Two more California attractions are closing their gates, including a Bay Area amusement park that has entertained generations of families for more than 50 years and a Riverside County water park that has welcomed summer visitors for a decade.
California's Great America in Santa Clara will permanently close after its 2027 season, Six Flags Entertainment Corporation announced Nov. 6. Meanwhile, the operators of DropZone Waterpark in Perris announced that the attraction is closing permanently after 10 years.
Those closures follow the abrupt closing over the summer of Fiesta Village, a 50-year-old theme park in the Inland Empire.
Fiesta Village co-owner Michelle O'Brien told SF GATE the decision to close the park came down to "The economics of the amusement park industry and what we're doing have changed dramatically."
"We've just reached a point where continuing simply wasn't sustainable," she added.
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The announcements come as California remains home to some of the nation's most recognizable amusement parks, from Disneyland to Universal Studios Hollywood. But just how many are left?
According to figures from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, California had 25 amusement and theme parks and 22 water parks in 2023, for a combined total of 47 attractions.
California's Great America will celebrate its final season beginning in March 2027, with its last day of operation scheduled for Labor Day, Sept. 6, 2027.
Great America's closure has been anticipated since 2022, when Cedar Fair sold the park's property to San Francisco-based real estate company Prologis for $310 million.
The company leased the property back to the park, with the agreement set to expire in mid-2028 and an option to extend through mid-2033, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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The Santa Clara amusement park opened in 1976 as part of the nation's Bicentennial celebration and has welcomed tens of millions of visitors over five decades.
"For more than five decades, this Santa Clara theme park has brought people together, created family traditions and served as the backdrop for unforgettable memories," park manager Dave Vosejpka said in a statement.
The park will offer Gold and Prestige passes for its final season, which will also provide access to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo.
"The Farewell Season is an opportunity for generations of Bay Area guests to return, spend time with family and friends, and revisit the attractions and traditions that have made the park in Santa Clara, California such a meaningful part of the community," Vosejpka wrote.
Additional details about the farewell season are available on the Six Flags website.
DropZone Waterpark in Perris is also closing permanently, according to a Facebook announcement from StandGuard Aquatics, which managed the attraction for Riverside County.
The county-owned water park opened in 2014 as the Perris-Menifee Valley Aquatic Center before becoming DropZone Waterpark.
"After 10 incredible years of proudly managing DropZone Waterpark for Riverside County, it is with heavy hearts that we share the news that DropZone Waterpark will be permanently closing," the company wrote.
The operators thanked employees, visitors and the surrounding community for supporting the attraction over the years.
"The gates may be closing, but the memories will live on forever," the announcement said.
California remains one of the nation's major amusement park destinations.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 110 amusement and theme park establishments in California in 2023, the third-highest total in the country behind Florida and Texas.
That figure differs significantly from the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions' count of 25 amusement and theme parks and 22 water parks because the two organizations use different methods of classifying and counting attractions.
California continues to have numerous major amusement parks, including:
The state also has several major water parks, including Raging Waters Los Angeles, Knott's Soak City in Buena Park, Hurricane Harbor in Valencia, Great Wolf Lodge in Anaheim, and more.
Seasonal parks may be closed during the fall and winter without being permanently shuttered.
While some California amusement parks are preparing to close, others are receiving investments to improve their facilities.
Oakland's Children's Fairyland is getting $5 million in state funding for infrastructure, accessibility, and facility upgrades as part of its strategic capital investment plan, according to a September announcement from Mayor Barbara Lee's office.
The funding is part of more than $14 million allocated to Oakland programs and community organizations in California's 2026-27 state budget.
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