Английская Википедия:Gilroy Gardens

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use mdy dates Шаблон:Use American English Шаблон:Infobox amusement park

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, often shortened to Gilroy Gardens, is a horticulture-themed amusement park located in Gilroy, California, United States. Designed and built by Michael Bonfante, the park originally opened as Bonfante Gardens in 2001. The Шаблон:Convert is owned by the city of Gilroy and operated by Gilroy Gardens, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; it features over 40 rides and attractions and is known for its Circus Trees, created by Axel Erlandson.[1]

History

The park was founded by Michael and Claudia Bonfante after selling their Nob Hill Foods supermarket chain to build the tree park. The park was constructed gradually over a period of 25 years. Before it became an amusement park open to the public, it was known as Tree Haven, and was a commercial plant nursery, as well as a recreational facility for employees of Nob Hill Foods. The park opened to the public in June 2001 as Bonfante Gardens. The name was changed to Gilroy Gardens in February 2007.[2] The park features 19 rides, 27 attractions and six gardens. The most well known garden features 24 Circus Trees that were grown and shaped with multiple trunks, basket-weave patterns, and hearts by the late Axel Erlandson.[3]

Starting in 2004, the park began its annual holiday celebration, Gilroy Gardens Holiday Lights.

The park struggled with financial difficulty and low attendance during the first two years of operation. It closed early for its first two seasons and the park's management debated whether to open the park at all for the third season. Paramount Parks began to manage the park on contract starting with the 2003 season.[4]

Cedar Fair acquired Paramount Parks from CBS Corporation in June 2006 and continued the management contract to operate Gilroy Gardens.[5] On December 31, 2021, the contract to manage the park expired after both parties decided not to renew the contract.[6] Gilroy Gardens Inc., the nonprofit that owns the park, began operating the park on its own for the 2022 season.[6]

The city of Gilroy purchased the park on March 5, 2008.

Mid-March 2020 saw the park get shut down on grounds of COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened mid-to-late May 2021, restricted to California residents and adhering to strict measures like social distancing and wearing masks.

Файл:Circus Tree at Gilroy Gardens.jpg
One of the famous Circus Trees at Gilroy Gardens[7]

Attractions

Roller Coasters

Name Opened Manufacturer Model Description Thrill Level
Quicksilver Express Mine Coaster 2001 Morgan A mine-themed roller coaster.

4

Timber Twister Coaster 2001 Zierer Medium Tivoli A rattlesnake themed roller coaster.

3

Family Rides

Name Opened Manufacturer Model Description Thrill Level
Apple & Worm Шаблон:N/A Zierer Шаблон:N/A Children's caterpillar ride around a giant apple core.

1

Artichoke Dip 2001 Morgan Junior Seastorm Artichoke ride around a coastal live oak tree.

1

Banana Split 2001 Chance Rides Pirate Ship Banana-shaped swinging ship ride.

3

Balloon Flight 2001 Bradley and Kaye Balloon Flight Balloon ride.

2

Big Red Engine Co. 2001 Venture Manufacturing Шаблон:N/A Children's firetruck ride.

1

Bonfante Railroad Train Ride 2001 Chance Rides Train ride Шаблон:RailGauge narrow gauge[8] train ride around park perimeter.

2

Bulgy The Goldfish 2001 Шаблон:N/A Шаблон:N/A Children's fish ride.

1

Claudia's Carousel Carousel Children's carousel.

1

Illions Supreme Carousel 2001 Brass Ring Carousel Company Carousel Modern fiberglass carousel inspired by the original built in 1927 by M.C. Illions

1

Paddle Boats 2001 Bonfante family Paddle Boats Duck shaped paddle boats.

2

Panoramic Wheel 2001 Zierer Ferris Wheel Mini Ferris wheel.

2

Pit Stop Racers 2001 Ramagosa Шаблон:N/A Children's race car ride.

1

Rainbow Garden Round Boat Ride 2001 Hopkins Rides Raft ride Raft ride though flower gardens.

2

Sky Trail Monorail 2002 Morgan Monorail Monorail ride through Monarch Butterfly Greenhouse. Audio tape still refers to the park as "Bonfante Gardens"

2

South County Backroads 2002 Morgan Track ride Car attraction featuring two tracks: one side themed to the 1920s cars, and the other themed to 1950s cars.

2

Strawberry Sundae 2001 Morgan Junior Chair-O-Plane Spinning strawberry ride.

1

Tubs-O-Fun 2001 Chance Rides Teacup ride Children's "tea cups" ride.

1

Thrill Rides

Name Opened Manufacturer Model Description Thrill Level
Garlic Twirl 2001 Morgan Teacups Garlic-themed "teacups" style ride.

3

Mushroom Swing 2001 Zierer Wave Swinger Mushroom shaped swing ride.

3

Other Attractions:

  • Bonfante Falls (formerly Pinnacles Waterfall)Шаблон:NsmdnsBridge behind an artificial waterfall.
  • Oak Park PlaygroundШаблон:NsmdnsChildren's play area.
  • Water OasisШаблон:NsmdnsWater play area aimed at smaller children (introduced in 2014 replacing Pinnacles Rock Maze.)

Former Attractions:

  • Pinnacles Rock MazeШаблон:NsmdnsArtificial maze resembling caves found at Pinnacles National Park.
  • Bonfante's Splash GardenШаблон:NsmdnsWater play area, opened in June 2005, closed 2022.

Mascots

Gilroy Gardens has two mascots, Gil and Roy. Gil was introduced in 2007, and Roy in 2013.[9]

The park also uses seasonal mascots for its Great Big Boo and North Pole Nights events.[10][11]

Events

Fantastical Flowers

This spring festival was introduced in 2023 and includes floral decorations around the park.[12]

The Great Big Boo

It starts in mid-September and ends in October. It features multiple shows held around the park.[10]

North Pole Nights

It starts in mid-November and ends in December.[13]

Attractions:

  • Magic of Santa: Christmas themed live show about holiday magic, shown at the Lakeside Ampitheater.
  • North Pole Tonight: A late night talk show performance.
  • Village Show: A holiday musical show with the elves.
  • March of the Teddy Bears
  • Checking it Twice
  • Mrs. Claus' Cookie Jam

See also

Шаблон:Portal

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Commons category

Шаблон:Gilroy, California Шаблон:Amusement Parks & Theme Parks of California Шаблон:Cedar Fair Шаблон:Paramount Parks Шаблон:San Jose and Silicon Valley attractions Шаблон:Authority control