'Very emotional': East Lothian attraction to close after 25 years
Last updated 29th Aug 2026
The founder of East Links Family Park has revealed he took one “final dive” down its famous four-lane slide before it was removed, as the East Lothian attraction prepares to close after 25 years.
Sunday, August 30th, will be the last day for visitors, with its lease coming to an end and plans to relocate to a new home nearby being rejected.
It's estimated more than two million families have passed through the gates of the attraction near Dunbar since it opened in 2001.
Managing director Grant Bell, told Forth 1 it's a “very emotional time".
"A lot of staff have been with me quite a long time," he explained. "Tara (Paxton) has been with us 22 years, a stalwart I think.
"Her and I took our final dive down the four-lane slide last night as it's away to pastures new this morning.
"It's going to be sad leaving at the end."
Visitors have branded the announcement a "huge loss" for the region.
"A lot of our friends and fan base are sending lovely comments" Grant said.
"Some of them remembering when the park opened, when it was just a little wooden hut that you got a sticker and went in with a bag of feed.
"There wasn't much there then, just the animals and the train. But there's a lot of great feelings of the happy times that people have had here."
But he added: "There's also a lot of misunderstanding as well. They don't know why it's closing really or why the landlord has chosen not to have somebody else in place or what have you. These are a mystery to us all.
"None of us know the answer to that. So we're just going to leave there very, very proud."
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As well as its castle climbing frame, the attraction is also known for its train tour and incredible range of animals.
It has welcomed several generations of families, with many enjoying the go-karts, tractor rides, trampolines, 18-hole crazy golf, ball blast arena, musical maze, and hay barn.
Bosses shared the sad news with customers on social media and thanked visitors and staff for their support over the last two decades.
Although the slide has been removed, staff say there are still plenty of reasons for visitors to make one final trip.
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Grant says the go-karts, trampolines and Jelly Bellies are among the attractions still at the park.
And visitors who come this weekend will also receive a free ticket to Clyde Valley Family Park near Lanark - its sister site.
The ticket will remain valid through the park's pumpkin event, which Grant describes as one of the biggest pumpkin events in Scotland.
Grant said: "We have achieved a lot down there. There are some things away from the park, but there's still a lot of the animals there. The go-karts are there, the trampolines are there, the Jelly Bellies are there.
"There's still a lot of reasons for people to come and say goodbye."