Gorey Courtown Forest Park Ltd, History

In January 1990 a group of local business people got together and formed Gorey Courtown Development Committee. Their objective was to create employment and develop facilities for the local community. They set out to achieve this through the extension of the tourist season in Courtown with emphasis on a weather-independent and family orientated attractions.

Brady Shipman Martin Consultants produced a report on behalf of the committee suggesting development of a marina, re-designing the square or developing the woodlands.

In 1991 the committee negotiated with Coillte regarding the purchase of the woodland. With the help of a £60,000 loan from Wexford County Council and financial contributions from over eighty local businesses, 62 acres of woodland was purchased. CAAS (Environmental Services) Ltd. was then engaged and they reported that a development in the woodland would be environmentally acceptable.

In 1993 a grant of £100,000 was sanctioned by Leader and the committee submitted plans for an Outdoor Activity Centre to Wexford County Council. Full planning permission was granted in March 1994 but this was appealed to An Bord Pleannala. Due to this delay the Leader grant was lost. An Bord Pleannala granted full planning permission in August 1994.

In 1993 the committee formed Gorey Courtown Forest Park Ltd.

In April 1995 Courtown was successful in obtaining Resort Renewal Status. This was a major achievement for the area and the committee came up with a new proposal. The main feature of their new proposal would be a Waterworld - a weather independent family attraction that would not compete with other attractions in the area. To fund this development it was hoped to build cottages in the woods which would be sold to individuals and then leased back to the company. A 20 acre area in the woodland was identified as being suitable for the project.

The final development was of 46 cottages and 27 coach houses built and sold to raise funds for the construction of the Waterworld. The Waterworld itself was finally completed and opened in October 2001.

The construction of the cottages and leisure center resulted in 100 jobs over a 3 year period. The cottages have 3 permanent and 5 part time workers employed in management and maintenance. The leisure centre has 10 permanent and 20 part time employees.