By CARMEN SWADLING
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A PORT Macquarie man has bought the rides, some buildings and other attractions from theme park Fantasy Glades, which closed for the last time yesterday.
It is understood the buyer will build a new park within the next 18 months, on a new site in Port Macquarie.
Fantasy Glades manager Brian Hutchinson said he was delighted that the park might live on, albeit as a completely new park.
Mr Hutchinson said: "We're very happy about what has happened. The park was very important to us for 15 years so we're pleased there's going to be some connection kept with Fantasy Glades."
Plans to auction the park's equipment and attractions were put on hold after a party expressed interest in buying the lot.
"We set a conservative figure on the whole lot, hoping that someone would come along and while we never thought there would be another Fantasy Glades, we thought there was the scope for something else."
The announcement to close the park after 35 years was made in February this year.
It came because of the age and ill-health of partners and park operators George and Pat Spry, and because of economic concerns.
Mr Hutchinson said they were proud of what they had achieved with the park in the past 15 years.
Families from across the Hastings flocked to the park on Sunday for the final day.
A united love for the family venue was shared among those who wanted to visit one last time to see Snow White, the crooked house and Cinderella.
For the Frith-Nutt family of Port Macquarie, Fantasy Glades has become a part of their life - they are regular visitors with their family.
They say they will miss the family venue but are excited about the prospect of a new park being developed with the park's attractions.
Fantasy Glades has touched many lives since its formation in 1967 by George and Rosemary Whittaker, both sufferers of dwarfism.
George met Rosemary while he was performing an English pantomime of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was touring Australia.
Fantasy Glades was sold to the current owners in 1987.
It is estimated that more than three million people have visited the park, including about 1.2 million in the past 15 years.
Many people who first visited the park as children later returned with their children.