The site was originally a botanic garden and was subsequently developed by the Parkin family into a series of themed gardens to appeal to holidaymakers. The gradual decline of the tourism industry in the 1990s led to the eventual closure of the attraction and in 1998 the States gave approval for its demolition and replacement by houses, despite it being in the Green Zone.
Although the closure of many tourist attractions in the 1990s is blamed for the rapid decline in the island's tourism industry, the history of the Fantastic Tropical Gardens makes it clear that the decline came first and the reduction in overall visitor numbers meant that a number of attractions were no longer financially viable