Elitch's slashing prices
By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published March 19, 2008 at 11:28 a.m.
Updated March 19, 2008 at 4:12 p.m.
Photo by George Kochaniec Jr. © The Rocky
Lazar guns are fired during the unveiling of a new attraction at Elitch Gardens this morning. Ghost Blasters allows people to travel through a haunted castle and fire lazer guns at ghosts and other scary things during the ride.
Laser guns for the whole family will be the big new attraction at Elitch Gardens this summer, and the adult admission cost is plunging by more than 20 percent.
Prices for adults will be $34.99, down from $44.99, Elitch general manager Joe Martinez said today at a news conference that also announced a new ride and 10 summer concerts.
Admission for kids will fall $3 from $22.99 to $19.99, he said. And parking will be $10, down from $15.
"Leisure time for the family is scarce," Martinez said, noting that there is tremendous competition for the entertainment dollar in Colorado.
"Time is our greatest enemy," he said, indicating that the $10 and $3 price drops likely will help bolster weekday crowds.
The big new ride this year will be Ghost Blasters in which guests ride through Boocifer's haunted mansion, everyone armed with a Boo Blaster.
Ghosts will appear throughout the mansion, and the goal is to blast them back to the past with the laser guns. The guns trace bright red lines across the ceiling and upper walls as people try to blast the fast-moving ghosts.
Elitch marketing director Bob Morgan classified Ghost Blasters as a "fun-scary" ride, in which friends and family members can vie with each other to see who shoots the most ghosts in an 8,000-square-foot arena.
Martinez said Elitch Gardens will be the first amusement park in the nation to have an interactive family-friendly laser game of this magnitude.
Among the artists appearing at the 10 Saturday night concerts, free with admission, are Billy Ray Cyrus, Drake Bell and Smash Mouth.
Another new attraction will be Hot Diggity Dogs! — showcasing talented dogs catching flying discs, performing stunts and maneuvering through complex obstacle courses.
Elitch Gardens amusement park was established 118 years ago in northwest Denver. It is now close to downtown Denver, next to the Pepsi Center.
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March 19, 2008
11:49 a.m.
Suggest removal
Kslayer writes:
It's so nice to hear about prices going down on something. Thats a bit refreshing. Thanks Elitches!
March 19, 2008
1:07 p.m.
Suggest removal
DahmersCookbook writes:
They'll make it up with reduction in maintenance, buckle up.
March 19, 2008
1:18 p.m.
Suggest removal
FallyBerry writes:
Yeah, I can see these laser blasters being totally misused by the kids who frequent elitches. Forget it.
March 19, 2008
1:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
temurlan writes:
Lighten up people. I had heard rumors that it was sold/closing/becoming condos etc. Instead they are adding rides and lowering prices. Good for them.
March 19, 2008
2:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
tchoupitoulas writes:
Call me nostalgic, but the place just lost all of its charm as soon as they moved from their original location in the Highlands. Does anyone else remember the big tree that had all the gooey bubble gum stuck to it that you had to pass to get to the log ride? Classic!
March 19, 2008
2:11 p.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
Nice start. Now, develop some shaded picnic areas, let people bring in their own food and if parents want to come in and just watch, charge them $ 5.00..
I do miss the old days on 38th..
March 19, 2008
3:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
Squatch writes:
What a joke!
Let me pay you 35.00 to spend 8 hours there and 7 1/2 hours waiting in line. Also let me pay you 20.00 for my 9 year old that can only ride on 10% of the rides. PArent take you kids to the Mountains and show them all a good day cost is a tank(200.00) of gas and a Picnic Lunch.
March 19, 2008
4:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
WarrenJimmyBuffett writes:
It's the economy, stupid.
March 19, 2008
5:27 p.m.
Suggest removal
Diff writes:
About time!
They are no Disneyland or even Knots Berry -
and if you had known me back when they moved I said ...
"I doubt if they'll make it"
Seems like they have struggled ever since the first year
The old Elitch's was MUCH better -
I have been to the new one twice - once at a pre opening and once more a couple of years back -
Basiclly -it Sucks!
March 19, 2008
6:28 p.m.
Suggest removal
denverrma writes:
Its nice they are lowering admission prices but the concessions will still run up the cost. I really miss the old locale on 38th...and yes, I do remember the bubble gum tree by the log ride! I also remember the actual gardens and trees....shade, sweet shade! I agree with SQUATCH about taking the kids to the mountains for a lot less money and a more valuable Colorado experience. Ah, the good ol' days...and Im not that old!
March 19, 2008
7:02 p.m.
Suggest removal
farsidefan writes:
I worked for Elitch's back in the 60's. Tom Tancredo was my boss. The owners ( Gurtlers ) were so tight fisted they chewed me out for making the strings on the balloons too long. We were paid 85 cents an hour because we were considered seasonal employees so minimum wage was not in effect. We could buy tickets for the rides at a 5% discount. What a benefit ;).
I figured that when they got the sweetheart deal from the city for relocating, they would run it for a year or two they would sell out and laugh all the way to the bank.
Progress ?
March 19, 2008
8:06 p.m.
Suggest removal
kathyM writes:
The Disneys, Cedar Point, and the "big" Six Flags parks are a huge ripoff. Compared to those, Elitch is a good deal.
March 19, 2008
8:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
SXC writes:
I''ll pass, I will not pay to watch little want-to-be gangsta kids and their PDA's. It is gross and sad. The whole time you are in line for a ride or just walking around you are exposed to teenie porn! Rudeness, ignorance, babysitting? No thanks. I wouldnt go if it were for free and now that it is cheaper to get in the cheaper the guests will be!!!
March 20, 2008
1:09 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveM writes:
Most of these comments are disappointing naysayers.
We have too many naysayers in Denver who are overly
nostalgic about a past that really wasn't as great as
they remember it. Get over it and let's move on to an
exciting future. There are new owners who will work
to improve Elitch's over time. Six Flags had
basically abandoned the park due to having to compete
so fiercely in other markets where if you don't build
a new super coaster every year your park dies. Let's
give the new owners a chance. They are showing the
first good will gesture by lowering the prices of
admissions.
As for the high concession prices, get over it and get
real. Are you people serious? Nothing is stopping
you from going to the movies where you pay $4 for
2-cents worth of carbonated sugar water and $5 for
4-cents worth of undigestable cellulose covered with
butter-flavored oil. That's not over-priced? People
have to find creative ways to make a living in harder
economic times. If you don't want to eat there,
don't. Get your hand stamped, eat in your car and go
back in. Put a sock in your sour face.
People who are labeling and prejudging what kids will
or won't do on this new ride, also, are pathetic.
Give kids a chance and give the owners of the park a
chance to roll out their new ride.
As for the park being so much better back when...you
are the same people still wishing we'd never built DIA
to replace Stapleton, aren't you? Give it a rest.
Ever heard of a thing called progress? If you want to
live in the past, move to Iowa where time stands
firmly stuck in 1952.
I'm so sick and tired of you people posting all this
negative dogma anytime someone around our area tries
to do the right thing, make improvements, and make our
city soar. Denver did not give them the land. They
bought it from the city. The city did lure the park
downtown and for good reason. Look at what has
developed around it? We have a vibrant and up and
coming down town from what was once a ghost town.
Arrgggghhhh, just please, if you cannot positively
move into the future with the rest of us, then just
keep your mouthes shut.
March 20, 2008
9:02 a.m.
Suggest removal
blacksho89 writes:
No doubt, Steve. When I went to Elitch's as a teen, I was probably just as obnoxious as the kids today. I admit that I laugh at the little punks now, just like adults laughed at me then.
The reason I won't go to Elitch's now is that I am older and just not interested! I'll probably go once this year, but I won't go like I did "back in the day" simply because I am older now.