Despite the increasing importance of oil the colliery enjoyed a new upturn in fortune in the 1950s. During this period the buildings were modernised, again designed by Fritz Schupp. They are still the dominating feature on the site. Following the crisis in the coal industry in the 1960s the surrounding pits were all closed down or merged with other mines nearby. In 1984 the Nordstern colliery merged with the Zollverein pit in Essen and also with the "Consolidation" colliery following its closure in 1986. In 1970 the coking plant was demolished and with it an important industrial plant was wiped off the face of the earth. It had been unique in that its two batteries of coke ovens ran parallel to one other.

By the time the colliery was forced to close in 1993 it was the southern-most pit in the Ruhrgebiet.

In 1997 the National Garden Show was held for the very first time on a former coal mining site. But instead of hiding its mining history, the design was specially made to include it, indeed to present it with pride. The outlines of the site, which had been created by piling up waste material, were maintained and "alienated" in an artistic manner. A good example here is the "Pyramid", a small hill which was specially shaped in a geometric fashion. When the National Garden Show came to an end the park was kept open for the benefit of the general public, along with the new open-air stage on the banks of the Rhine-Herne canal.

Today the historical buildings, now worthy of monument protection, are part of the new Nordstern trading and housing estate which has been extended by new buildings. Visitors who take a stroll through the park to view the old and new buildings can find a place to take refreshments in the former colliery warehouse.