The camp continued to be enormously successful throughout until the 1980s, but on 29 October 1986, Butlins announced that it would have no place in the company's future and would close after Christmas, and it did so on 31 December 1986.

Maintenance had now become such an issue, especially with the chalet's flat roofs and wooden panelling, that a clause was added to the booking conditions limiting refunds to 20% of the cost of the holiday.

[3] By 1996, with storm damage causing more maintenance problems, Vale of Glamorgan Council threatened to refuse renewal of Barry Island Resort's entertainments licence, unless work was carried out to improve the now 30-year-old site.

Majestic's now trading company, Insurebowls Ltd, continued through the summer, but closed the camp for good on 7 November 1996,[5] although they had originally intended to reopen the following year.

On 27 September 2014, the Mayor of The Vale of Glamorgan, Councillor Howard Hamilton, unveiled a blue plaque in the new 'Seafront Garden', part of a £3,000,000 refurbishment of the coastline round Nells Point.

Sir Billy's widow, Sheila, Lady Butlin, sent a letter expressing her delight at this tribute to her husband and "one of his favourite camps."