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. 

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. 

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.  

“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.” 

Story from AP News story, AP PHOTOS: California theme park reopens after virus closure, by Jae C. Hong.

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