Skip to content

Calaway Park prepares for reopening

“All of these protocols and procedures have been put in place to create a safe environment,” Williams said. “We believe that if everybody does their part we’ll be fine and people will have a great summer.”

ROCKY VIEW COUNTY—  Marking the official start of the summer season, Calaway Park will be opening its gates to the public next Friday (July 17).

Calaway Park General Manager Bob Williams said the team has been working diligently at all hours of the day preparing for its grand reopening.

“We want people to have fun,” Williams said. “We want them to have a great time.”

It was a relief when they got the green light from Alberta Health Services to open to the public, Williams said. The team had spent two-months working with Alberta Health Services to design a way for the amusement park to open safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Calaway Park received the official go-ahead to reopen on Tuesday (June 30).

They were fortunate, Williams said, because Calaway Park is an outdoor attraction. He noted that Alberta Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw has said that infection spread in outdoor climates is far less than in indoor climates.

Williams added that he is grateful for the work of Dr. Hinshaw and Alberta Public Health for helping the park open safely.

 “We were pretty excited and also relieved,” Williams said, explaining that the team has been hard at work preparing for reopening.  He added that Calaway Park has maintained and kept its 40 permanent team members.

It will be a new experience for guests visiting the park due to the new COVID-19 public health protocols.

“Calaway Park’s number one priority is safety always,” Williams said. “With COVID-19 and the safety restrictions that are in place ... It's important to us and it’s important to us that we deliver.”

The most challenging aspect for amusement parks is the concern that screaming and yelling while in throes of an exciting ride can lead to the spreading of droplets, and potentially COVID-19, between visitors, he said.

To combat this any high velocity rides at the park will remain closed during Stage Two of the province's economic relaunch — This means Vortex, Chaos, Ocean Motion, Adrenaline Test Zone, Wave Rider and Free Fallin’ will be closed.

Williams added that the Park’s Mulligan's Island Mini Golf, Twiz and Twirl Maze, Haunted Hotel and live entertainment will also be closed during Stage Two.

These rides and attractions will reopen in Stage Three.

Other rides will be able open, but guests will be required to wear facemasks. These rides include Dodgem, Storm, Air Gliders, Bumble Blast, Sky Winder and Dream Machine.

Williams added he is excited to announce that Timber Falls will be able to open with limited restrictions. Timber Falls is the perfect physical distancing ride, he said, because they can control cohort groups per boat and can separate boats to minimize contact between park guests.

Physical distancing will be in place from the moment guests arrive at the front gate of the park, Williams said. This will be aided by staggered entrance times and the use of online reservations.

He added that attendance numbers at the park will also be limited each day and hand sanitizer will be available.

“The silver lining for the guests is their experience on park will be a park that won’t have 1000’s of people,” Williams said. “They’ll have a much better experience— The line ups won’t be that long and they’ll still have a really good time.”

Calaway Park is recommending guests wear facemasks when they visit. All staff at the park are required to wear facemasks and will be going through precheck to enter the park before work.

On Monday (July 13) Calaway Park will make an update on its opening and its new reservation system will go live. Williams said the price for admission will be discounted as parts of the park will be closed during Stage Two and Three of the relaunch.

Next year marks Calaway Park's 40th anniversary, and Williams said he hopes guests will be able to have the full experience of the park to celebrate the landmark birthday in 2021.

“All of these protocols and procedures have been put in place to create a safe environment,” Williams said. “We believe that if everybody does their part we’ll be fine and people will have a great summer.”

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks