Elitch Gardens Discussion Thread

[ytterbiumanalyst]

Dido on taking the train to downtown.

I want to say thank you.

 

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[SoCalJasonland]

Thank you. This is making me feel better. The second I heard Elitch was gonna close I knew I had to plan a trip. With Lakeside being so close I figure I should visit. Wild Chipmunk looks so bad that its good

 

If you want to hit both parks in one day, I would recommend:

1. Fly into DIA and arrive about 8 - 9 am.

2. Take the "A" train to Union Station, about 40 min / $10.50

3. Walk approx. 1 mile to Elitch Gardens and stay until bored

4. Uber to Lakeside (approx. 5 miles each way from downtown)

5. Uber to Union Station when finished with Lakeside

6. Take "A" train back to the airport from Union Station

 

The light rail train is nice, clean, picks up at the airport, and runs past midnight. You can get discount tickets online for Elitch at their website. Groupon has discounts for Lakeside but you have to purchase two admissions for the discount. If you don't need two Lakeside admission tickets, you might as well pay at the gate as it is not that expensive. I would plan to eat at the airport or downtown. There is nothing really edible within walking distance of Lakeside.

 

This is the schedule for the train that runs from the airport to downtown:

www3.rtd-denver.com/schedules/getSchedule.action?routeType=32&routeId=A&serviceType=4

[LegendLover]

 

Just a quick thought on the closure/relocation of Elitch Gardens: I think a relocation is more likely than a straight up closure. I feel like Coasterbill is going to say something snarky about this if he finds this. Elitch recently posted a video about "getting through this together" like a lot of parks are doing on Facebook. Just the "we've been making fun memories for the past 130 years and we look forward to making more fun memories for the next 130 years." It just seems like a park on the verge of closing wouldn't say anything such as that. Plus, Elitch is still a well-loved park for the general public: it has consistently drawn in about 1.1 million visitors each year. It did peak at 1.5 million at the beginning of the 2000's, but then it dropped to 1 million in the mid 2000's before staying consistent at 1.1 million since. Given that the population of the Denver metro area is only 717,796 (not including surrounding neighborhoods), it should seem pretty substantial that they can pull such attendance numbers. My last thought is that they aren't choosing to leave that location. It's not like how Six Flags sold the land under Astroworld before closing. Since the government is taking the land, Elitch Gardens will be getting financial compensation. Maybe they will throw in the towel, but I do believe that another move is in the park's future.

 

I've always enjoyed the park, even though there aren't any standout attractions. The past three generations have travelled to Denver for family vacations and Elitch has always been a tradition. It was incredibly seedy in the 2000's, but we've enjoyed our visits throughout the 2010's.

[SoCalJasonland]

 

Just a quick thought on the closure/relocation of Elitch Gardens: I think a relocation is more likely than a straight up closure. I feel like Coasterbill is going to say something snarky about this if he finds this. Elitch recently posted a video about "getting through this together" like a lot of parks are doing on Facebook. Just the "we've been making fun memories for the past 130 years and we look forward to making more fun memories for the next 130 years." It just seems like a park on the verge of closing wouldn't say anything such as that. Plus, Elitch is still a well-loved park for the general public: it has consistently drawn in about 1.1 million visitors each year. It did peak at 1.5 million at the beginning of the 2000's, but then it dropped to 1 million in the mid 2000's before staying consistent at 1.1 million since. Given that the population of the Denver metro area is only 717,796 (not including surrounding neighborhoods), it should seem pretty substantial that they can pull such attendance numbers. My last thought is that they aren't choosing to leave that location. It's not like how Six Flags sold the land under Astroworld before closing. Since the government is taking the land, Elitch Gardens will be getting financial compensation. Maybe they will throw in the towel, but I do believe that another move is in the park's future.

 

I've always enjoyed the park, even though there aren't any standout attractions. The past three generations have travelled to Denver for family vacations and Elitch has always been a tradition. It was incredibly seedy in the 2000's, but we've enjoyed our visits throughout the 2010's.

 

The government isn't taking the land from Elitch. Kroenke and Revesco purchased the park in 2015 and have been talking about turning the land into residential units since their purchase of the property. Both companies hold several investments and Elitch is the only amusement park, so they let Premier run it for them until they could shut it down. If It was a sports team, Kroenke might keep it but he doesn't seem to care about amusement parks. Who knows, maybe it will move to Los Angeles?

[grsupercity]

I liked my visit to Lakeside and Elitch. Sadly Half Pipe and Sidewinder were closed at Elitch. I loved the views of the city and mountains. I had said somewhere else I wouldn't mind seeing Elitch and Lakeside merge into one park if Elitch looses its land its on. Take the best of both parks and make one awesome park on the lake!

[VF15]

Elitch Gardens has announced the cancellation of its 2020 season.

https://www.elitchgardens.com/update/

[grsupercity]

With them have limited seasons left it makes it even more sad

[ALT2870]

Not surprising, WaterWorld didn't open either. Only park that is open in the state is Glenwood Caverns.

[pianojohn]

Heading to Denver next week to graduate with my Master's degree!

While there, I am planning to hit Elitch Gardens.  Any discounts other than the $20 off from their website?

Was really hoping to visit Lakeside as well, but it doesn't look like they will be open til later in the summer.

Any other must do or must eat in the city?

Thanks!

[IronWolfman]

Congrats on graduation! For Elitches tickets, may see if there is something on Groupon. There tends to be pretty good deals on 2-4 tickets for either Elitches or Lakeside under normal circumstances. 

Even as a local, I'm not so sure about any specific places for food. Illegal Pete's is a CO-local Qdoba-esque chain if you haven't been, and the downtown location closest to Elitches has a bar!

[pianojohn]

Well, just got back from Denver.

Highlight: graduated from University of Denver with my MA in Creative Writing. I did the entire degree online and ended up with a 4.0!

Lowlight: Elitch Gardens.

I had visited the original park in 1980 and loved the Wildcat and Mister Twister. I had read horror stories about this park, but I wanted to get the credits.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by a sign which listed two rides as being closed.  Once I was in the park, turned out the majority of the rides were closed. Half of the coasters were closed (Half Pipe, Sidewinder, and the kiddie coaster) and most of the flats as well.

I did ride Mind Eraser (Vekoma SLC...painful) Boomerang (Vekoma boomerang..also painful) and Twister II.  It was ok but nothing like the original. 

Went on the park's website, and none of those rides (other than Half Pipe) are listed as closed. Pissed. I emailed the park and am hoping for a full refund but I doubt it.

Advice: avoid this park unless you like being disappointed.

[coasterbill]

That sounds similar to our experience. We were not fans of that park at all. It seemed like word got out that it was going to close forever and they just figured they’d get a head start and close half of it right now.

I’m not sure when you got there but I will say that Sidewinder usually opens super late but there’s no sign anywhere telling you that.

Congrats on your degree!

[IronWolfman]

^Found that out about Sidewinder yesterday. On Thurs. the 3rd I decided to go for a Season Pass as I've been solo commuting to work with my car (used to always carpool and/or light rail), and with the park being a 10min walk from my work as well as it being likely my last year in Denver, I figured it might be worth it. That day, it was essentially the same as PianoJohn's experience. However, I went again yesterday and even though they were closed in the morning & midday, both Sidewinder and Half Piper were open by the time I got there after work. Rode the former 3 times with about 10-25min wait each, the latter once with a 70min wait that featured two breakdowns. Sign out front for closed rides was exactly as pictured above, so I figure they just can't be bothered to update it. 

[pianojohn]

UGH.  I guess I could have stayed around hoping they would open those two coasters. But it was hot and there was no sign of life at either coasters. Oh well...two credits I will never get. Their loss!

[grsupercity]

When I flew to denver a few years back and checked out the park both Halfpipe and Sidewidner were closed sadly. I also checked out lakeside and they had a bunch closed there as well 

[IronWolfman]

Really these Denver parks are way too hit-or-miss with their best coasters (which are good, but not anything great) for me to ever recommend traveling out here for just the parks. 

What really sucks is that the park was supposedly back up to almost 1.5 million guests before the pandemic (per a ride op I know on Instagram, so take that with a grain of salt), which kinda makes sense as it's ALWAYS busy. Along with having no more land, the fact that tons of people will show up anyways has given the park zero incentive to build anything new or even well-maintain & staff their existing rides (they rarely staffed Sidewinder before the shutdown, let alone now). Glad to be getting my last rides in this year but definitely feels like a slow death until they eventually close for the redevelopment.

[pianojohn]

So I wrote the park directly as well as corporate, and they are refunding my ticket! I am sure they usually don't care about making people happy, but my tale of woe must have moved them.

I posted the same comments on the park's Instagram page and was met with a hostile comment: "This is the best park in Colorado, and if you don't like it. just stay the f*ck home!"

Umm...the best park in Colorado when there is literally one other one, also run down and barely open.

And I have never been, but it looks like Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is a better park than either Lakeside or Elitch! 

 

[coasterbill]

Quote

Really these Denver parks are way too hit-or-miss with their best coasters (which are good, but not anything great) for me to ever recommend traveling out here for just the parks. 

I agree with that entirely. Elitch Gardens is an atrocious park. It has potential to be an "okay" park but it's so badly run. Lakeside is a total shithole but I found it to be a really fun shithole and they're open about being a shithole. If both coasters are open then it's fun at night. The wood coaster kind of sucks but Wild Chipmunk is the best coaster in Colorado so... fight me. lol Honestly, I like Lakeside. Expectations need to be set and it's totally weird but we had fun.

As for Glenwood Caverns, yeah... everyone should go there. It's fantastic.

I agree that nobody should go to Denver unless they're okay with like half of the coasters in the state being closed at any given time but on the flip-side it's a great city and it's Frontier's home airport so it's dirt cheap to fly there from basically anywhere if you don't mind flying them. People should go, but you're totally right that people need to manage their expectations for the parks.

[jedimaster1227]

Kroenke Sports and Entertainment has purchased properties along the River Mile development including Elitch Gardens Theme and Wate rPark and the venue that hosts Meow Wolf. The company has confirmed that they intend to continue to operate those attractiosn into the future. 

https://kdvr.com/news/local/ball-arena-owner-buys-river-mile-development-area-including-meow-wolf-elitch-gardens/

Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, which owns Ball Arena and other entertainment venues, announced its purchase of properties along the River Mile development on Thursday.

KSE said in a press release that it acquired Revesco Properties’ interest in the River Mile development, a project that plans to transform a mile of properties along the South Platte River into a walkable neighborhood that combines nature and city life.

The sale includes Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park and 1338 1st Street, which is home to Meow Wolf and other properties, as well as “other related assets,” KSE said.

KSE and Revesco Properties have been working together since their joint purchase of the 58-acre historic Elitch Gardens in 2015. Renderings on The River Mile website show a future for the area with new skyscrapers, green space along the river and more.

KSE also has plans to redevelop 55 acres near Speer Boulevard and Auraria Parkway, including the Ball Arena campus, into a new walkable neighborhood with housing, retail, entertainment, and green space.

First plans for Ball Arena Redevelopment filed in Denver show hotel, venue and housing

“Realizing sole ownership of these properties will allow us to streamline our comprehensive vision for the future development encompassing The River Mile and the adjacent Ball Arena campus,” KSE Owner and Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke said in the release. “We are grateful to Revesco for many years of productive collaboration.”

The future of the area is now in KSE’s hands.

“We are incredibly proud of our work with KSE as the stewards of Elitch Gardens over the past decade, and to have been a catalyst for a re-imagining of the site known as The River Mile,” said Rhys Duggan, Founding Member, President & CEO of Revesco Properties. “We believe the blueprint has been set for the future of Central Denver and that both the Park and The River Mile vision are in good hands with Mr. Kroenke and his family.”

KSE said that Elitch Gardens and Meow Wolf will continue to operate at their current sites, KSE said. Executive Vice President Mike Neary said the amusement park is a “rite of summer” for over a million visitors each year, and they intend to keep it that way and “better than ever.”

FOX31’s Alliyah Sims spoke with Andrew Goetz, a professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment at the University of Denver, about the potential impacts and the future that lies ahead for the area.

He said many overbuilt parking lots in Denver are often underfilled and effectively a waste of space, and said there is “tremendous potential” for redevelopment.

“By redeveloping that area, integrating it in with the River Mile project, you can create something that’s really transformative, can address the needs the city has in terms of affordable housing as well as providing a focal point for renewed development in that area,” he said.

He added that the economic impact may be significant in terms of attracting people to the area for sports events and other activities.

“Plus, having the housing, a more permanent stable activity that goes on, plus supporting retail, that’s all things that’s going to support the redevelopment of the area quite a bit, so I think it has a good deal of potential,” he said.

[SoCalJasonland]

Kroenke just bought out Revesco's co-intertest in the property.  Kroenke and Revesco were the original purchasers of the park from Six Flags and that stated they intended to move the park to an alternative location and build 800 condos on the old Elitch location.  I am not sure if they still plan to keep the park in the current location but that will depend on housing demand in downtown.

Kroenke and his Walmart heiress wife are worth some 30+ billion dollars and could have fixed up Elitch Gardens over the past 10 years if they wanted to.

It is depressing that Elitch's owners could spend 1/30th of 1% of their wealth fixing up the park, or 100-million and choose not to, while Lakeside's owner's are too poor to fix their wooden coaster for the past three years.  Government owned and operated Waterworld appears to be the best run amusement place in the Denver area.