From tent camping to billion-pound woodland resorts

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: What began in 1968 as a Dutch entrepreneur's way to host sporting goods customers in small tents has evolved into a massive holiday empire. Today, Center Parcs operates sprawling forest villages across the UK and Ireland, each covering roughly 400 acres of woodland and maintaining nearly 97% annual occupancy.

The concept originated with Piet Derksen, a Dutch entrepreneur who purchased woodland near Reuver in 1968. Initially, his 17-store sporting goods chain offered customers a chance to relax in small tents at a site called De Lommerbergen. This successful model quickly transitioned from temporary tents to permanent bungalows and chalets, setting the stage for a global brand.

The UK expansion began in July 1987 with the opening of Center Parcs Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. This first UK site was chosen for its mature trees and its location in an area impacted by the decline of the coal industry. Following this, the company expanded to Elveden Forest in 1989 and Longleat Forest in 1994. The business has seen significant ownership shifts, including acquisition by Scottish & Newcastle in 1989 and a sale to The Blackstone Group in 2006 for a reported £1.1 billion. By 2015, Blackstone agreed to sell the company to Brookfield Properties for £2.4 billion.

The company's footprint has grown to include six villages across the UK and Ireland, with the most recent opening being Longford Forest in Ireland in 2019. While the UK and European branches were once a single global entity, they have operated as separate companies since 2001. Looking ahead, the company announced plans in November 2024 for its first Scottish location near Hawick, representing a £350 million investment.

Operating these vast estates involves complex logistics and high occupancy rates. For example, the Sherwood Forest village has seen its accommodation increase from 609 lodges to 900 by the end of 2017. These sites are massive undertakings; the development of Woburn Forest, for instance, required overcoming significant planning hurdles regarding Green Belt land before its completion in spring 2014.

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