Butlin's Memorabilia Website
After Butlins AYR - The Changes

Now known as Craig Tara Holiday Park

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Remembering AYR Butlins

Research into the transformations of Butlins AYR would not truly have been achievable without the outstanding program called Google Earth. Google Earth offers the ability to view images from significant historical moments, and this helpful tool allows us to observe a time that has since passed at the previous Butlins AYR location. Each photograph carries a copyright credit below it. This is done in accordance with the regulations specified at this link. I am thankful for the chance to showcase these screenshots, which were obtained using Google Earth (click on these words for additional information), for historical education. Google and Google Earth have not solicited me to include this here, nor do they have any connections to the design and information presented on this website. 

1999 - photo

The GeoInformation GroupAirbusData SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOLandsat / Copernicus  - Link

Changes towards the beach side of the former Butlins AYR Camp

In this area of the former Butlins AYR camp, I wanted to show you the changes to this area, which include the following key areas

  • The lake at the top end (Yellow circle)
  • The changes to the go-kart track (Purple circle)
  • The square area below the go-kart track (Teal circle)
  • The building towards the bottom of the image (Green circle)
  • The green area to the left-hand side (Pink circle)
1999 - photo

The GeoInformation GroupAirbusData SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOLandsat / Copernicus  - Link

1999 Image

As we can see from the photo above, we are going to look into the go-kart track, the square area below this, which I believe is the Crazy Golf. This area changes quite a lot over the years and is quite interesting to witness on Google Earth.

2004 - photo

The GeoInformation GroupAirbusData SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOLandsat / Copernicus  - Link

2004 Image

Here are the changes that I can see...

  • The lake remains the same as in 1999 - no change
  • The go-kart track now has a cover over part of it, which I assume is for the use of covering the go-kart machines and the entrance.
  • The crazy golf area looks to be busier than in 1999.
  • The other areas remain unchanged.
2007 - photo

Maxar Technologies  - Link

2007 Image

Here are the changes that I can see...

  • The lake remains the same as in 1999 - no change
  • The storage area for the go-karts has now changed to a white covering.
  • The crazy golf area looks to be the same activity as in 2004.
  • The grass area to the left-hand side now has four new caravans added.
2011 - photo

Maxar Technologies  - Link

2011 Image

Here are the changes that I can see...

  • The lake remains the same as in 1999 - no change
  • The go-kart track seems to have overhead signage added.
  • The crazy golf area looks to be less busy than in 2007.
  • The building in 1999, circled in green, was demolished by 2011 and replaced with what looks like caravans. 
  • The green on the left-hand side is roughly the same as it was in 2007
2016 - photo

Not Shown - Google Earth  - Link

2016 Image

Here are the changes that I can see...

  • The lake has been drained and replaced with new caravans in its place. Evidence in this photo shows what is left of the bottom of the lake before modernisation was made to this area.
  • The go-kart track seems to be the same as in 1999.
  • The crazy golf area looks like some funfair might of been added.
  • The building circled in green and the carpark next to it have completely gone, with caravans now in its place.
  • The grass area to the left-hand side is now hosting caravans.
2018 - photo

Not Shown - Google Earth  - Link

2018 Image

Here are the changes that I can see...

  • The lake is no longer at the former Butlins AYR camp.
  • The go-kart track seems to be the same as in 1999.
  • The crazy golf seems to have been removed and replaced with new funfair machines.
2021 - photo

Airbus  - Link

2021 Image

The biggest change came to the former Butln's AYR camp by 2025, which remains by 2025.

  • Everything from the photo of 1999 has been replaced with caravans. 
1999 - photo

The GeoInformation GroupAirbusData SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOLandsat / Copernicus  - Link

Changes towards to the Butlins AYR Camp chalets

In this area of the former Butlins AYR camp, I wanted to show you the changes to this area, which include the following key areas

  • The Butlins Chalets lines (Red circle)
1999 - photo

The GeoInformation GroupAirbusData SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOLandsat / Copernicus  - Link

1999 Image

We start with these former Butlins chalet lines. 

  • This is the photo from 1999, when Butlins was transferred to Haven in the changes made by the owner at the time, the Rank Organisation.
2004 - photo

Getmapping plc  - Link

2004 Image

Changes noticed in this image

  • A car park has been added to the top four Butlins chalet blocks at the top.
  • No other changes to the other areas.
2007 - photo

Maxar Technologies  - Link

2007 Image

Changes noticed in this image

  • In the middle row, we see the second line of chalet block has been demolished and removed from the former Butlins AYR Camp.
  • All other areas still look the same.
2007 - photo

Maxar Technologies  - Link

2011- 2016 Image

Changes noticed in this image (I have used the 2016 image as it's clearer)

  • By 2011, all these former Butlins chalet blocks were demolished and replaced with caravans.
  • Nothing remains from the photo of 1999.
2004 - photo

Getmapping plc - Link

Changes towards the Haven AYR Sports area

I don't know a great deal about the layout of Butlins AYR (yet), but I am going to assume this is an outdoor sports area with a park. 

  • I am going to take a guess and say this building is associated with the activities, but not sure (let me know) (Red circle)
  • The outdoor sports area (circle yellow)
  • Park and grass area (white circle)
  • Unknown building (pink circle)
2004 - photo

Getmapping plc - Link

2004

There is currently no image available from 1999, so we start looking at this area from 2004.

  • This photo would now be in Haven under the ownership of Bourne Leisure Ltd.
2011 - photo

Maxar Technologies - Link

2011

Not much changed in this area until this year, when I noticed...

  • The two buildings were demolished and removed.
  • The sports area remains in place
  • The park still remains, but it looks like it might be in the process of being removed, or the photo is not clear enough.
2016 - photo

Not shown - Google Earth - Link

2016

Here are the changes I have noticed

  • My theory of the park being removed was incorrect, as we can see in this photo that it has been modernised. From this view, we really can't see what has changed; however, we do notice it's got bigger.
  • The former building and carpark locations are now caravans.
2018 - photo

Not shown - Google Earth - Link

2018

Here are the changes I have noticed

  • By 2018, we see that the outdoor sports area has been removed from the top of the grass area. 
  • A new football and sports area is added further below the grass with a new small building or an outside pool? (blue area) added.
  • The park area seems to be a different colour, but that could be the photo.
2023 - photo

Airbus - Link

2023

Here are the changes I have noticed

  • The former sports area is now replaced with caravans.
  • The former park area has been removed and replaced by caravans
  • The football and sports area remains, but the blue area from 2018 is no longer there.
  • This area remains like this up to 2025.
2004 - photo

Getmapping plc - Link

Changes towards the former Butlins AYR Entertainment Area and Swimming Pool

According to the Haven Map, the following buildings are known as

  • The yellow is just a car park (which we all knew)
  • The pink area is the outdoor bar with Bungee Trampolines
  • The Red area is the lighthouse Harbour and Adventure Village (main area for activities such as crazy golf and restaurants)
  • Pink is the owner's swimming pool and the owner's services
  • The blue area is called Splashaway Bay
  • The Teal area is the main facilities, including the hire shop
  • The green area is a Nisa shop with some activities such as 9-hole footgolf and a train stop.
2004 - photo

Getmapping plc - Link

2004

I wanted to concentrate on this area to see if much changed as you can see the former Butlins design on these buildings. 

  • Let's see how it goes and if anything does change.
2011 - photo

Not shown - Google Earth - Link

2011

It was not until the year of 2011 that I noticed a minor change.

  • The Splashaway swimming pool seems to have some of its flumes removed. 
2016 - photo

Not shown - Google Earth - Link

2016

It was not until the year of 2016 that I noticed a minor change.

  • There seems to be either a small swimming pool or something similar to this design being added to this area.
2018 - photo

Not shown - Google Earth - Link

2018

I have notice one small minor change and one big change

  • The circle in yellow is no longer showing that small swimming pool and has changed its layout, which it has had since 2004.
  • The lighthouse Harbour and Adventure Village building seems to be half in size. This size reduction has affected all three buildings that were attached and converted into a grass area. 
2023 - photo

Not shown - Google Earth - Link

2023

By 2023, we see some more changes.

  • The circle in red has been redeveloped again and changed its layout.
  • The Harbour and Adventure Village building has now had its green area at the front developed.
  • The Splashaway swimming pool seems to have had some new flumes added.
2025 - photo

Not shown - Google Earth - Link

2025

There was only one small minor changed that I noticed.

  • There seems to be either windows for sunlight or what I believe to be solar panels added to the  Harbour and Adventure Village building.
2025 - photo

Getmapping plc - Link

Still there from Butlins AYR

These still remain from Butlins...

  • These chalets are the design from the Butlins Holiday Worlds era under the ownership of the Rank Organisation. They are still there as of 2025. 
  • The chalets are now renamed to Apartments and like Butlins, have had several upgrades made to them
  • On the Haven website, they can be found here if you wish to see them and notice the Butlins Holiday Worlds chalet design. Click on these words to see them on the official Haven website.

Do you have any memories of the former Butlins AYR that you would like to share?

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