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A rejuvenated Playland is open again in Fresno. Here’s what it looks like inside

Joshua Tehee
·2 min read

Those passing through Fresno’s Roeding Park recently (to check out Chaffee Zoo’s new Kingdoms of Asia exhibit, perhaps?) may have noticed something new at Playland.

Or, several somethings, including an 85-foot gondola Ferris wheel.

It’s hard to miss.

The 68-year-old amusement park was shuttered in 2020 and hasn’t reopened (unlike its sister park Storyland).

Last summer, a new operator was brought in to reopen, if not reinvent, the iconic attraction, updating and refurbishing the existing rides while bringing in a rotating collection of new rides to the park.

Playland officially reopens at noon Friday, just in time for Father’s Day weekend. Tickets are $20-$25 and are good for a full eight hours and all 21 rides and attractions, including the park’s iconic carousel. Opening day tickets includes a special bounce-back ticket that allows guest a free return visit.

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Normal hours of operation will be 1-9 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays.

The park will close Mondays and Tuesdays for corporate and private events.

Playland in Roeding Park is promised to be reopening on June 1, according to Davey Helm, whose company Helm and Sons Amusements purchased it and has been furiously updating and sprucing it up.
Playland in Roeding Park is promised to be reopening on June 1, according to Davey Helm, whose company Helm and Sons Amusements purchased it and has been furiously updating and sprucing it up.

A precursor to Disneyland

Playland opened in 1955 and was around before Anaheim’s Disneyland.

It sold 14,000 ride tickets on its first day alone, and along with Storyland (and the zoo) established Roeding Park as an entertainment destination in Fresno for years. But as the city grew and entertainment options changed and the state began mandatory inspections of amusement rides, the park fell on hard times.

By 2000, it had just two rides in operation. The park was closed in 2015 due to a lack of revenue, as was Storyland.

Community support (nearly $850,000 worth) reopened both parks the following year, only to have them closed again by the pandemic. While Storyland reopened, Playland has been closed since.

Helm and Sons Amusements

The park’s new operator, Helm and Sons Amusements, has been running amusement parks and carnival rides since the 1950s and three generations of family ownership. The southern California company has contracts to provide carnival rides and attractions for several state and county fairs, including the California Mid State Fair and Tulare County Fair. The company also provides attractions for events like Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas.

This is its first permanent amusement park.

Davey Helm of Helm and Sons Amusements talks about his Bubba Bear and the Badland Band attraction at Playland in Roeding Park on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Davey Helm of Helm and Sons Amusements talks about his Bubba Bear and the Badland Band attraction at Playland in Roeding Park on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
The dragon rollercoaster ride will be back at Playland in Roeding Park when the park reopens on June 1.
The dragon rollercoaster ride will be back at Playland in Roeding Park when the park reopens on June 1.
The train ride is currently being restored at Playland in Roeding Park and ready for passengers when the park reopens on June 1.
The train ride is currently being restored at Playland in Roeding Park and ready for passengers when the park reopens on June 1.
A pair of Canada geese walk their baby chicks past the tea cups ride at Playland in Roeding Park on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
A pair of Canada geese walk their baby chicks past the tea cups ride at Playland in Roeding Park on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Davey Helm of Helm and Sons Amusements talks about his Stinson Band organ attraction which will face toward Roeding Park’s entrance at Playland.
Davey Helm of Helm and Sons Amusements talks about his Stinson Band organ attraction which will face toward Roeding Park’s entrance at Playland.
Davey Helm of Helm and Sons Amusements stands among the horses on the carousel which he is having restored at Playland in Roeding Park on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Davey Helm of Helm and Sons Amusements stands among the horses on the carousel which he is having restored at Playland in Roeding Park on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Playland in Roeding Park is promised to be reopening on June 1, according to Davey Helm, whose company Helm and Sons Amusements purchased it and has been furiously updating and sprucing it up.
Playland in Roeding Park is promised to be reopening on June 1, according to Davey Helm, whose company Helm and Sons Amusements purchased it and has been furiously updating and sprucing it up.