Elitch Gardens Opens Coasters While Lakeside Faces Challenges

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park has successfully reopened two of its major roller coasters this month, providing a boost to the downtown Denver attraction. Meanwhile, Lakeside Amusement Park, also in Denver, is struggling to revive its own historic ride, the Cyclone, as it navigates ongoing operational challenges.

Located on a 58-acre site in downtown Denver, Elitch Gardens unveiled the Twister III: Storm Chaser wooden roller coaster last week. This ride had been undergoing maintenance, but it is now fully operational. Originally built in 1964 at Elitch’s former location in northwest Denver, Twister III has undergone several upgrades over the years. The latest rebranding occurred in 2023, which coincided with its reopening after a year-long closure. The ride features a thrilling 90-foot drop, a 100-foot darkened tunnel, and an immersive experience that captures “the sights, sounds and winds of a real tornado,” according to the park’s official statements.

In addition, Elitch Gardens has also reopened its 45-year-old Sidewinder coaster, which had been out of operation for two years. With both rides now active, the park has all of its coasters running, much to the relief of enthusiastic visitors concerned about the park’s future.

Kroenke Sports Enterprises, the owner of Elitch Gardens, plans to redevelop the surrounding area into a mixed-use space with apartments, retail, and offices. While there is no set timetable for this development, the company has indicated it intends to invest in the theme park’s continued operation.

Lakeside Amusement Park Faces Setbacks

Contrasting sharply with Elitch Gardens, Lakeside Amusement Park has been unable to reopen its signature attraction, the Cyclone, this summer. Despite two years of efforts to recertify the coaster following an accident, the park has faced setbacks, including a lawsuit filed in 2022 by a rider who claimed inadequate safety measures were in place.

Brenda Fishman, operations manager of Lakeside, runs the park alongside her mother, Rhoda Krasner. Fishman remains optimistic about the Cyclone’s future, stating that the oldest wooden roller coaster west of the Mississippi River is still scheduled for reopening. However, she did not provide a specific date for when that might occur.

The park continues to operate despite the challenges, with plans to host the Denver Film Summer Scream fundraiser on August 21, 2023. However, it has acknowledged that other rides have also been non-operational this season, mainly due to staffing shortages and operational issues.

As both parks navigate their respective paths, the contrasting fortunes highlight the evolving landscape of amusement parks in the Denver area. Elitch Gardens appears to be on a positive trajectory, while Lakeside Amusement Park is working diligently to overcome its hurdles.