Knott’s Berry Farm in California and Carowinds in North Carolina have joined Worlds of Fun in Missouri in implementing new chaperone policies.
Knott’s Berry Farm, which is owned and operated by Cedar Fair, reinstated its chaperone policy on 22 April. Visitors aged 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
Last year, the park imposed a similar chaperone policy after several fights involving teens broke out. Adults were required to accompany visitors who were 17 years old or younger.
“The safety of our guests and associates has always been our top priority at Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City Waterpark,” Knott’s said in a statement on its website.
‘Increasing incidents of unruly behavior’
“Over the past two years, there have been increasing incidents of unruly and inappropriate behavior across our industry and at other major entertainment venues.”
Under the new policy, guests aged 15 and younger “must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old in order to be admitted to or remain in the park” after 4pm.
Carowinds, another theme park in the Cedar Fair family, also implemented a chaperone policy on 22 April.
Like Knott’s, all guests aged 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old to enter or remain in the attraction after 4pm.
“The safety of our guests and associates has always been our top priority at Carowinds,” the park said in a statement on its website.
Knott’s and Carowinds’ decision to require chaperones comes after Cedar Fair’s Worlds of Fun made the same move after a fight involving between 100 and 150 teenagers.
The brawl was confirmed in a press release from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, which said one teenage girl refused to leave the venue and punched a deputy in the face. The official was left with “superficial injuries”.
Other parks in Cedar Fair’s portfolio to impose chaperone policies on 22 April are Kings Island, Kings Dominion and California’s Great America.
Images: Cedar Fair
