Any additional information is most welcome!
Name of Building or Attraction |
Original Features |
Changes from 1963 to 1985 |
Changes during the "Somerwest World" rebuild in 1985/86 |
Changes from 1987 to 1997 |
Changes during the rebuild in 1998/1999 |
Changes since 1999 |
Regency (Later Renamed "Sunsplash") |
Housed the Old Time Ballroom, Regency Coffee Bar,Rock 'n' roll Ballroom, Indoor heated pool, Games Room & Bingo |
No major changes |
"The Sunsplash" pool opens, where the Indoor Heated Pool used to be. New flumes added as well as rapids, etc. |
The Crazy Horse Saloon is added. |
Sunsplash pool closed in 1998, but still remains complete with water (for Sprinkler System). Building now connected to Skyline Pavilion. |
"Green Baize" Games Room closed in 2005. Area now re-opened in 2008 as "Crackshots DLG", a paintless paintball & laser game zone. |
Outdoor Heated Pool |
An Outdoor Swimming pool situated between the Regency and Princes Buildings, overlooking the boating lake. |
Converted into a fun pool in 1984 |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Demolished - Now the area is the main part of the Skyline Pavilion. |
Land still covered by the Skyline Pavilion. |
Boating Lake |
The Boating lake covered most of the front of the camp. Soil was dug up from it and used to make a mound to stop the entire camp flooding! |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Half of Boating lake filled in to make room for new fun fair in 1992 |
No major changes |
The opposite end of the lake from the funfair was filled in to allow the BlueSkies time share apartments to be built on it during 2006. A small section of the lake remains today between the funfair & BlueSkies Apartments. |
Princes |
Included the following: Pig and Whistle Bar, Indoor Roller Skating rink, Princes Ballroom and Quiet Lounge |
No major changes |
Barnums Show Bar added. |
Broadway Theatre added onto the top floor in the early 1990s. 200-seat Cinema replaced the Indoor skating rink. |
Broadway Theatre refurbished and renamed 'Centre Stage', a 25,000 sq ft venue with a maximum capacity of 2000 people. Barnums refurbished and renamed 'Reds' (18,000 sq ft, max capacity 1200). Building now connected to the Skyline Pavilion. |
No major changes |
Playhouse |
The Playhouse Theatre and shops |
Burned down in 1971. Replaced with Exmoor Patio / Gardens and Exmoor Bar. |
No major changes. |
Exmoor Bar replaced with Molly Malones (Later renamed 'Malones'). Exmoor Gardens Replaced with the new Crazy Golf Course |
(Molly) Malones was closed in 1998 |
Crazy Golf replaced with Adventure Golf in 2007. |
Gaiety |
Housed the Gaiety Theatre, Radio Butlin, TV lounges, snooker/billiard room, shopping arcade, post office and coffee bar |
Radio Butlin scrapped in 1977 |
No major changes |
Gaiety Theatre Closes |
Hotshots (10-pin bowling) replaced the Theatre which was standing empty. A staff only area replaced the entertainments office. Building now connected to the Skyline Pavilion. |
Building now houses Finnigans, Jaks, Jokers and the shops which face onto the Boardwalk shopping area. |
Amusement Park |
Amusement park with various rides. Also included an indoor section. |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Closed 1992 and moved to new site on what was the boating lake. Indoor part became the children's playground. |
Multi weather sports courts were added onto the former outdoor funfair area |
No major changes |
Nursery |
Various facilities for infants |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Dining Halls |
Huge 43,000 sq ft building with 2 dining halls for campers, named Gloucester and Kent. |
No major changes |
Halls renamed 'Devon' & 'Somerset' |
No major changes |
Renamed 'Ocean Drive' (capacity 1500) & 'Coral Beach' (capacity 500). Still used as dining rooms |
No major changes |
Beachcomber Building |
Originally known as the "Stadium Building" with the Beachcomber Bar on the ground floor and games and other facilities on the first floor. |
Re named "Beachcomber Building" in 1970. New Children's Theatre added the same year. Also Chinese restaurant & Disco. |
No major changes |
Beachcomber Bar closed. |
Disused. The whole building is left standing, but is not used. |
Demolished in 2006 prior to new BlueSkies apartments being built on top of adjoining boating lake. Area is now grassed over as part of landscaping for BlueSkies. |
Windsor Building |
Originally housed a Quiet Lounge, Children's Playroom and the Windsor Dining Hall. |
The following were added (and some removed) |
The Holiday Fayre Restaurant was re named "The Family Diner" |
No major changes |
Demolished in 1999. The area now houses the Kids' large outdoor play park |
No major changes, area still hosts the kids outdoor play park aswell as the Junior Driving School. |
Reception Building |
Also included public telephones, lost property, British Rail office and campers mail |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Building still used for reception & guest services although most check-ins are handled in the Skyline now. |
Monorail |
A monorail track with two trains, each carrying 40 people. The half-mile track was in a figure of eight with the cross-over above the outdoor swimming pool |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Last ran 1996. Track remained in place for a couple of years before being torn down to make room for Skyline Pavilion |
n/a |
n/a |
Chair Lift |
630 meters (690 yards) of cable running from the front of the camp to the sports field at the rear. |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Closed end of 1997 season and demolished the following year |
n/a |
n/a |
Dry Ski Slope |
An artificial ski slope situated next to the water-skiing lake |
Removed in the mid 1970s |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Oasis / Splash Indoor Swimming Pools |
n/a |
n/a |
New indoor pool built on the site of the old Tennis Courts in 1988. Originally named 'Oasis'. |
No major changes |
Pool tripled in size in 1998 and renamed 'Splash'. Several new water rides also added. |
No major changes |
Miniature Railway |
Formed a 3/4 mile loop around the water skiing lake |
Moved 1977 to a new shorter line running from the self-catering reception to Flatlets |
Moved yet again, this time running from main Reception to Flatlets at back of camp. |
Closed end of 1989 & replaced by road train |
n/a |
n/a |
Steam Locomotives |
2 full-size steam locos on static display next to the Beachcomber. Duchess of Hamilton (built 1938) and Knowle (built 1880) |
Both removed end of 1974 season |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Camp Chapel |
A small Church of England chapel with a maximum capacity of around 30. Located in Green Camp |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes, still kept in remarkably good condition. |
Red Camp |
Chalets |
No major changes |
Renamed 'Redwood' |
No major changes |
Now known as 'Surfer's Point' & Sunset Wharf' |
No major changes |
Blue Camp |
Chalets |
No major changes |
Renamed 'Beachwood' |
No major changes |
Now known as 'Pacific Wharf' & 'Ocean Point' |
No major changes |
Yellow Camp |
Chalets |
No major changes |
Renamed 'Yellowstone Park' |
Large section demolished and replaced with new apartments during the late 1980's. New apartments known as 'Exmoor Village', remaining older chalets became part of 'Beachwood' |
Newer apartments renamed 'Oyster Bar', old two storey chalets now known as 'Atlantic Bay' & old single storey ones now known as 'Pacific Wharf'. |
No major changes |
Green Camp |
Chalets |
No major changes |
Renamed 'Greenacres' |
No major changes |
Now known as 'Holnicote Village' |
No major changes |
Flatlets |
Self-catering apartments located on the old sports field at the rear of the camp |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Some now used for staff accomodation only. |
All now used for staff accomodation. |
Modern Apartments |
Chalets |
n/a |
Built as 'Somerset Village' |
No major changes |
Renamed 'Plantation Quay' |
No major changes |
Caravan Park |
n/a |
n/a |
Built on sports field next to old water-skiing lake at rear of camp, named 'Lakeside' |
No major changes |
No major changes |
No major changes |
Skyline Pavilion |
50,000 sq ft covered area with restaurants, amusements & stage area for live shows. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Built new in 1999 linking the old Princes, Regency & Gaiety buildings. Covers the site of the old outdoor pool |
Skyline Cafe removed in 2007 and replaced with much flatter seating area to allow for arena concerts to take place in the Skyline Pavilion. |
New Outdoor Pool |
New outdoor funpool next to 'Splash'. |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
Built new in 1999 on site of old kids Yacht Pond |
No major changes |