Theme Park's Early Closure Surprises Residents
Bonfante Gardens May Not Reopen
Gilroy's new Bonfante Gardens has closed down unexpectedly and may not reopen.
The $100 million park opened June 15, and was not scheduled to shut down for a winter break for another 13 weeks.
Creating the theme park was the long-time dream of Michael Bonfante, Action News 8 reports.
Bonfante, who used to
own the Nob Hill Grocery Store chain, wanted to create a park where people could learn more about trees and California agriculture.
Bonfante reportedly invested $70 million of his own money into the garden theme park, but has since run out of money to keep the park open.
Park officials would not talk to Action News 8 on camera, but a press release from them said that the park has shut down because a major investor has pulled out.
The early closure comes as a surprise to the local community, and other local businesses are wondering how it will affect them, Action News 8 reports.
"It's going to really affect business," hotel general manager Elvira Jimenez said. "Being in the short time they've been open, we have a lot of people who stay here because of Bonfante Gardens."
Bonfante Gardens officials said that they hope to reopen in the spring of 2002, but there is concern that they may not be able to find another investor.
The park was operating as a non-profit organization and donating money for beautification projects in the community. That money will also disappear if the park doesn't reopen.
Park officials said that more than 280,000 visited the theme park in the three months that it was open.
The $100 million park opened June 15, and was not scheduled to shut down for a winter break for another 13 weeks.
Creating the theme park was the long-time dream of Michael Bonfante, Action News 8 reports.
Bonfante, who used to
own the Nob Hill Grocery Store chain, wanted to create a park where people could learn more about trees and California agriculture.
Bonfante reportedly invested $70 million of his own money into the garden theme park, but has since run out of money to keep the park open.
Park officials would not talk to Action News 8 on camera, but a press release from them said that the park has shut down because a major investor has pulled out.
The early closure comes as a surprise to the local community, and other local businesses are wondering how it will affect them, Action News 8 reports.
"It's going to really affect business," hotel general manager Elvira Jimenez said. "Being in the short time they've been open, we have a lot of people who stay here because of Bonfante Gardens."
Bonfante Gardens officials said that they hope to reopen in the spring of 2002, but there is concern that they may not be able to find another investor.
The park was operating as a non-profit organization and donating money for beautification projects in the community. That money will also disappear if the park doesn't reopen.
Park officials said that more than 280,000 visited the theme park in the three months that it was open.Copyright 2001 by TheKSBWChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
