Officials with Legoland California Resort in Carlsbad on Friday asked the state for permission to reopen its theme park to the public, after nearly six months of closure due to COVID-19.
The park's general manager, Kurt Stocks, said most of Legoland is outside, and that indoor rides would remain closed even if the state were to allow the park to reopen.
"Like many businesses, we have put many of our staff on furlough," he said at a press conference Friday. "And the longer we remain closed, the longer many hardworking people go without a job."
While Legoland's rides and attractions are closed, its adjacent hotel has been open since mid-July and the public is allowed inside the park for shopping.
In addition, Seaworld San Diego on Friday kicked off a special food and beer event called Zoo Days: Bayside BBQ & Brews, which will continue each weekend through September. The park is allowed to reopen only as an accredited zoo, with outdoor exhibits and animal shows open but indoor exhibits and rides closed.
County Supervisor Jim Desmond said theme parks can open safely.
"All we're asking for is common sense standards so that we can open," Desmond said. "And we want to keep people safe, we still need to fight the virus and respect that, but we need to get people back to work."
Desmond, however, has gained a reputation for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 on his podcast and consistently downplays the seriousness of the pandemic.
San Diego County is off the state's COVID-19 watchlist thanks to declining infection rates, and state officials Friday relaxed restrictions on a number of business types including restaurants and gyms. But it's still unclear when the state will allow theme parks to reopen, and under what restrictions.
