Rhondda Heritage Park is attracting more visitors to the county borough than ever before with a record increase over the summer months.
The award-winning tourist attraction in Trehafod is recognised throughout the country as a location that provides a fun and interesting day out for individuals, groups, school children and students.
Throughout the month of July more than 6,000 visitors walked through its doors to celebrate the whole host of events on offer.
During that particular month many of the 6,005 visitors took the opportunity to enjoy the Petrol Head Fest which attracted vintage vehicles to the site and Family History Day – just two of the main attractions for July. During the same period in 2008 4,872 people visited the Park.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Recreation Cllr Robert Bevan said: “This is excellent news and once again displays the immense popularity of Rhondda Heritage Park which enhances the tourism potential for the whole of the county borough.
“Throughout the summer we have had many outstanding events held at the Park, including the Lewis Merthyr Day in June followed by the vintage transport day and the ever-popular Family History Day.
“Such events raise the profile of the Park and encourage many thousands of people to visit the heart of the South Wales valleys to celebrate our cultural and industrial history and enjoy the many facilities on offer.”
Opened on the site of the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery, the Park boasts the unforgettable Black Gold Tour, a fully guided tour with ex-miner guides and involves multimedia presentations, a tour of the pit head buildings and a trip ‘underground’ to experience the life of a coal miner.
It is also home to the Energy Zone Children’s Play Area and there is always plenty of entertainment on offer for the youngsters.
The Visitor Centre is home to the Art Gallery that celebrates diverse creative work all year round, the Valley View Restaurant with its home-made cakes and pastries, a Welsh-themed gift shop and 19th century period re-constructed valley street.
The park can also offer conference, meetings, seminars and social facilities for both daytime and evening hire that are all housed within the restored colliery buildings.
Community groups in the Rhondda are also being encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities on offer to them.
Over the years the Park has been recognised for its hugely successful family-fun days including the annual Lewis Merthyr Day to commemorate the massive impact coal mining has had on the locality and its contribution to the world at large.
The Park has also become the home of steam fairs, classic car shows and of course the festive Santa’s Toy Mine experience which attracts thousands of children from throughout South Wales.
For more information about Rhondda Heritage Park, log onto their website at www.rhonddaheritagepark.com
