AP PHOTOS: California theme park reopens after virus closure
Posted April 22, 2021 7:00 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) - It was an all-hands-on-deck family affair when Adventure City finally reopened in California after being shuttered for 403 days because of the pandemic.
Allan Ansdell Jr., owner of the small amusement park just a few miles from megavenues Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm in Orange County, looked on as his parents, also owners, swept the parking lot, pulled weeds and offered warm hugs to rehired employees.
Trina, Ansdell Jr.'s wife, who oversees human resources, wiped dust from colorful balloons and disinfected rails and shields around the rides. In a box surrounded by protective shields at the entrance of the park, oldest daughter, Brielle, 30, acknowledged every visitor as they came and went.
Nearby, grandnephews and a grandniece waved pom poms to celebrate the long-awaited reopening and welcome visitors.
Ansdell Jr previously painted nearly 150 yellow social distancing dots on the streets of the park that last opened its gates on March 8, 2020.
The April 16 reopening was a success. Though it was only at 25 percent capacity due to COVID-19 precautionary measures, tickets for the first three days sold out. Ticket sales at Disneyland went live a day earlier.
Ansdell Jr., who built the park 28 years ago, wasn't entirely joyful about the big day.
'œIt's mixed emotions,'ť he said, recalling when he had to let most of his 150 employees go, including his wife.
'œParks are seasonal,'ť he said. 'œSometimes you have a rainy month. We always have enough in our reserves for three or four months of who knows what. But nobody has a reserve for a year.'ť
The closure was hard for everyone, he said.
'œI'm glad that we are getting through it,'ť he said. 'œI'm glad we are reaching the end ... But it's been tough.'ť
Sandy Martinez, 32, the park's barista, is among the former employees who came back for the reopening.
'œI didn't look for any other job because I love working here,'ť said Martinez, who began her career at the park when she was 18. 'œThey are like family to me.'ť
Maintenance manager Kevin Kinne, 63, who got coronavirus and recovered, also returned.
Installing bubble machines on the eve of reopening, Kinne said he missed watching the kids and the happiness.
He said he has held jobs at bigger parks but would rather work at Adventure City any day.
'œOh God, I wanted to come back to work so bad,'ť he said. 'œWe are a small park so we all know each other. We are all friends.'ť
Yvonne Ansdell, mother of Allan Ansdell Jr, owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, trims shrubs at the park ahead of its reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. "I consider it a real blessing," Ansdell said about the reopening. "Our life is truly a roller coaster. Ups and downs, but you have to learn how to wade through the downs so you can get the highs." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Allan Ansdell Jr., owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, spray paints social distancing dots on the streets of the amusement park ahead of its reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. "It's mixed emotions," he said, recalling the day he let go of most of his 150 employees, including his wife. Only a handful remained at the park. "Parks are seasonal. Sometimes you have a rainy month. We always have enough in our reserves for three or four months of who knows what. But nobody has a reserve for a year," Ansdell Jr. said. It's been hard for all of us. "I'm glad that we are getting through it. I'm glad we are reaching the end." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Adventure City amusement park employees, Michael Santy, left, and Clay Stark cover two water fountains with plastic sheets to prevent people from drinking from them as part of coronavirus safety measures ahead of the park's reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Kevin Kinne, right, a 63-year-old maintenance manager, pauses for a moment while helping Lester Green install bubble machines ahead of reopening at Adventure City amusement park in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, April 15, 2021. Kinne was let go after the coronavirus pandemic forced the family-run amusement park to close in March 2020. "Oh God, I wanted to come back to work so bad," Kinne said. "We are a small park so we all know each other. We are all friends." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Allan Ansdell Jr., left, owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, talks on the phone as his wife, Trina, who is in charge of the park's human resources, pulls weeds ahead of its reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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People wait in line to enter Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Luke Walker, 9, a grandnephew of Allan Ansdell Jr., owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, holds pompoms near the entrance to welcome visitors on the day of reopening at the amusement park in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Sandy Martinez, 32, prepares a popcorn machine ahead of reopening at Adventure City amusement park in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, April 15, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. Martinez is among the former employees who came back to work. "I didn't look for any other job because I love working here," said Martinez, who began her career at the park when she was 18. "They are like family to me." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Abigail Ansdell, a 11-year-old daughter of Allan Ansdell Jr., owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, interacts with goats in the park's petting farm while helping her father prepare for the reopening of the amusement park in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Young visitors ride a roller coaster at Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Employees disinfect a train at Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Maintenance department's Lester Green, 68, gets a hug from Yvonne Ansdell, 77, mother of Allan Ansdell Jr, owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, as they prepare for the reopening of the amusement park in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Green was among a handful of employees who kept the job after the coronavirus pandemic forced the amusement park to close March last year. "I love it. I'm excited about it" said Green about the park's reopening. "I'm very happy that they (his coworkers) are coming back." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Yvonne Ansdell, mother of Allan Ansdell Jr, owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, is overcome with emotion as her son brings out a "Welcome Back" sign ahead of its reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. "I consider it a real blessing," Ansdell said about the reopening. "Our life is truly a roller coaster. Ups and downs, but you have to learn how to wade through the downs so you can get the highs." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Abigail Ansdell, left, a 11-year-old daughter of Allan Ansdell Jr., owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, and food manager Clay Stark prepare balloons for decoration ahead of its reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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A young girl rides a horse on a carousel at Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Zayla LeClair, 3, waits to ride a train at Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Eric Alcocer puts a mask on his daughter, Amari, 3, while waiting in line to enter Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Trina Ansdell, wife of Allan Ansdell Jr, owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, sorts artificial flowers for decoration ahead of the park's reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, April 15, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. "It has been an emotional roller coaster, especially watching my husband and the family," said the wife. "It was hard to get excited at the beginning that we finally had the green light or that it was soon in the distance because we've been on hold for so long." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Allan Ansdell Sr. and wife, Yvonne, parents of Allan Ansdell Jr, owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, use their smartphones to record their great-grandchildren riding a roller coaster at the amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Trina Ansdell, wife of Allan Ansdell Jr, owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, wipes dust off balloons in the office ahead of the park's reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, April 14, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. "It has been an emotional roller coaster, especially watching my husband and the family," said the wife. "It was hard to get excited at the beginning that we finally had the green light or that it was soon in the distance because we've been on hold for so long." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Allan Ansdell Jr., owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, carries a sign displaying COVID-19 safety measures while getting ready to reopen the park in Anaheim, Calif., Thursday, April 15, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. "It's mixed emotions," he said, recalling the day he let go of most of his 150 employees, including his wife. Only a handful remained at the park. "Parks are seasonal. Sometimes you have a rainy month. We always have enough in our reserves for three or four months of who knows what. But nobody has a reserve for a year," Ansdell Jr. said. It's been hard for all of us. "I'm glad that we are getting through it. I'm glad we are reaching the end." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Allan Ansdell Jr., owner and president of Adventure City amusement park, buttons his uniform on the day of reopening at the park in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. "It's mixed emotions," he said, recalling the day he let go of most of his 150 employees, including his wife. Only a handful remained at the park. "Parks are seasonal. Sometimes you have a rainy month. We always have enough in our reserves for three or four months of who knows what. But nobody has a reserve for a year," Ansdell Jr. said. It's been hard for all of us. "I'm glad that we are getting through it. I'm glad we are reaching the end." (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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Visitors ride a roller coaster at Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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A girl dances while playing with a toy at Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. The family-run amusement park that had been shut since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic reopened on April 16. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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