HMS Scotia
Butlin's AYR had not started as a holiday camp and was built the support of the war. Billy Butlin was asked to design and build two new camps. With Filey being financially supported by the military to complete its creation, Billy Butlin had found a lovely location in AYR where he had started to supervise the build of a new camp. It was done with the agreement that this location will be handed back to Billy Butlin at the end of the war.
1946 - Butlins opens in Scotland
As the war comes to an end, the camp is closed down as HMS Scotia and handed to Billy Butlin MBE. Billy Butlin started working on the camp immediately to bring it to his standard. It was only a matter of time before we see the uniform change from the military into the Butlin's uniform. It was at that moment in 1946, that we see the AYR camp open its gates to campers and started to entertain its guest.
1987 - Rebranded to Butlin's Holiday Worlds
The expectation of the holidays had changed a great deal and a big decision had to be made on how the Butlin's camp continues to run. The big decision was made to close down several camps and to change the five remaining camps into a new era of Butlin's.
AYR Holiday World
As one of the last five remaining camps to continue the name of Butlins, this location was renamed to AYR Holiday World. However, this was never going to be the permanent name.
Wonderwest World
Soon after, it was renamed to its final name, Wonderwest World, where it continued to represent the Butlin's name until the end of 1998.
1999 - Butlins AYR closes and Haven is born
The current owners of the time, Rank organisation, wanted to take Butlins in a new direction and unfortunately, Butlins AYR was not a part of this plan. It was decided that this lovely camp was to transfer to the sister company Haven, which was also a part of the Rank Holiday division. Today, it continues under the name Craig Tara under the current owner's Bourne Leisure Limited. Very little of the chalets from Butlins remain today.
