None of California’s small and large amusement parks closed for seven months by the coronavirus pandemic can reopen right now under the new COVID-19 health and safety guidelines issued as part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
California issued long-awaited theme park reopening guidelines last week, but the new rules could leave small parks closed for weeks or months and major players like Disney and Universal unable to return until early 2021 or next summer.
SEE ALSO: When can Disneyland and other major California theme parks reopen?
California officials issued separate reopening guidelines for small and large theme parks in the state. Small theme parks with a capacity of fewer than 15,000 visitors can reopen in the orange/moderate tier 3 while large theme parks can return in the yellow/minimal tier 4.
California has more than 30 small and large amusement parks and family entertainment centers with amusement rides.
California’s eight large theme parks are all months away from opening under Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Most California counties with major theme parks fall into the second-most restrictive red/substantial tier 2 risk level — including Orange (Disneyland and Knott’s), San Diego (SeaWorld and Legoland) and Solano (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom). Los Angeles County — home to Universal Studios Hollywood and Six Flags Magic Mountain — is in the most restrictive purple/widespread tier 1 risk level.
Santa Clara County — home to California’s Great America — is in the second-least restrictive orange/moderate tier 3 risk level. But Santa Clara County officials say California’s Great America must remain closed, despite the state’s new guidelines.
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California has eight small amusement parks with a capacity of less than 15,000 visitors and three more that fall into the small/sub-regional parks category, according to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development.
None of California’s small theme parks can reopen right now under the new guidelines issued as part of Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Most California counties with small theme parks currently fall into the second-most restrictive red/substantial tier 2 risk level — including Orange (Adventure City), Contra Costa (Pixieland and Small World Park) and Sacramento (Funderland).
Riverside and San Bernardino counties — home to Castle Park and Fiesta Village, respectively — remain in the most restrictive purple/widespread tier 1 risk level.
Small parks like Gilroy Gardens and Happy Hollow could reopen now under state guidelines since Santa Clara County is in the orange/moderate tier 3 risk level. But Santa Clara County officials have said Gilroy Gardens must remain closed despite the new state guidelines.
Happy Hollow plans a phased reopening soon of the zoo areas while keeping the rides and attractions closed until further notice, according to San Jose parks spokesperson Charlotte Graham.
Cedar Fair — which operates California’s Great America and Gilroy Gardens — was “bewildered” by Santa Clara County’s decision to prohibit small and large amusement parks from reopening despite the new state guidelines.
“We were very disappointed that they’re taking a harder stance,” Cedar Fair Regional Vice President Raffi Kaprelyan said. “We’re somewhat bewildered.”
Pacific Park in Santa Monica, Belmont Park in San Diego and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are among California’s small/sub-regional parks category that can reopen in the orange/moderate tier 3 risk level, according to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development. Santa Cruz and San Diego counties remain in red/substantial tier 2 risk level. Los Angeles County is stuck in the purple/widespread tier 1 risk level.
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A number of California zoos and family entertainment centers with roller coasters and kiddie rides appear to meet the small amusement park criteria, but don’t appear on the state list.
A group of small amusement parks at zoos — Fun Town (San Joaquin County), Kiddieland (Merced County) and Storyland and Playland (Fresno County) — are located in counties in the red/substantial tier 2 risk level. The TrainTown Railroad — home to a carousel, Ferris wheel, roller coaster and other amusement rides — is in Sonoma County, which remains in the purple/widespread tier 1 risk level.
The Oakland Zoo’s Adventure Landing amusement park is in Alameda County, which remains in orange/moderate tier 3 risk level. But Adventure Landing has no plans to reopen.
“Apparently the guidelines don’t apply to our Adventure Landing rides area, so we don’t yet have a reopening date for that,” Conservation Society of California spokesperson Erin Harrison said via email.
A handful of California family entertainment centers with amusement rides like Boomers, Scandia and Blackbeard’s all reside in counties in the substantial or widespread tiers — just out of reach of the moderate risk level. Family entertainment centers have been allowed to reopen without amusement rides under separate guidelines issued by the state.
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