By Alyssa Erdley

After more than a year of forced closure, the Pacific Park amusement park on the Santa Monica Pier has reopened. With the county entering the red, and then the orange tiers of public health restrictions, more sectors of the economy have been allowed to resume operations. However, continued fear over COVID-19 and the constant refrain of the rise of virus variants places restrictions on capacity and some aspects of business reopenings. The amusement park on the pier, for example, will have only a limited number of rides open and parts of the park may be closed altogether. Guests who purchase tickets online will not know in advance which rides will be available. In addition, hours may have be cut without notice.

Below is the press release regarding safety procedures at the park:

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier has resumed ride operation with guidance from the state and county. The return to ride operations is in alignment with other amusement parks in the county and a result of collaboration on safety guidelines with local and state officials to continue a phased reopening based on the Blueprint for a Safer Economy tier assignment.

Pacific Park's rides, including the Pacific Wheel, are currently open to the public. The Park is also offering select services in its over-the-ocean dining plaza, beachside retail, and midway games. Following written guidelines from the state, guests should expect new experiences including the option to purchase ride tickets online in advance of their visit, a single entrance to the ride area at the east side of the Park, and monitoring the number of people in the Park at one time.

Pacific Park's top priority is the health and safety of its guests and employees. The Park has implemented procedures advised by IAAPA's "Reopening Guidance: Considerations for the Attractions Industry" to limit guests' potential exposure to public-use surfaces and each other. California Emergency Health Orders still require all people to wear a mask or face covering while outside of their home and around other people.

The Park's hours are subject to change on short notice. The current operating schedule can be found online at pacpark.com/hours. The Santa Monica Pier, beaches, and parking lots are all open, but some services and offers may be limited.