Kings Island said it continues to monitor the ever-changing conditions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and is “actively working with health experts and government officials to maintain the highest safety standards for guests and associates.”
The Warren County amusement park’s parent company, Cedar Fair, will “strongly encourage” employees at its 13 parks to get vaccinated, according to Brian Witherow, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Cedar Fair.
‘When we look back at 2020 and the way we were able to do 2.6 million guests and not have a single case traced back to us, we thought we had a safe and effective environment,” Witherow said in a 2020 fourth quarter and year end earnings conference call last week. “We proved our protocols and procedures were effective. So we are certainly going to strongly encourage our associates and our employees to go get vaccinated.”
A Gold and Platinum season Passholder Preview weekend was previously announced for May 8 and 9, about a month later than its usual opening. The park will operate on weekend only its first two open-to-the-public weekend, then shift to seven-days-a-week operations starting May 28.
As for post-Labor Day plans, Witherow said “the latter part of the year looks a lot more like ’19,” but dynamic and with adjustments made.
“If there’s reason to stay open, as we’ve shown in other years, reasons to stay open more days because demand is there, we have the luxury and the ability to make those adjustments to our calendar,” he said. “But at this point in time, we’re focused on managing against what we think is still going to be somewhat of a disrupted 2021.”
Soak City Water Park will open on Saturday, May 29, which is Memorial Day weekend. The complete Soak City Water Park calendar and hours will be announced soon, the park said.
All 2020 Season Passes will be honored during the 2021 season, the park said.
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