A 10-acre Lapland theme park in Kent has entered administration after its sales suffered due to the disruption caused by the snow before Christmas.
LaplandUK sold 40,000 tickets in 2009, which was 10,000 fewer than in the previous year partly due, ironically, to the heavy snow, though also because of the economic downturn.
Refunds have had to be prepared for bookings on two days during the period of bad weather when the site was shut, as vehicles could not drive safely to the theme park near Lamberhurst, Kent.
Ticket holders affected are to be reimbursed through LaplandUK's insurance policy.
The founders Mike and Alison Battle said: "LaplandUK had a difficult year in 2009 due to the weather, the impact of the recession, and lower than expected attendance from the local area". The loss of sales on those two days when the site had to close also had an adverse effect on the business.
The attraction opened in 2006, and had been visited by about 120,000 customers in the past three years. LaplandUK won media attention when it invited the families of 200 troops in Afghanistan to visit for free over the Christmas period.
Though it is in administration, the company is in discussions with new partners and may make an announcement about a new structure in February.
The administrators were not named.
