*A news article from WFSB, channel 3, in CT:*
Quassy Amusement Park gets ready to reopen
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[image: Quassy Amusement Park]
Quassy Amusement and Waterpark in Middlebury.
WFSB file
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MIDDLEBURY, CT (WFSB) – Quassy Amusement & Waterpark in Middlebury released
its plan for when it reopens later this month.
The park said it is ready to kick off its 2020 season on June 20, when
phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan is scheduled to get underway.
Quassy said it will operate under COVID-19 mandates issued by the State of
Connecticut, which include social distancing in queue lines for rides and
limiting daily attendance to less than normal capacity. The park will
require that all guests wear facemasks while on the property.
*Further guidelines and safety protocols can be found on the park’s
website here <www.quassy.com/>.*
Owner George Franzis says the park will follow CDC recommended guidelines.
“As you walk into the park, you’re going to see signage about social
distancing, and we are making it mandatory that everybody wear a mask. So
not only our employees, but our guests are required to wear masks as they
walk through the park,” Franzis said.
From hand sanitizer stations throughout the park to yellow tape indicating
six-feet social distancing while people wait in line, Quassy will be ready
to go.
Rides will be wipe and sanitized regularly and the tables in the dining
areas have been spaced more widely apart.
In the water park, wearing a mask would be difficult, so there will be an
exception.
“As your are on water slides or in line, you are not going to be obligated
to wear a mask, but obviously, if you are going to go to the bathroom or to
the food areas and you are going to engage people, we are going to request
that guests wear their masks,” Franzis said.
Throughout its 112-year history, Quassy regularly operates at or near full
capacity, for now they will not.
For starters, they will only allow in about 25 percent of their normal
sized crowd. The park will post on social media when they are reaching
capacity.
Anderson said guests are encouraged to buy their tickets online and arrive
at the park early on the day of their visit.
“Making online purchases will help ease congestion at the ticket booth and
arriving early may be in your best interest with the capacity cap,”
Anderson said.
Quassy said it will be processing 2020 season passes two weekends prior to
the June 20 opening. The season pass office next to the parking lot will be
open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 6-7 and 13-14.
Park officials issued the following guidelines for pre-opening season pass
processing:
– When parking, leave an empty space between you and next vehicle.
– Two families – facemasks required – will be permitted in the season
pass office at a time.
– Please remain in an orderly line outside of the office with six feet
of distance between you and the guests in front of and behind you.
“We really want to stress that guests will need to be patient and follow
the guidelines when visiting,” Anderson said. “We’ll have queue lines for
the rides marked with distancing gaps and arrows along walkways for traffic
flow.”
Anderson also said there will be park-wide sanitation procedures done by
the staff and hand sanitizer available for guest use. Seating outside the
restaurant will also be set up to achieve the social distancing mandates.
The rides, Splash Away Bay waterpark and Quassy Beach will be operating
when the park opens.
However, the redemption arcade, Bella & Bessie’s Sweet Shoppe and Dog House
hot dog stand will not be open during this phase of the state’s plan.
Food and beverages will be available at Quassy Restaurant, Splash Away Bay
Café, Ice Cream Parlor, fried dough stand and pizza stand.
The park also announced that its traditional Fourth of July fireworks
display has been canceled.
*Copyright 2020 WFSB (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.*
See you in the queue,
*Rus*
Rus Ozana
New England Regional Representative
American Coaster Enthusiasts
rozana@ACEonline.org
617-816-9943
*1,007 coasters ridden in 33 states and 20 countries*
