Woodleigh theme park up for sale Owner walks into P.E.I. Lending Agency and 'surrenders' the keys to the site
WAYNE THIBODEAU The Guardian
Dunvegan Castle is the most famous and ancient castle in Scotland. Woodleigh's replica is two-storeys high and fully furnished. There are even replicas of the dreaded dungeon, the treacherous moat and the legendary Rory Mor's Cascade. Photo special to The Guardian.
BURLINGTON — A British theme park in the heart of Prince Edward Island is being sold after the owner turned over the keys to the P.E.I. government, saying he could no longer operate the 40-acre site.
For five decades, Woodleigh Replicas and Gardens has welcomed visitors to tour more than 30 replicas of the most spectacular castles and cathedrals of the British Isles.
The theme park features replicas of St. Paul’s cathedral, Anne Hathaway’s cottage and Shakespeare’s birthplace.
Peter Wilson, CEO of the P.E.I. Lending Agency, says the owner of Woodleigh simply walked into his office and surrendered the keys. He said the owner, 71-year-old Peter Steele of Burlington, is not in default of his loan.
In fact, Steele’s payments are fully up-to-date.
“While the loan was not in default, the current owner, citing health reasons, decline in sales, chose not to reopen the facility,” Wilson told The Guardian.
“He’s been unable to sell it. He’s been trying for three years to sell it. There’s been no buyers. So he basically surrendered the keys.”
Woodleigh was a dream of First World War veteran Ernest Johnstone. He wanted to bring some of the colour and beauty of England and Scotland back to his native Prince Edward Island.
Johnstone purchased a farm in Burlington and christened it Woodleigh, after his ancestral home in Annandale, Scotland.
For more than 50 years he worked on the site.
Following the Second World War, Johnstone and his son, Senator Archibald Johnstone, also a veteran, began building the replicas.
By 1957, interest in the property grew to a point that it opened to the public.
Steele’s wife, Linda, said it’s an emotional time for her and her husband.
The couple have owned Woodleigh for 12 years.
They were the fourth owners, behind the Johnstones, a group of Halifax businessmen, and Don MacDougall.
“It’s a difficult time for us,” said Linda Steele, adding she will reserve further comment until a later time.
Woodleigh will be sold on the front steps of the Sir Louis Henry Davies Law Courts building in Charlottetown on June 26 at 12:30 p.m.
The province is not saying how much is still outstanding in its loans to Woodleigh. It is also not saying what it will do with the property if it doesn’t sell at the mortgage sale next month.
This marks the third major theme park to close in the province, following Fairy Land near Charlottetown and Rainbow Valley in Cavendish.
Matthew Jelley, president of the Cavendish Beach and the Dune Shores Tourist Association, said it’s always disappointing to see an attraction leave the industry.
“As a child, I always greatly enjoyed the property,” he said.
Jelley is a theme park owner himself. He owns the nearby Burlington Amusement Park as well as Shining Waters and Sandspit in Cavendish.
He isn’t ruling out a bid on the property himself, but added he has other projects on the go.
“But if there were people looking to partner, it’s certainly something we could consider,” he said.
“There’s certainly nothing else like it in the Maritimes.”
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Leroy Jones from East Point, PEI writes: Wow. This is sad news. That is a great place. Hopefully, there will be a solution that enables its continued operation.
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shawn worth from burnaby, b.c writes: Growing up the lsland, my father used to take all of us kid's to Woodleigh Replicas and then go-carts down the road. They were some of the bests summer's on the lsland. Another part of those great summer's was Rainbow Vally, and look what happened to that place. The PEI government really need's to keep the provincal park open for the kid's of today and also kid's of the future. The government has a responsibllty to step up and save some of the lsland for today's and future lslander's to enjoy. Beside's, it's a good little money maker. My father is not with us and has been gone for awhile, and l will always look back time to time on those great summer's of childhood and smile and yes , well up sometime's !!
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Ummmmmm Hello????? from PEI writes: Did anyone notice that there is an outstanding loan?? And for how much?? Yet again, government money being sunk!!
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Dan Gallant from Port Moody, B.C. writes: This is an unfortunate development. However the facility required upgrading or be closed. As a proud fortmer Islander two years ago we took our BC daughter in law to proudly show her this unique facility and were embarrassed with the sate of disrepair.
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david gill from charlottetown, pe writes: where was Liberal Government of PEI- asleep at the wheel again ( Mini-POLAR Foods?)
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tp from Charlottetown, PEI writes: what role do you think the Liberal government has in this?
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yeah...right from PEI writes: If all you residents of memory lane want to keep this place open, then go to the auction and buy it......
NO MORE TAXPAYERS MONEY SHOULD BE SQUANDERED....
The owners should be applauded for their integrity. Payments current is not something you hear to often from the PEI Write Off Authority.
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HUH? from PEI writes: I agree with yeah...right!! The Owner's payments are current and he is not in default! Plus, why would the Liberal Government have anything to do with this david gill???
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Sensible Shoes from PEI writes: I have great photos on my kids when they were little and we visited this theme park. Everytime we had PFA visitors, we took the kids there. I loved the place and feel sad that it has reached this place in its life. I applaud the owner for having the courage to turn the keys over and for keeping his loan current. If there are health issues and an aging issue as well, I wish the owner the best in the future and hope that the business is sold to someone who can bring it back to the old glory and make a success at it. And the poster above who asks the question about where the Liberal Government is....were you on the wrong site? This is not a government issue. You lose credibility when you make statements like that because they are inappropriate and silly.
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JD from PE writes: So what if he wasn't behind on his loan.
He said he had been trying to sell it for years and there was takers so the fact it is popular either means it isn't as popular as people think or he had a huge price attached to it.
This is the simple mans way out from under a loan. I can't pay the loan so here take my car. Also protects him from being forced to sell of personal assets to pay for his debt.
I not to sure we should all be praising this person.
he has debt to the Government and yet again we as taxpayers will bail someone else out.
Besides what was the Government doing in the amusement park business to begin with.
There are questions that need to be answered before we start heaping praise on people.
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Tourism Decline from New Brunswick writes: Has anyone given thought that the tourism industry on the Island as taken a hit with the price of fuel. As aformer Islander I wish I could make it home more often to see all the stuff that I used to enjoy as a child. But the price of gas and the bridge fee kills me. So anyone who visits the island is probably in the same boat. There has to be something done about the bridge atleast. I thought the bridge was suppose to be paid for 5 years ago. So yeah I can see why places such as Woodleigh and Rainbow Valley closed there gates. It really suck because the Island has so much to offer in the summer. Something has to be done to bring the people back to the Isalnd in the summer months. PEI Gov't better figure things out because PEI is running out of options.
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HUH? from PEI writes: Maybe the Government could get into the drug trade because that seems to be the only thing thriving on PEI at the moment!!
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Carrie Dobson from Charlottetown, PE writes: Interestingly enough the photo accompanying this story is of the Tower of London not Dunvegan.
I'm saddened to hear of Woodleigh's apparent demise. I am old enough to remember the Colonel building various pieces and as one who loves British history, it was a way for me to see things I doubt I will ever be fortunate enough to see across the pond.
I was there a few years ago and was saddened at the way it had been left to decay.
Let's hope that someone who realizes what a treasure Woodleigh is steps up to the plate and restores it to its former glory.
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Rusty Bedsprings from pei writes: OH, JD, To be as absolutely right and correct as you, not to mention cold-hearted. I would hate to see what you would have had to say if he was into the gov't for thousands of dollars. If we could only be as self righteous as you?
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Anne from Ontario writes: My husband and I visited Woodleigh last fall and it was sad to see that it was in pretty rough shape. I am sure it was not an easy decision for the Steeles to make; however the cost of restoring this wonderful place would be prohibitive I am sure. I too used to visit Woodleigh as a child and it is an amazing place.
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