If you’ve ever driven through the winding, sheep-dotted lanes of Pembrokeshire, you know the vibe. It’s quiet. It’s green. It’s the last place you’d expect to find a screaming mass of white-knuckle adrenaline. But then you see it. Tucked away in a corner of Wales is Megafobia at Oakwood Theme Park, a wooden giant that basically put British theme parks back on the map in the mid-90s.
It’s loud.
Honestly, that’s the first thing that hits you. It isn't the smooth, clinical hum of a modern B&M hypercoaster. It’s a rhythmic, thumping roar. It sounds like a freight train having a disagreement with a forest. For coaster enthusiasts, that sound is basically a siren song. Built by the legendary (and sadly now defunct) Custom Coasters International (CCI), Megafobia was the ride that proved "woodies" weren't just relics of the Victorian seaside. They were—and are—legitimate thrill machines.
The Wild History of the Welsh Woodie
Back in 1996, Oakwood wasn't a massive player. It was a family-run park that started as a farm. Imagine the audacity of dropping nearly £2 million on a massive wooden structure in the middle of nowhere. At the time, wooden coasters were seen as old-fashioned. But the park’s owners took a massive gamble on CCI and designer Larry Bill.
The result? Pure magic.
Megafobia didn't just win over the locals; it obsessed the global community. For years, it sat comfortably at the top of the Golden Ticket Awards. People were flying from the States just to ride a coaster in a Welsh field. It has this specific "out and back" style but with a twister finale that catches you off guard every single time.
Why the 2023 Retrack Changed Everything
Let’s be real for a second. By the late 2010s, Megafobia was getting... crunchy. And not the good kind of crunchy. It was getting rough. Wooden coasters breathe. They move. They’re living things made of Southern Yellow Pine, and decades of Welsh rain and high G-forces take a toll. Fans were worried it might follow the path of many other CCI rides and just slowly rot away or get torn down.
✨ Don't miss: Things to do in Hanover PA: Why This Snack Capital is More Than Just Pretzels
Then came the Great Re-track.
Oakwood brought in The Gravity Group, basically the gold standard for modern wooden coaster engineering. This wasn't just a bit of sandpaper and a fresh coat of varnish. We’re talking about a massive £2 million investment. They replaced huge sections of the track with "Engineered Track"—this clever vertical laminate that’s way stronger than traditional wood.
The most iconic change? They increased the steepness of the first drop.
It used to be a 55-degree drop. Now? It’s 60 degrees. That might not sound like much on paper, but when you’re crested that lift hill and looking down at the Pembrokeshire landscape, those extra five degrees feel like the earth is falling away from under you. It’s faster. It’s smoother. But crucially, it still feels like Megafobia. It hasn't lost its soul.
The Ride Experience: A Row-by-Row Breakdown
If you’re heading to Oakwood, your seat choice matters more than you think.
The front row is all about the visuals. You see every twist, every head-chopper moment where the timber supports look just a little too close for comfort. It’s breezy. It’s fast. But if you want the "true" Megafobia experience, you have to go for the back.
🔗 Read more: Hotels Near University of Texas Arlington: What Most People Get Wrong
Sitting in the very last car is a lesson in physics. Because the train is so long, the front half of the train pulls the back half over the hills. This creates "ejector airtime." You aren't just floating; you are being actively launched out of your seat, held in only by that snug lap bar. The first drop in the back row is legendary. You get yanked down that 60-degree incline before you even realize you’ve peaked.
Then there’s the "quad" of hills.
Megafobia loves a good lateral G-force. As you fly through the structure, the ride throws you sideways. It’s chaotic but controlled. It’s that feeling of being right on the edge of "too much" without actually being painful. The way the track weaves through its own wooden supports creates a sense of speed that steel coasters usually can't replicate. When you’re surrounded by a blur of brown timber, 48 mph feels like 90 mph.
Comparing Megafobia to the New Kids on the Block
Look, we live in a world of RMC hybrids now. Rides like Untamed at Walibi Holland or Zadra at Energylandia are technically "better" by modern metrics. They do inversions. They have 90-degree drops. They’re smooth as butter.
But there’s a nuance to Megafobia that those rides lack.
It’s the "jiggle." A great wooden coaster should have a bit of a shuffle. It should feel like it's trying to shake itself apart just a little bit. That’s where the thrill comes from. If a wooden coaster is too smooth, it might as well be steel. Megafobia hits that sweet spot. Since the 2023 renovation, it has the reliability of a new ride but the aggressive personality of a 90s classic.
💡 You might also like: 10 day forecast myrtle beach south carolina: Why Winter Beach Trips Hit Different
Also, can we talk about the night rides? If you can get to Oakwood during one of their "After Dark" events, do it. Riding Megafobia in the pitch black of the Welsh countryside is a spiritual experience. Without the visual cues of the track ahead, the turns feel sharper and the drops feel deeper. It is genuinely one of the best night-ride experiences in Europe.
The Physics of the "Woodie"
Standard coasters use wheels that wrap around the track. Wooden coasters mostly sit on top of it. This creates a tiny bit of "play" or "gap" between the wheel and the rail. When you hear that clack-clack-clack, that’s the train dancing on the track.
Megafobia utilizes a "gravity-fed" design that is masterfully paced. A common mistake in coaster design is losing all the energy too early. You’ll see some rides that have a great first drop and then just sort of meander back to the station. Not this one. The finale—a series of tight, low-to-the-ground turns—is actually one of the fastest-feeling parts of the ride. It keeps its momentum until the very last second when the friction brakes finally bite.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Don't just turn up and hope for the best.
- Check the weather. It’s Wales. It rains. A lot. The good news? Megafobia actually runs faster when the tracks are wet. The rain acts as a lubricant, and the train flies. Just bring a poncho because hitting raindrops at 50 mph feels like being poked with tiny needles.
- The "Non-Managed" Queue. Oakwood isn't Alton Towers. It doesn't always have those massive, winding Disney-style queues. On a weekday in May, you might walk straight on. On a sunny Saturday in August? Different story. Aim for the middle of the week if you want to marathon the ride.
- Check the Restraints. Megafobia uses individual lap bars. They’re quite forgiving, but they do have a "click" requirement for safety. If you're a larger rider, the staff are usually great, but be aware that wooden coaster seats are traditionally a bit narrower than modern steel ones.
- Don't ignore the rest of the park. While you’re there for the woodie, Speed: No Limits (the Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter) is a great vertical-drop companion. But Megafobia is the heart of the place.
Is it still worth the trek?
Honestly, yes. Pembrokeshire is a long way from pretty much everywhere. It’s a trek from London, and it’s a hike from the North. But Megafobia is a piece of living history that has been given a second lease on life.
It represents an era of coaster design that was bold and experimental. It’s not a corporate, sanitized experience. It’s raw. It’s loud. It’s tucked away in a beautiful part of the world. In an age where everything is becoming digital and simulated, there is something deeply satisfying about 20 tons of wood and steel hurtling through a field.
Actionable Insights for Coaster Fans
- Visit Post-Retrack: If you haven't been since 2022, you haven't ridden the "new" Megafobia. The Gravity Group’s work on the first drop and the turn-around has completely eliminated the "potholes" that used to plague the ride.
- Seat Strategy: Ride the front for the view, then immediately head to the back for the airtime. The difference in forces is significant enough that it feels like two different coasters.
- Maintenance Matters: Keep an eye on Oakwood's social media before you travel. Wooden coasters require more maintenance than steel ones, and while rare, they do sometimes have delayed openings on very cold or very wet mornings while the wood "warms up."
- Combine with the Coast: Since you’re in Pembrokeshire, pair your Oakwood trip with a visit to Tenby or the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. It makes the long drive to West Wales much more justifiable.
The 2023 investment by Oakwood proves they know what they have. Megafobia isn't just a ride; it’s a landmark. It’s the coaster that refused to grow old quietly, and thanks to some clever engineering and a lot of timber, it’s currently running better than it has in thirty years.