Elitch Gardens, an amusement park in Denver, Colorado, is set to relocate in the coming years to make space for a new mixed-use development.
Via the Denver Gazette, the park may be moved to Aurora. Revesco Properties, which co-owns the park, is looking for a new location in the Denver metropolitan area.
“We have been in discussions with a number of jurisdictions who may have suitable sites,” Revesco Properties’ spokesperson Julia Oblack told the publication.
Aurora mayor Mike Coffman has been in talks with Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, which co-owns the property, to discuss the potential move to Aurora.
Park may move to Aurora
He said: “I think if the right buffers are in place between the proposed location site and the adjacent properties, especially residential, then their concept would make sense and I would support it.”
The site where Elitch Gardens is currently located will be transformed into a mixed-use residential and commercial development by Revesco Properties.
Elitch Gardens was first opened as a zoo and botanical garden in 1890 by John and Mary Elitch. In 1995, the park moved to its current location in central downtown Denver.
In 2019, Meow Wolf debuted an artist-driven dark ride, Kaleidoscape, at Elitch Gardens. The attraction served as a prequel to Convergence Station, Meow Wolf’s third permanent exhibit.
“When we secured the location in Denver for our next permanent exhibition, it turned out to be right next door to Elitch Gardens,” Emily Montoya, co-founder of Meow Wolf, told blooloop.
“We were able to get this opportunity to redo an existing dark ride in their park. So we just jumped at it, like yes – we must do this.”
Jolie DuBois, Elitch Gardens’ former marketing manager, added: “This is a unique and fun way to bring in immersive art as part of a truly one-of-a-kind experience.”
Elitch Gardens is Colorado’s only world-class theme and water park. It is home to more than 50 rides, attractions and waterslides.
Images courtesy of Elitch Gardens, Garrett Ellwood, Meow Wolf
