Signs of summer are beginning to glimmer amid the COVID-19 pandemic as smaller theme parks in less-impacted locales across the United States are preparing to reopen after extended coronavirus closures delayed their seasonal kickoff plans.
Theme parks big and small across the U.S. have been closed since mid-March or have delayed their summer openings due to the global COVID-19 crisis.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Story updated below with opening dates for Quassy, Magic Springs and Six Flags Great Adventure drive-through safari.
Big industry players like Disney, Universal and SeaWorld in California and Florida have not yet announced post-COVID-19 reopening dates for their theme parks. But smaller regional theme parks have begun setting firm reopening dates for May and June based on local and state government guidance.
SEE ALSO: First Florida theme parks set post-coronavirus reopening dates in June
Reopening plans vary by state and are contingent on continued declines in COVID-19 cases and deaths along with other factors.
By and large, most theme parks plan to implement basic guidelines that are now familiar as part of the “new normal” in the COVID-19 era: Social distancing, increased sanitization, contactless payments, reduced attraction capacity and employee training.
Which U.S. theme park will be the first to reopen? Let’s take a closer look at the ever-changing reopening timelines of amusement parks across the country.
SEE ALSO: Top 20 for 2020: Best new attractions coming to U.S. theme parks
Dollywood (Tennessee)
Dollywood could become the first theme park to reopen in the U.S. — although the Pigeon Forge, Tenn. tourist destination has yet to announce an opening date.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced that amusement parks can reopen on Friday, May 22.
Dollywood is working on plans to reopen “soon,” according to theme park officials.
“We are excited and are working on our reopening plans,” Dollywood spokesperson Pete Owens told Tennessee’s WATE-TV News. “We will announce our intentions soon.”
SEE ALSO: Six Flags rolls out plan for post-coronavirus ‘new normal’
Mt. Olympus (Wisconsin)
The Mt. Olympus theme park in Wisconsin Dells, Wis. could become the first U.S. theme park to reopen if Dollywood decides to postpone its post-COVID-19 debut by a couple days.
The Mt. Olympus theme park and water park plan to reopen Saturday, May 23 exclusively to visitors with reservations at the resort’s on-site hotel.
The “hotel guest exclusive” reopening of Mt. Olympus has the blessing of an executive order by Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, according to the theme park’s website.
SEE ALSO: Why passholders and members are so important to Six Flags
Six Flags Great Adventure (New Jersey)
Six Flags Great Adventure plans to bring back the amusement park’s drive-through safari with visitors viewing 1,200 exotic animals from the privacy and safety of their own vehicles.
Six Flags officials announced that the drive-through safari will open May 29 for passholders and members and May 30 for the general public following an executive order from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy permitting drive-through events.
Park visitors drove their own vehicles through the safari experience from 1974 to 2012. Since 2013, Great Adventure trucks have taken visitors on guided tours of the safari.
Great Adventure is finalizing new safety procedures to protect visitors, employees and animals, according to Six Flags officials. Admission will be by advance reservation only.
SEE ALSO: Knott’s Berry Farm owner says its theme parks could be closed through end of 2020
Frontier City in Oklahoma City, Okla. is expected to be the first Six Flags park to reopen following the coronavirus closures of the company’s parks, according to a Six Flag internal memo obtained by Screamscape, a theme park news website. No opening date has been announced for Frontier City.
Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, Six Flags Over Georgia near Atlanta, Six Flags St. Louis in Missouri and Six Flags America in Maryland are expected to follow the reopenings of Frontier City and Great Adventure, according to the memo.
Six Flags CEO Michael Spanos singled out the company’s amusement parks in Texas, Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma as the locations most likely to reopen first following the COVID-19 pandemic during a conference call with analysts.
SEE ALSO: SeaWorld and Busch Gardens coasters could be delayed until 2021 due to coronavirus closures
Silverwood (Idaho)
The Silverwood theme park and Boulder Beach water park in Athol, Idaho, will reopen for the weekend on May 30 and 31 and begin daily operations on June 6.
Silverwood has been approved to reopen during Phase 3 of the Idaho Rebounds Plan. The Silverwood RV Park is already open.
Reservation-only tickets go on sale Saturday, May 23. Season passes can be used any operating day.
Protective face masks are optional. Silverwood will provide complimentary masks to visitors who request them.
“Determining whether or not to open the park during these unprecedented times was a difficult task,” Silverwood owner Gary Norton wrote on the park’s website. “We cannot guarantee there is no risk associated with engaging in a social activity at this time. We can only say we have done our best to minimize the risk with the procedures we have taken.”
SEE ALSO: Seaworld will likely reopen Texas and Florida parks before San Diego following coronavirus closures
Magic Springs (Arkansas)
Magic Springs will open on June 1 in accordance with Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Ready for Business initiative. Attendance at the Hot Springs theme park will be limited to 30% of capacity.
Holiday World (Indiana)
Holiday World plans to open for the 2020 season on June 14 in accordance with Gov. Eric Holcolm’s Back on Track Indiana plan, according to Leah Koch, a fourth generation owner of the park.
The Santa Claus, Indiana, theme park will be open exclusively to passholders June 14-16 before swinging open its gates to the general public on June 17. Holiday World’s Splashin’ Safari water park is scheduled to open on July 4.
Holcolm’s Back on Track Indiana plan allows amusement parks in the state to reopen at 50% capacity on June 14 in Stage 4 of the plan if key health principles remain positive. Restrictions on Indiana amusement parks could be lifted by July 4 when Stage 5 begins as long as social distancing guidelines remain in place.
Holiday World will restrict ticket sales each day based on what “feels comfortable” to park operators but won’t require reservations. Season passholders can visit any day without reservations.
Protective face masks are optional. Riders may be asked to remove loose-fitting face masks on some rides.
A smart phone-based virtual queue system will notify visitors when to get in line for rides.
SEE ALSO: Knott’s Berry Farm postpones 100th anniversary celebration until 2021, new ride ready to open
Quassy (Connecticut)
Quassy plans to reopen on June 20 after Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced the Middlebury amusement park will be part of the state’s Phase 2 reopening plan.
Indiana Beach (Indiana)
Indiana Beach could open the same day as Holiday World, but the new owner will wait a couple weeks longer for the grand re-opening of the Indiana park.
The Monticello, Indiana, amusement park will host a reservation-only VIP grand re-opening tentatively scheduled for June 26 and plans to open to the general public on June 27.
Indiana Beach’s former owner permanently closed the 94-year-old park in February for “financial reasons.” A new owner plans to reopen Indiana Beach with an eye toward reviving the historic park ahead of its 100th anniversary.
