Great America Aims To Reopen In May 2021

SANTA CLARA, CA — As sweeping health measures have kept amusement parks shuttered for months on end, over the weekend Great America in Santa Clara became the first park to announce plans to reopen in the Golden State this spring.

The park announced last week that it would open May 22 with a limited capacity and social distancing policies in place. Face coverings will be required and can only be taken off while dining, the park said in a statement.

As most counties in California remain locked down under the widespread, purple tier of Gov. Gavin Newsom's coronavirus risk assessing blueprint, amusement parks are not expected to reopen until spring or late summer.

The state's guidelines indicate that small parks may only reopen under the moderate, orange tier. A larger park such as Great America will not be able to reopen until Santa Clara County qualifies for the minimal, yellow tier. Even then, the park would be limited to 25 percent capacity with a requirement for tickets to be purchased ahead of time.

Currently, Santa Clara County remains under the purple tier.

If Great America is permitted to reopen this spring, guests will be required to enter through a thermal screening tent, and anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees will be turned away. All rides will have touchless turnstiles.

Park officials also recommend that guests wash their hands every 20 minutes and smoking will not be allowed inside the park.

"We continue to monitor state guidelines and work with industry and government officials to ensure our reopening plan meets all required health and safety regulations," the park said on its website.

Last year's Member passes and tickets, including the Pre-K, Regular, Gold and Platinum Season were extended through the 2021 season, the park said.