Great America is first California theme park to set 2021 reopening date – East Bay Times
**** Please visit the themeparks official websites for their latest guidelines and openings ****
California’s Great America became the first theme park in California to target a 2021 reopening date after remaining closed for the entire 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Santa Clara amusement park has set a target reopening date of May 22, according to an announcement from the park.
“Our scheduled opening date is May 22,” California’s Great America officials said via email. “We continue to monitor state guidelines and work with industry and government officials to ensure our reopening plans meet all required health and safety regulations.”
California theme parks are not expected to reopen until spring or summer under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state. Large theme parks like California’s Great America can reopen once the counties they reside in reach the least-restrictive yellow/minimal tier 4 risk level of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy.
Cedar Fair, the parent company of California’s Great America, also announced 2021 reopening dates for Ohio’s Kings Island (May 8), Ohio’s Cedar Point and Canada’s Wonderland (May 14), North Carolina’s Carowinds, Virginia’s Kings Dominion, Pennsylvania’s Dorney Park, Missouri’s Worlds of Fun and Minnesota’s Valleyfair (May 22) and Michigan’s Adventure (May 29), according to Theme Park Insider.
A reopening date was not announced for Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Fair’s most-attended and only year-round theme park. The Buena Park theme park was forced to cancel the Taste of Merry Farm food and shopping event in early December due to the state’s stay at home order. A new Knott’s food event is expected to be announced soon.
In August, California’s Great America became the first amusement park in California to give up on reopening in 2020 and close for the year as state officials put off issuing COVID-19 protocols for safely reopening theme parks.
California theme parks stopped setting and resetting reopening dates after it became clear the global pandemic would extend for months and stretch into 2021.
Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California all announce proposed reopening dates in July when the pandemic appeared to be waning only to have their hopes dashed by state officials when COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations spiked in the summer.
State guidelines issued in October effectively hung a “closed indefinitely” sign on the front gates of California theme parks.
California’s Great America, Knott’s Berry Farm, Canada’s Wonderland, Carowinds, Kings Dominion, Valleyfair and Michigan’s Adventure remained closed during the 2020 season due to local COVID-19 health and safety guidelines. Some of Cedar Fair’s shuttered parks partially reopened for special events without rides.
Cedar Point, Kings Island, Dorney Park and Worlds of Fun were able to reopen during the 2020 season under individual state guidelines.
**** Please visit the themeparks official websites for their latest guidelines and openings ****
