The Big Sheep, Family amusement park in Abbotsham, Devon, England
The Big Sheep is an amusement park in Abbotsham, Devon, combining rides such as a roller coaster and a train with a farm area and a large indoor play zone called EWEtopia. The site sits on former farmland and mixes ride areas with animal enclosures side by side.
The site was originally Barton Farm, owned by one family for six generations before Rick Turner turned it into an entertainment venue in 1988. This change came at a time when many British farms were looking for new ways to stay economically viable.
The daily sheep races are the heart of the park and show how the site keeps its farming roots alive through animal activity. Visitors can watch the races up close, which is rare in a setting like this.
The park is mainly open daily from April through October and on weekends only for the rest of the year, so checking opening times before visiting is a good idea. Parking is free on site and the grounds are laid out to be easy to get around for visitors of all ages.
When local residents complained about the noise during the roller coaster installation, the park put up signs banning screaming on the rides. Those signs are still visible today and stand as a reminder of the agreement reached between the park and its neighbors.
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