City to eye Six Flags’ virus compliance
Inspectors react to report of crowds, lack of enforcement
City inspectors will visit Six Flags Fiesta Texas this weekend to determine whether the theme park is complying with state and local COVID-19 rules at its Halloween-themed events.
The decision to inspect the far West Side park followed a San Antonio Express-News report Tuesday that thousands of visitors packed portions of the more than 200-acre Six Flags last weekend, many of them ignoring social distancing rules.
“City code enforcement will be going out to the park this weekend,” said Ximena Copa-Wiggins, spokeswoman for the city’s Development Services Department, which oversees code compliance. “They will be looking to see if socially distancing and mask wearing is being followed.”
Violations of the state and city regulations carry fines of up to $1,000.
“We look forward to showing the inspectors our operations,” Six Flags Fiesta Texas spokesman Jeffrey Filicko said in an email Tuesday.
Six Flag officials have said the health and safety of guests are their top priorities. The company requires mask-wearing throughout the theme park and checks guests’ temperatures before allowing them to through the admission gates.
On Saturday, crowds formed at park restaurants, in lines for rides and at spectator areas by “scare zones” featuring costumed actors. Six Flags workers and off-duty San Antonio police employed by the park did not attempt to disperse the crowds.
At one of the HallowFest scenes, guests stood shoulder to shoulder, three rows deep to watch costumed actors in a makeshift cemetery. In another section of the park, actors in monster costumes stood within a foot of the spectators, separated by a fence.
Most park visitors wore masks.
State and San Antonio COVID-19 rules require parties to keep at least six feet apart in restaurant lines in amusement parks, even when guests are wearing masks. In other park areas, masks are required only when social distancing is impossible.
Some major theme parks, including Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and Walt Disney World, have canceled their Halloween events because of concerns about large crowds.
In September, Six Flags President and CEO Mike Spanos said in a news release that the park operator would make the Halloween events at its park in San Antonio and others in North America safe by keeping guests at least six feet apart, including scare-zone actors.
The parks also closed indoor haunted houses, offering only outdoor Halloween entertainment.
Six Flags and other theme park companies are struggling financially after being forced to close down in March as coronavirus cases spread rapidly. Six Flags Fiesta Texas reopened on June 19.
The theme park’s HallowFest started in mid-September and will continue on weekends until Nov.1, in addition to Thursday, Oct. 29.