Playland officially reopens to Fresno community

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Playland in Central Fresno has officially reopened to the public following several years of renovation.

On Friday, kids and their families rushed in to enjoy the new rides and have fun at the grand re-opening.

The rides that stayed still and quiet for years have now come back to life.

Along with the traditional favorites, there are new attractions, including a giant Ferris wheel and a 100-foot swing.

Karen Krbechek shared her nostalgia for the park with her granddaughters.

"I used to come here when I was a little girl and it's just one of my favorite places to come. This is really, really nice, they have done a remarkable job. It just brings back a lot of memories," said Krbechek.

Playland originally opened its gates in 1955, the same year Disneyland welcomed guests for the first time, ushering in a new era of theme park entertainment.

The park it had its highs and lows, closing in 2014 and reopening for revitalization in 2016.

Now, a California family-run company, Helm & Sons Amusements, is taking over as the new operator.

"We wanted to keep some of the old nostalgic feelings with some of the older rides. We took them all apart, tested them, had everything refurbished, repainted, recalibrated, and then we brought in about 15 more new ones," said Davey Helm, CEO of Helm & Sons Amusements.

Admission is $25 or $20 for kids 7 and under.

Once you pay, most of the rides are free.

"I'm a father first and a businessman second. We want to do something affordable," said Helm.

The park's train is $3 dollars to ride and travels through Storyland.

Bruce Batti, the board chair of Storyland-Playland, says he's happy with the new leadership at the park.

"Davy Helm and sons have done one thing really, really right and they have leaned into it heavily, People are going to be blown away quite frankly, they are going to be blown away

The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1 pm to 9 pm.

Thursday, June 22, is Free Fresno Day, which means visitors can get in free all day.

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