Does Admission To Gilroy Gardens Include Water Oasis

Family amusement and nature park

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
Attractions

Location	3050 Hecker Pass Hwy. Gilroy, California, United States
Coordinates	37°0′19″N 121°37′41″W / 37.00528°N 121.62806°W / 37.00528; -121.62806 Coordinates: 37°0′19″N 121°37′41″W / 37.00528°N 121.62806°W / 37.00528; -121.62806
Owner	City of Gilroy, California
Operated by	Cedar Fair
Opened	July 2001
Previous names	Bonfante Gardens (2001–2006)
Operating season	Late March–Early January
Area	536 acres (0.838 sq mi; 217 ha)
Total	21
Roller coasters	2
Website	Official website
Status	Operating

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, often shortened to Gilroy Gardens, is a garden-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 536-acre theme park (217 ha) is owned by the city of Gilroy and managed by Cedar Fair, and it features over 40 rides and attractions. One of its well-known attractions are the Circus Trees, created by Axel Erlandson.^[1] Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park is a 501(c)(3) corporation that controls operations at the park.

History [edit]

One of the famous Circus Trees at Gilroy Gardens^[2]

The park was founded by Michael and Claudia Bonfante after selling their Nob Hill Foods supermarket chain to build the 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.^[3] 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.^[4]

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.^[5]

Gilroy Gardens operates under the management of Cedar Fair, which acquired Paramount Parks from CBS Corporation on June 30, 2006.^[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 strict measures will be adhered to, like social distancing and wearing masks.

Attractions [edit]

Rides:

Apple & Worm‍—‌Children's caterpillar ride around a giant apple core.
Artichoke Dip‍—‌Artichoke ride around a coastal live oak tree.
Banana Split‍—‌Banana-shaped swinging ship ride.
Balloon Flight‍—‌Balloon ride.
Big Red Engine Co.‍—‌Children's firetruck ride.
Bonfante Railroad‍—‌2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge^[7] train ride around park perimeter.
Bulgy The Goldfish‍—‌Children's fish ride.
Claudia's Carousel – Kiddie carousel.
Garlic Twirl‍—‌Garlic-themed "tea cups" style ride.
Illions Supreme Carousel‍—‌Modern fiberglass carousel inspired by the original built in 1927 by M.C. Illions
Mushroom Swing‍—‌Mushroom shaped swing ride.
Paddle Boats‍—‌Duck shaped paddle boats.
Panoramic Wheel‍—‌Mini Ferris wheel.
Pitstop Racers‍—‌Children's race car ride.
Quicksilver Express‍—‌Mine-themed roller coaster.
Rainbow Gardens Boats‍—‌Raft ride though flower gardens.
Sky Trail Monorail‍—‌Monorail ride through Monarch Butterfly Greenhouse. Audio tape still refers to the park as "Bonfante Gardens"
South County Backroads‍—‌Car attraction featuring two tracks: one side themed to the 1920s cars, and the other themed to 1950s cars.
Strawberry Sundae‍—‌Spinning strawberry ride.
Timber Twister‍—‌Rattlesnake themed junior roller coaster.
Tubs-O-Fun‍—‌Children's "tea cups" ride.

Other Attractions:

Bonfante Falls (formerly Pinnacles Waterfall)‍—‌Bridge behind an artificial waterfall.
Bonfante's Splash Garden‍—‌Water play area.
Oak Park Playground‍—‌Children's play area.
Water Oasis‍—‌Water play area aimed at smaller children (introduced in 2014 replacing Pinnacles Rock Maze.)

Former Attractions:

Pinnacles Rock Maze‍—‌Artificial maze resembling caves found at Pinnacles National Park.

References [edit]

^ Betsy Malloy. "Gilroy Gardens". About.com Travel . Retrieved April 10, 2016.
^ "Hidden Gems: Circus Trees of Gilroy Gardens". California Now. March 30, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
^ Bonfante Gardens to Be Renamed Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park (Feb. 26. 2007), prnewswire.com
^ "Landscaping – February 2015" Archived 2015-12-26 at the Wayback Machine (Feb 2015), iaapa.org
^ "Bonfante theme park in the black". Morgan Hill Times. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
^ "Properties". Cedar Falls official website. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2010.
^ "Crown Locomotive Roster (15"-24" Gauge)". trainweb.org . Retrieved April 10, 2016.