The Big Sheep

The Big Sheep is an amusement farm park in Abbotsham, near Bideford in Devon, England. The attraction developed from Abbotsham Barton Farm, a family-owned agricultural property that had remained with the same family for six generations. In the late 1980s, the farm faced commercial pressure, while the construction of the A39 North Devon Link Road divided the property and reduced the viability of some traditional farming activities. Owner Michael Turner responded by converting redundant farm buildings into a visitor attraction, opening The Big Sheep in 1988. The original concept was strongly agricultural. Early elements included an animal park, sheep milking demonstrations, a farm shop and a restaurant. This initial farm-based model did not produce the returns expected, so the business broadened its offer with more conventional leisure and entertainment attractions. Sheep races and sheep shows became important signature features, helping the park establish a distinctive identity built around farm life, humorous animal programming and family participation. Over time, The Big Sheep developed into a mixed-use day-out destination rather than a narrowly focused agricultural attraction. Its facilities have included indoor and outdoor play areas, an animal barn, animal shows, a farm safari ride, a train ride, a roller coaster, a twister ride, a carousel, tractor-related activities, pony rides, swan pedalos and other family rides. The site has also incorporated Battlefield Live laser tag, retail shops, two restaurants, a brewery and a gin distillery. Seasonal and one-off live events form another part of the operating model, giving the park reasons to attract visitors beyond its permanent attractions. The business has also faced external pressures. The 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak caused substantial losses, reflecting the particular vulnerability of attractions whose appeal and operations depend on farm animals and agricultural access. In 2012, Rick Turner, who had taken over day-to-day running of the business, criticized what he regarded as excessively pessimistic weather forecasts from the Met Office, arguing that they discouraged tourists from visiting North Devon attractions. The episode brought regional attention to the relationship between weather information and visitor-economy businesses. A major attraction investment arrived in 2016, when the park introduced a Zierer roller coaster. The ride was initially called The Big One and was later renamed Rampage. It had previously operated at Metroland, the former indoor amusement park at the MetroCentre shopping complex in Gateshead. Planning-related concerns from nearby residents about noise led the park to display signs asking riders not to scream during the coaster's early operation, an unusual promotional and operational detail that generated wider media interest. The Big Sheep remained a privately operated regional leisure business serving families and tourists visiting North Devon. In December 2025, the park was sold to entrepreneur James Sinclair. The transaction marked a change in ownership but did not alter the attraction's basic positioning as a family-oriented farm park with rides, animals, hospitality and live entertainment. Its competitive identity rests on combining rural heritage with accessible amusement-park experiences in a destination market where weather, tourism patterns and local community relations are significant factors.

The Big Sheep occupies the former Abbotsham Barton Farm in Abbotsham, Devon. The property had been held by the same family for six generations before being adapted for tourism. Farming conditions became increasingly difficult, and the A39 North Devon Link Road divided the farm, creating additional pressure to find productive uses for buildings and land that were no longer central to the agricultural operation. Michael Turner established The Big Sheep in 1988 by converting redundant farm buildings into a visitor attraction. The first version of the business emphasized agriculture and animal-based interpretation. Visitors could see an animal park, sheep milking, a farm shop and a restaurant. The farm setting provided an authentic point of difference, but the agricultural offer alone produced disappointing commercial results. The attraction consequently introduced more entertainment-led programming and rides. Sheep races and sheep shows became among the park's best-known features. These activities helped turn the farm's livestock heritage into scheduled entertainment and gave the attraction a recognizable identity within the North Devon tourism market. The business continued to expand its mix of facilities, eventually offering an indoor playground, outdoor playground, animal barn, animal shows, shops, restaurants and live events. It also added non-animal activities such as Battlefield Live laser tag and a growing collection of rides. The attraction suffered substantial losses during the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Disease-control restrictions and the broader disruption to farming and rural tourism were particularly damaging for a visitor business whose appeal depended on animals and a farm environment. The episode demonstrated the exposure of agricultural attractions to public-health and livestock-disease risks. By 2012, Rick Turner had taken over the running of the business. He attracted public attention by claiming that overly pessimistic weather forecasts from the Met Office were reducing visitor numbers to local attractions. His comments reflected the commercial importance of weather to outdoor leisure operators, especially in a tourism region where many visits are planned around short breaks and day trips. In 2016, The Big Sheep added a roller coaster manufactured by Zierer. The ride had previously been installed at Metroland, an indoor amusement park at the MetroCentre in Gateshead that had subsequently closed. It was initially branded The Big One and was later renamed Rampage. Local residents had raised concerns about potential noise during the planning process. In response to complaints about screaming during the ride's early operation, the park placed signs asking passengers not to scream, creating an unusual point of publicity around the new attraction. The modern park combines farm interpretation and animal experiences with family amusement facilities, food and beverage operations and event programming. Its listed attractions include Rampage, a farm safari ride, a train ride, a twister ride, Piggy Pull Along, swan pedalos, Tractor School, a carousel and pony rides. Additional visitor facilities include a brewery, a gin distillery, two restaurants, shops, indoor and outdoor play and Battlefield Live laser tag. In December 2025, The Big Sheep was sold to entrepreneur James Sinclair. The sale transferred ownership after decades of Turner-family involvement. The park's operating proposition remained centered on a broad family day out: animals and rural character provide the setting, while rides, play, hospitality and live events increase dwell time and reduce dependence on a single attraction.

• 2025

  Ownership changes to James Sinclair

  [1]The Big Sheepen.wikipedia.org

  The park is sold to entrepreneur James Sinclair in December.

• 2016

  Roller coaster introduced

  [1]The Big Sheepen.wikipedia.org

  A Zierer roller coaster formerly used at Metroland opens at The Big Sheep, initially under the name The Big One and later as Rampage.

• 2012

  Weather-forecast criticism receives attention

  [1]The Big Sheepen.wikipedia.org

  Rick Turner argues that excessively pessimistic forecasts were discouraging tourism in North Devon.

• 2001

  Foot-and-mouth disease outbreak affects the park

  [1]The Big Sheepen.wikipedia.org

  The outbreak causes substantial losses for the farm-based attraction.

• 1988

  The Big Sheep opens

  [1]The Big Sheepen.wikipedia.org

  Michael Turner converts redundant buildings at Abbotsham Barton Farm into a visitor attraction featuring animals, sheep milking, a shop and a restaurant.

A family-oriented rural leisure destination that combines working-farm heritage, animal attractions, amusement rides, indoor and outdoor play, hospitality and live entertainment. The brand differentiates itself from a conventional theme park through its agricultural setting and sheep-focused programming.

• Roller coaster · 2016

  Rampage

  A Zierer roller coaster acquired from the former Metroland indoor amusement park at the MetroCentre in Gateshead. It opened at The Big Sheep in 2016, initially carrying the name The Big One before later being renamed Rampage.

• Animal entertainment

  Sheep races and sheep shows

  Scheduled livestock presentations that turn the park's agricultural heritage into family entertainment. Sheep-focused programming became one of the attraction's most recognizable features after the original farm-based offer was expanded with more entertainment.

• Farm attraction · 1988

  Animal park and animal barn

  Animal-focused facilities that provide encounters, interpretation and shows within the park's working-farm setting. They preserve the site's original agricultural character while operating alongside rides and other leisure activities.

• Family entertainment

  Family rides and play areas

  The park's wider ride and play portfolio includes a farm safari ride, train ride, twister ride, Piggy Pull Along, swan pedalos, Tractor School, carousel, pony rides and indoor and outdoor playgrounds. Together these activities broaden the attraction's appeal across age groups.

• Hospitality and events

  Food, beverage and event experiences

  The Big Sheep operates restaurants, shops, a brewery and a gin distillery, and hosts live events throughout the year. These services complement admission attractions and help position the site as a full-day destination rather than a single-ride venue.

• 2025

  Sale to James SinclairM&A

  Background

  The attraction had been associated with the Turner family since its creation.

  Action taken

  The Big Sheep was sold to entrepreneur James Sinclair in December 2025.

  Aftermath

  Ownership changed while the attraction continued to operate as a family farm park and amusement destination.

  Source

• 2016

  Launch of the relocated roller coasterProduct launch

  Background

  The park sought to broaden its entertainment offer beyond farm and animal attractions.

  Action taken

  A Zierer roller coaster formerly operated at Metroland was installed and opened at The Big Sheep.

  Aftermath

  The ride was initially named The Big One and later became known as Rampage. Noise concerns from nearby residents led to no-screaming signs during its early operation.

  Source

• 1988

  Convert farm buildings into a visitor attractionStrategy

  Background

  Farming challenges and the division of the property by the A39 North Devon Link Road created pressure to find new revenue sources.

  Action taken

  Michael Turner opened an attraction using redundant farm buildings, initially centered on animals, sheep milking, retail and food service.

  Aftermath

  The original agricultural offer was later expanded with rides and entertainment after producing disappointing returns on its own.

  Source

1. 1The Big Sheepen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Big Sheep official websitethebigsheep.co.uk