Looking for affordable fun this summer? Tickets at Rides at City Park are just 25 cents
With the nearest amusement parks at least an hour’s drive away from Pueblo — and often significantly pricier — the miniature park run by the city of Pueblo offers local families cost-effective fun.
Individual ride tickets cost just 25 cents and unlimited ride wristbands can be purchased for $5.
The 25-cent ticket price has been in place since at least 2000, said Tamara Moore, the recreation supervisor at Pueblo’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Here’s why the ticket prices are so low and what we know about the prices in the future.
Will the ticket prices go up anytime soon?
Moore said that there has not been any discussion about increasing prices for the rides.
Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham said that she is not currently considering raising ticket prices in an emailed statement to the Chieftain.
“The Rides at City Park are affordable and accessible for so many in Pueblo,” Graham said. “While the city looks for ways to increase our revenue or ensure sustainability of programs through fees, the rides are not currently an area we’re exploring to increase prices.”
“We are proud this opportunity remains at a low cost and with such a high value.”
How many people visit the Rides at City Park?
Moore said that the miniature amusement park had an estimated 393,000 visitors in 2023, which is an uptick from the estimated 320,000 visitors in 2022.
Although the city does collect some revenue from the rides — nearly $125,000 projected for 2023 — the operation is still somewhat subsidized by the city, Moore said, when accounting for maintenance costs and staff time.
“We’re happy to offer something for the community — and I think it's a good use of our tax money,” Moore said.
No new rides or expansions are planned for the immediate future, but some conversations have happened “here and there” about that, Moore said.
Wristbands new addition last year
In addition to the 25-cent individual ride tickets, the city also introduced a $5 unlimited ride wristband last year.
That was received well by patrons, Moore said.
What to expect this summer
In addition to some of the annual special days, such as specials for superheroes and princesses, the city is planning on an evening of free train rides on Thursday, July 11 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the locomotive in City Park.
An evening of free carousel rides is scheduled on Thursday, July 25 and free roller coaster rides is on the calendar for Friday, Aug. 16.
Here are the other special days planned this year for the miniature amusement park:
Friday, June 14: Superhero night
Friday, July 19: Princess night
Monday, Sept. 2: Labor Day bash
Friday, Oct. 18 and Saturday, Oct. 19 from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Free candy, while supplies last, for Halloween
When are the Rides at City Park open?
The Rides opened for the summer over Memorial Day weekend and the regular season ends on Labor Day. The miniature amusement park is closed on Independence Day as well as Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Here’s what to know about the schedule:
Thursday and Friday: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The train and carousel require two tickets, but most of the other rides are 25 cents. The rides could close early because of bad weather or low attendance, according to the city website.
Anna Lynn Winfrey is a reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain. She can be reached at awinfrey@gannett.com. Please support local news at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Why tickets for the Rides at Pueblo City Park still cost only 25 cents
