GOOD TIMES ARE BACK AT QUASSY
Middlebury amusement park reopens at full capacity
MIDDLEBURY — Aside from the presence of masks, signs of the COVID-19 pandemic were hard to spot Saturday at Quassy Amusement Park, as the park welcomed guests for the first time this year.
A line of cars stretched well outside park gates. Families scurried across the grounds from attraction to attraction. Kids packed happily onto rides.
It felt, co-owner George Frantzis said, something like a normal Opening Day.
“I thought it would be busy because tomorrow is rain, but I didn’t expect it to be this much this soon,” Frantzis said, while directing visitors in the Quassy parking lot. “I expected it to be more spread out and relaxed. But it’s great.”
As of April 2, Connecticut’s outdoor amusement parks are allowed to operate at full capacity as part of a gradual loosening of pandemic-related restrictions. Gov. Ned Lamont has said all restrictions except an indoor mask mandate will be fully repealed by May 19, allowing many Connecticut residents a return to something like pre-pandemic life.
The scene at Quassy, which offers rides, games and concessions along Lake Quassapaug, felt like a sign of things to come.
“We’ve been inside with the virus for a year,” said Fiona Sims, a New Britain resident who visited the park with 5-year-old Josiah. “So it’s nice to get out and see that everything is open.”
Quassy is the first amusement park in the region to reopen, with Lake Compounce in Bristol set to follow on May 8. Six Flags in Agawam, Massachusetts, has not yet announced its schedule. Frantzis said Quassy will continue to follow the state’s COVID-19 guidelines but won’t impose additional ones, meaning guests won’t be required to wear masks at the park beginning next month.
While some Quassy visitors Saturday said they remained wary of the pandemic, others said they felt comfortable because they were vaccinated or because of reduced risk of spread outdoors. Signs instructed guests to wear masks and maintain social distancing, but guests packed closely in lines and on rides nonetheless.
“It’s outside, I feel good, we know the sanitizing rules and staying away if you can and all that, so we weren’t nervous at all,” said Hattie Ewing of Middlebury, who brought her two young children to the park Saturday. “The anxiety is kind of dying down a little bit and we’re starting to get back to normal.”
Some guests said they were drawn Saturday by a fundraiser in which Quassy charged reduced admission but asked visitors to bring canned goods, toiletries, dog food and other items — a promotion that will last through next weekend.
Eric Kohler, who visited with his wife and two kids, said his only complaint was that he still needed to wear a mask.
“I got my vaccine, I’m ready to go,” he said.
Frantzis said Quassy will operate this summer much like any other. All attractions except the waterpark will be open weekends from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Memorial Day, when the waterpark will open and hours will expand.
“I think people are ready to get out,” Frantzis said. “There are people who are still concerned, and I respect that. But you can see the schools want to come back, they want to do their proms, they want to do their graduation, the vaccines are rolling out fast.
“I think we’ll be OK. I don’t think will be a banner year, but I’m optimistic.”