Photo by Tara Clow.
New Brunswickers, and others visiting the province will still have a fun place to cool off on Magnetic Hill.
But things will be a lot different at Magic Mountain this Season.
The well known water park opened its doors on July 5th, weeks later than the usual opening day, when the school year ended.
This was due to COVID-19.
General Manager John Jelley says there are a limited number of tickets being sold per day this season, and they have to be purchased in advance.
“This is going to create a really unique chance for people in Greater Moncton to experience Magic Mountain,”Jelley says. We are operating at a really reduced capacity compared to previous years, so people are going to able to come in the heat of the summer without the same lineups that you might see in a normal year.”
Jelley says there was a lot of work went into getting the Park ready to open. Most of their staff who worked at the park last summer returned this year.
“We spent a lot of time during May and June time frame trying to understand where we fit into the reopening plan, and also to understand what measures we would have to take in order to be safe to reopen,” Jelley says.
He admits, even with a limited amount of business, the attraction is going to take a hit financially as a result of the changes they had to make, “We’re going to have a significant financial impact this year, there’s no doubt about that. Tourism businesses in general are feeling a real, real severe impact. Even without the tourism traffic, we can’t have as much local traffic as we might have normally because of the reduced capacity.”
Some of the changes include, in the water park, it is not recommended that you wear a mask on the watersides or in the pools, but they do recommend you do have a mask with you. It can be worn as you are entering the park or while lined up for food.
Jelley says, “When the FunZone opens on July 20th, you are required to wear a mask if you are going on rides, because it is not always possible to physical distance.”
The change rooms and washrooms are still open, with a reduced capacity, but they do encourage guests to change prior to coming, and shower at home afterwards.
Jelley encouraged everyone to read all of the details on their Facebook page before purchasing tickets, because there are a few services that they aren’t able to offer this year.
