setting while retaining its focus on family recreation and adventure. The park's offer includes rides and attractions for children and families, animal areas, indoor play and themed experiences. Among the named attractions are Mission Simpossible, a 5D theatre using moving seats, 3D glasses and other effects, and Creeky's Playhouse, an indoor soft-play facility. Swamp Busters and animal experiences form part of the broader attraction mix. The park also stages seasonal programming, including Halloween activities such as a haunted house and Christmas programming associated with Santa's Grotto. These events extend the operating calendar and provide occasion-based reasons for repeat visits. At the time of the 2015 acquisition, Broome also acquired almost 200 acres of adjoining land and proposed a major resort expansion. The publicly described concept included a holiday and leisure complex, 236 holiday homes, a convention centre, restaurants, a pub and shops, with an estimated potential to create 955 jobs in and around the development. Cornwall Council granted planning permission in October 2016. The scheme was originally expected to be completed by 2022, although progress was limited and the plans were subsequently scaled back. Later ownership under Royale Life retained an intention to pursue expansion, but the development's completion and final form are not established by the available material. The attraction is currently associated with Royale Life and has also been referred to as Camel Creek Family Theme Park. Its core positioning is a regional, family-oriented day-out destination that combines amusement rides, animal encounters, indoor entertainment and seasonal events. The park primarily serves visitors from Cornwall and the wider United Kingdom rather than operating as a globally distributed brand.

Camel Creek traces its origins to Trelow Farm at Tredinnick, near Wadebridge in Cornwall. In 1989, Terry Sandling opened the farm to the public under the name The Shire Horse Centre. The original visitor proposition was associated with rural attractions and animals, reflecting the character of a farm-based day-out venue. The site subsequently broadened its offer, developing toward a family attraction with rides, play facilities and themed entertainment. A major change occurred in 2004, when the property was sold to Crealy Great Adventure Parks. Under the new ownership it was branded Cornwall's Crealy, bringing it into the Crealy family-park identity and strengthening its positioning as a comprehensive family leisure destination. The park's later attractions included rides, animal areas, indoor play and seasonal programming, moving beyond the original farm-centre concept. In 2015, John Broome CBE acquired Cornwall's Crealy. He renamed the attraction Camel Creek Adventure Park, a brand intended to distinguish the Cornish venue while presenting it as an adventure-oriented theme park. The same acquisition was linked to the purchase of almost 200 acres of neighboring land. Broome announced an ambitious resort concept that would have combined the park with a larger holiday and leisure development. The proposal described 236 holiday homes, a convention centre, restaurant, pub and shops, and projected the potential creation of 955 jobs in and around the project. Cornwall Council granted planning permission for the development in October 2016. The construction timetable was originally framed around completion in 2022, with the building program expected to affect seasonal opening patterns, operating hours and ride availability while work took place. According to the available account, only limited progress followed, and the plans were later reduced in scale. Royale Life, which subsequently acquired the park, continued to express an intention to pursue expansion, but the available reference material does not establish that the full resort concept was completed. The visitor offer includes a 5D theatre called Mission Simpossible, where moving seats, 3D glasses and other effects form part of the experience. Creeky's Playhouse provides indoor soft play, while Swamp Busters and animal areas contribute additional family attractions. The park also uses calendar-based programming, including a Halloween haunted house and Christmas events centered on Santa's Grotto. These components support a mixed business model based on admission-led day visits, repeat local visitation and seasonal demand. The attraction is currently also known as Camel Creek Family Theme Park. Its historical development can therefore be understood as a progression from a rural animal centre, through the Cornwall's Crealy branded period, to a broader adventure and theme-park destination. It remains a Cornwall-based visitor attraction focused on family entertainment, rather than an international consumer brand.

• 2016

  Resort expansion receives planning permission

  [1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  Cornwall Council approved plans for a proposed adjoining holiday and leisure resort.

• 2015

  Acquired and renamed Camel Creek Adventure Park

  [1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  John Broome CBE purchased the attraction and changed its brand to Camel Creek Adventure Park.

• 2004

  Rebranded as Cornwall's Crealy

  [1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  Following its sale to Crealy Great Adventure Parks, the venue adopted the Cornwall's Crealy name.

• 1989

  The Shire Horse Centre opens

  [1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  Terry Sandling opened Trelow Farm to the public as The Shire Horse Centre, establishing the attraction's origins.

A regional Cornish family adventure and theme park combining rides, animal attractions, indoor play and seasonal entertainment.

• Amusement attractions

  Theme-park rides and family attractions

  The park's principal offer is a collection of rides and family-oriented attractions designed for a day visit. The available reference material does not provide a complete ride inventory, but presents the venue as a mixed adventure park rather than a single-attraction site.

• 5D theatre

  Mission Simpossible

  Mission Simpossible is an immersive 5D theatre experience using moving seats, 3D glasses and additional theatrical or sensory effects. It forms part of the park's indoor and weather-resilient entertainment offer.

• Indoor soft play

  Creeky's Playhouse

  Creeky's Playhouse is an indoor soft-play area aimed at younger visitors and families. It complements the outdoor rides and animal attractions by providing an indoor activity within the wider park experience.

• Animal attraction

  Animal areas

  Animal areas continue the attraction's heritage as a farm and rural visitor venue. The available material confirms their presence but does not specify a complete list of species, habitats or encounter formats.

• Seasonal entertainment

  Seasonal events

  Seasonal programming includes Halloween entertainment, including a haunted house, and Christmas activities associated with Santa's Grotto. These events give the park additional themed programming beyond its standard attractions.

• 2016

  Proposed integrated resort expansionStrategy

  Background

  The owner sought to expand the park through development of almost 200 acres of adjacent land.

  Action taken

  Plans were submitted and approved for a holiday and leisure complex containing 236 holiday homes, a convention centre, restaurants, a pub and shops.

  Aftermath

  The project made limited progress, was later scaled back, and remained an intended expansion under Royale Life according to the available reference.

  Source

• 2015

  Acquisition and Camel Creek rebrandM&A

  Background

  John Broome CBE purchased Cornwall's Crealy and associated adjoining land.

  Action taken

  The attraction was renamed Camel Creek Adventure Park and positioned as an adventure-oriented Cornish family park.

  Aftermath

  The new ownership also introduced plans for a substantially larger holiday and leisure development.

  Source

• 2004

  Sale to Crealy Great Adventure ParksM&A

  Background

  The attraction moved from its earlier Shire Horse Centre identity into the ownership of Crealy Great Adventure Parks.

  Action taken

  The property was acquired and rebranded as Cornwall's Crealy.

  Aftermath

  The venue became part of a broader family-park brand system and continued developing as a mixed leisure attraction.

  Source

• 2016

  Planning permission granted for proposed resort expansion[1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  Cornwall Council approved plans for a large adjoining holiday and leisure development involving holiday homes, a convention centre and additional amenities.

• 2015

  John Broome acquires and renames Cornwall's Crealy[1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  John Broome CBE purchased the attraction and relaunched it as Camel Creek Adventure Park.

• 2004

  Crealy Great Adventure Parks acquires the attraction[1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  The property was sold to Crealy Great Adventure Parks and adopted the Cornwall's Crealy brand.

• 1989

  Trelow Farm opens to the public as The Shire Horse Centre[1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Terry Sandling opened the Trelow Farm property at Tredinnick to visitors, establishing the attraction that later became Camel Creek Adventure Park.

• Royale Life becomes associated with the park[1]Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The attraction was later bought by Royale Life and is also described as Camel Creek Family Theme Park.

1. 1Camel Creek Adventure Parken.wikipedia.org
2. 2Camel Creek Adventure Park official websitecamelcreek.co.uk