[6][2][5] Trabolgan was first opened as a holiday camp in 1948 by Pontin's, which built over 100 chalets, a dance hall and an outdoor swimming pool.

[7] Trabolgan was not successful in the longer term however, and it was converted into a boy's boarding school, Scoil na nÓg, operated by Gaedhealachas Teo from 1959 to 1973.

[7] In 1975, the Trabolgan estate was purchased by a Dutch Coal and Metal Industry Pension Fund and a small holiday development consisting of 30 houses, bar and clubhouse was opened in 1980, catering mainly for the continental market.

The decision to extend the village to include a Main Centre and a wide range of facilities was taken in 1983, and building was completed in 1985; the village was officially opened on 29 June 1985 (1985-06-29) by Michael McNulty, the Director General of Bord Fáilte, and W.L.

[7] The site changed hands several times, and was put up for sale in 2000[8] and purchased by Trevor Hemmings in 2002 to operate as Trabolgan Holiday Village.