Alyssa GoodmanApril 24, 2021Jae C. HongComment

California theme park reopens after virus closure

Alyssa GoodmanApril 24, 2021Jae C. HongComment

Adventure City, a family-run amusement park precisely located 4.3 miles west of Disneyland and 2.4 miles south of Knott’s Berry Farm on the border of Orange County’s Stanton and Anaheim, reopened Friday, April 16, a day after Disneyland ticket sales went live.

It took 403 days for Allan Ansdell Jr., the park’s owner and president, to reopen its gates to local fans. He painted almost 150 yellow social distancing dots on the streets of the 3-acre park. The park’s last operating day was March 8, 2020.

It was all-hands-on-deck family efforts. Ansdell Jr.’s parents, who are also owners, swept the parking lot, pulled weeds, and offered some warm hugs to rehired former employees.

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., April 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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., April 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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, Cal… — 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., April 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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., April 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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., April 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Ja… — 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., April 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Trina, Ansdell Jr.’s wife, who is in charge of human resources, wiped the dust off the colorful balloons and disinfected the rails and shields around the rides. Ansdell Jr.’s oldest daughter, Brielle, 30, greeted every visitor coming in and going out in a box surrounded by protective shields at the entrance. His grandnephews and a grandniece waved pompoms to celebrate the long-awaited reopening and to welcome visitors.

The reopening was a success. Though it was at 25 percent capacity due to the covid-19 precautionary measures, the tickets for the first three days were sold out.

People wait in line to enter Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., April 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

But Ansdell Jr., who built the park 28 years ago, wasn’t entirely joyful. “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,” he 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...But it’s been tough.”

Sandy Martinez, 32, the park’s barista, is among the former employees who came back to work.

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., April 16, 2021. (AP Photo… — 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., April 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Sandy Martinez, 32, prepares a popcorn machine ahead of reopening at Adventure City amusement park in Anaheim, Calif., April 15, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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, … — 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., April 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Young visitors ride a roller coaster at Adventure City amusement park on the day of reopening in Anaheim, Calif., Friday, April 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

“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.”

Maintenance manager Kevin Kinne, 63, who survived the coronavirus, also returned to the park.

Installing bubble machines on the eve of reopening, Kinne said he missed watching the kids and happiness the most.

“Oh, god, I wanted to come back to work so bad,” he said, adding, “We are a small park so we all know each other. We are all friends.”

“I’ve worked in big parks and I’d rather work here any day.”