Search

02 Apr 2026

Multi-million investment in iconic North Devon holiday park is unveiled

John Fowler Holidays has unveiled the completion of its investment and improvement programme at Ruda Holiday Park in Croyde

Official opening of Ruda Holiday Park's upgrades

Rudi & Rosie, Ruda Holiday Park mascots, helped to unveil the changes to the park alongside Freddy the Fox, Ollie Steer-Fowler, Heather Flack and Cathie Higgs.

The multi-million pound investment at Ruda Holiday Park in Croyde by new owner John Fowler Holidays has been unveiled before the start of the new season.

John Fowler Holidays bought the site from Parkdean Resorts last June and pledged new investment for extensive improvements last December.

The completed improvement programme was officially unveiled on Sunday (March 29) and includes redeveloping two key areas of the site, replacing older accommodation with brand new luxury caravans and lodges plus the launch of a comprehensive refurbishment programme for existing units.

READ NEXT: John Fowler Holidays buys Ruda at Croyde

A big feature of the modernisation is the replacement of one of the park’s shower blocks with a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facility for campers and tourers.

Powered by solar energy, John Fowler Holidays says the new building highlights its dedication to sustainable tourism.

Above: The new eco-friendly solar-powered shower block.

Other parts of the revamp include a new touring reception building, the installation of electric vehicle (EV) charging points and a full makeover of the popular Boardwalk Bar & Restaurant, complete with a new outdoor terrace. Landscaping work has been carried out across the site too.

Cathie Higgs, sales director at John Fowler Holidays, said the company was thrilled to unveil the exciting upgrades at Ruda.

She added: “Our goal has always been to preserve the park’s unique charm while introducing modern amenities that elevate the holiday experience for our guests. This investment reflects our long-term vision for Ruda as a premier destination in North Devon.

“The feedback from our guests has already been overwhelmingly positive and we can’t wait to welcome even more families to enjoy everything Ruda has to offer this season.”

The beloved Ruda raccoon mascots, Rudi & Rosie, have been reintroduced after a 20-year hibernation, much to the delight of returning guests. The characters helped to officially open the new facilities at the weekend.

Above: Rudi and Rosie are back! 

Guests to the holiday park can also enjoy the hugely popular Cascades tropical pool with flume, after a full renovation last year.

After acquiring Ruda in 2025, John Fowler Holidays now manages 14 parks across the South West of England and Wales, employing more than 800 people and generating an annual turnover of £50million.

Its ownership of Ruda also includes Croyde beach, a Mecca for surfers and holidaymakers as well as locals.

READ NEXT: Trail runner heaven with new Croyde coast run alongside popular tri event

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!


Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.


Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.