Goodbye forever! This legendary park in California could close its doors
Playland amusement park has been a part of the fabric of Fresno for 70 years, but it will be closing perhaps for good at the end of the month.
Amusement parks began popping up around the United States in the wake of World War II as communities set aside space for recreational activities. However, decades later some have run into financial difficulty due to several factors, finding it hard to keep their doors open.
This is the case with the iconic and beloved Playland in Fresno California which opened its doors in 1955, the same year as Disneyland. The board of directors of the seven-acre amusement park, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, has announced that it will be closing its gates on 30 March.
Efforts to reopen Playland sometime in the future
This is not the first time Playland has closed its doors in recent years. In 2015, the amusement park underwent major renovations to update its aging infrastructure. Then in 2020 it was forced to close again due to the covid-19 pandemic.
The park reopened to the public in June 2023 under the management of a new vendor, Helm and Sons, which expanded opening hours and added new rides. However, a few weeks ago, the Southern California vendor informed the board of directors of Playland and Storyland, an amusement park next door, that they would not be renewing their contract.
“We certainly hope it’s not the end. As a board, Storyland board has been trying to come up with some plans what could the next Playland look like,” said executive director of Storyland Cindy Lee speaking to Fox 26 News. They are looking at bringing in another vendor to take over operations of the Playland amusement park.
Playland failed to attract visitors in recent years
Unlike Storyland, which has been having great success at the gate, Playland has failed to attract enough visitors to make it financially viable.
Jim Futrell of the National Amusement Park Historical Association told Fox 26 News that the change to charging a gate admission fee after being free for decades may have played a part in the reduced number of parkgoers. The park currently charges between $10 to $15 to enter the park plus additional fees to get on specific attractions.
According to a view poll taken by the outlet, nearly 40% of those who responded believe the cost of admission has kept people from visiting the Playland amusement park. Additionally, Futrell said that families have less free time due to kids playing more sports, access to more streaming options and expanded movie theater options nearby.
Those who want to enjoy this legendary amusement park before it closes, perhaps for good, on 30 March can visit Playland Friday through Sunday from 2 pm to 7 pm.
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