[1] The park had been advertised as being a "winter wonderland" with a variety of exciting family events such as a Christmas market and a "magical tunnel of light",[2] but the majority of the promised attractions either malfunctioned or were of a very low quality.

The park closed after a week following complaints from customers and poor press attention, and the organisers were charged with misleading advertising and sentenced to 13 months in prison.

The park's disastrous operation gained national news attention in the UK and has since been compared to similar ill-fated events such as Willy's Chocolate Experience.

[3] Upon opening on 28 November 2008,[1] the park received a great deal of criticism in the United Kingdom due to the extremely poor quality of its attractions; the nativity scene was a crudely painted billboard that could be seen across a muddy field, the "magical tunnel of light" was a line of trees with fairy lights dangling from them,[1] the ice rink had melted due to a faulty generator, the "log cabins" were empty garden sheds, the Christmas market consisted of only four stalls and required an extra fee to enter, husky dogs and reindeer were mistreated and tethered in muddy conditions, and Santa's grotto was a very badly decorated cabin.

Violence began flaring up between visitors and workers, including an elf who was slapped and yelled at by a mother who complained about the event, two fathers brawling in the gingerbread house, and Santa being punched in the face by a father who became furious after being told his children were not allowed to sit on Santa's lap despite waiting in a four-hour-long line; a worker dressed up as a snowman received so much verbal abuse that he eventually walked off in full costume.