What amusement parks are already open in Denver?
DENVER (KDVR) — The weather is getting warmer across the Denver metro and Front Range, which means summer isn’t far off.
However, it is not quite here, which means that some of the summer-specific activities are still stuck behind a metaphorical sheet of ice. This includes most amusement parks, with only one park in the Denver metro – Elitch Gardens – open as of April.
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A majority of the parks across the Front Range are closed until late May at the earliest.
Elitch Gardens
Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park is located in downtown Denver and is likely the first place Denverites think of when they get the amusement park itch.
The park will fully swing into daily operation on Memorial Day, May 27, but is also open on weekends and select days from late April through May.
“Our team has been hard at work preparing our iconic park for another great season of fun,” said Cindy Hann, director of Marketing at Elitch Gardens, in the park’s season announcement. “With over 75,000 man hours of park preparation and training, alongside orders for more than 100,000 souvenir cups and 3,500 unique gift shop items, plus the planting of over 7,200 pansies and the anticipation to sell over 25,000 savory turkey legs, you can bet the park is ready to deliver unforgettable experiences for our guests.”
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There are three ticket choices for people to choose from:
Day pass: Grants access to the park for one day for $50 per person
Season pass: Grants unlimited park admission for $66 per person
Super season pass: Gives extra perks on top of unlimited access for just under $100 per person
Lakeside Amusement Park
Lakeside Amusement Park in west Denver has been operating since 1908.
While Lakeside has opened for weekends as early as May in previous years, there has been no announcement on whether or not that will be the case in 2024, or if the park will open at all.
As of 2023, Lakeside indicated that at least one of the rides, Cyclone Coaster, was closed and other unspecified rides were also closed.
Admission prices as of 2023 ranged from $5 per person for those just wanting to spectate and not ride any rides and $30 for admission on Saturday or Sunday.
The North Pole
For those who like to keep the Christmas spirit alive all year, the North Pole – Santa’s Workshop is a Christmas-themed amusement park in Colorado Springs.
The park has a holiday season that runs from Nov. 2 through Christmas Eve, but it is still open for much of the summer and fall season as well.
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The park opens on May 18. Admission into the park is free during the summer and fall seasons, and ride wristbands can be purchased at the gate.
Fun City
Fun City is located in Estes Park near the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park.
While there are no roller coasters at Fun City, it has almost everything else you’d expect from an amusement park, including go-karts and bumper boats.
The park will be open on weekends only at the start of May but will open daily starting May 18. There is no price for admission, but all of the attractions cost money.
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