Sunnyvale Holiday Camp, Rhyl

Sunnyvale Holiday Camp was a 22-acre seafront camp which opened back in 1934. It could accommodate over a thousand guests in 560 wooden chalets. The camp boasted a range of facilities, including an 80ft x 40ft outdoor pool, a large dance hall, clubhouse, and tennis courts. It operated as a full-board facility, with all meals included and taken in the large communal dining hall. The wooden chalets were equipped with beds, electric lighting, a chest of drawers, and a cold-water sink. They were advertised as “the best built and equipped in the country.” Communal toilet blocks were located nearby. The camp also had its own 50-bed hotel.

The wooden chalets were equipped with beds, electric lighting, a chest of drawers, and a cold-water sink. They were advertised as “the best built and equipped in the country.” Communal toilet blocks were located nearby. The camp also had its own 50-bed hotel.

The following year, the camp was sold to well-regarded local GP, Dr. Robert Jones, for £40,000. However, two years later, he found himself in court over a dispute concerning ownership rights. A local estate agent, who was also a childhood friend, claimed that Dr. Jones had disregarded their joint partnership agreement. The court ruled in favor of the estate agent, who was awarded the hotel as part of the settlement, and it was soon renamed Sunnyvale Holiday Flatlets.

At this time, the camp still included over 400 of the original 1930s chalets, most of which were very rundown and still lacked hot water and bathrooms. Dr Jones said the communal toilet blocks were “disgusting” and were a constant nightmare to keep clean. He also said that he only owned 150 chalets, as the rest had been sold before he took over. Back then, a Sunnyvale chalet was changing hands for around £300.

In 1971 60 holidaymakers staged an “angry protest” as the swimming pool was empty on arrival. Dr Jones said it had been drained due to vandalism with people throwing glass bottles inro the water along with milk crates and even a full dustbin! Managmenet vowed to have it cleaned and refilled as soon as possible. A tall wall was later built around the pool to try and protect it from the holidaymakers. 

In 1978 Colwyn Bay’s Director of Housing said that the camp “was the worst in North Wales….it is a downmarket holiday camp where ‘Coronation Street’ people take holidays…some behave in a manner which has to be seen to be believed”. He went on to say that his office is always flooded with complaints every summer. 

The camp changed hands in 1980 and the new owners announced plans to replace all the old chalets with 300 new caravans. Later that year a woman was found battered to death in one of the old chalets – her husband was later convicted.

The redevelopment was slow but steady and the last wooden chalet was finally removed in 1988. The following year three of the new caravans were destroyed in a mystery arson attack. 

The site is still open today and known as Sunnyvale Caravan & Lodge Park. Nothing remains of the old camp, even the swimming pool has been filled in. Half of the Sunnyvale Hotel still stands and now appears to be a private residence. The site contains rows of neat caravans and lodges and has an upmarket reputation with good reviews  In 2022 the park manager received backlash for making remarks about some of the “riff raff’ people who rent caravans at the park.

We’d love to hear your stories and memories of the camp. Please feel free to leave a comment below.