With bright shining eyes, 9-year-old Fernanda Hernandez
disclosed what brought her out to Bonfante Gardens on Saturday’s
opening day of the Hecker Pass park’s fourth season.
With bright shining eyes, 9-year-old Fernanda Hernandez disclosed what brought her out to Bonfante Gardens on Saturday’s opening day of the Hecker Pass park’s fourth season.
“The Banana-Split ride,” the Morgan Hill girl said, and pointed at the giant yellow fruit contraption that swings screaming patrons back and forth to dizzying heights.
“I’ve been on it twice,” Hernandez said proudly. “It puts butterflies in my stomach.”
In the shade of the park’s classic merry-go-round, Hernandez’s grandmother Cindy Wilber said the family had bought season passes for the third year in a row “to show support” for Bonfante Gardens.
“We always have fun here,” she said. “I think it’s a really good place for the family.”
A stroll through the park on Saturday afternoon revealed an ample number of adults and children had turned up to enjoy the spring sunshine, tranquil gardens and 19 rides focusing on the South Valley’s farming heritage.
Paramount, which started managing Bonfante Gardens operations last season, would not disclose projected attendance figures for the opening weekend.
Bob Kraemer, president of the park’s board of directors, said he felt pleased by the steady flow of people passing through the entrance gate.
“Whatever number (of patrons) was there is good because we opened up three weeks earlier than last year,” he said.
Last year the financially troubled park turned its first profit. This season the board of directors hopes Paramount’s management and marketing will improve attendance and revenue while starting to make good on the $70 million of debt it still owes bondholders and other creditors.
Paramount also runs the Great America theme park in Santa Clara and is selling season passes that will allow patrons to use both parks. The pass costs $75 for a single purchase or $65 per pass for purchases of four or more.
“We worked well with them both last year, and we expect to work well with them this year on the joint pass,” Kraemer said of Paramount. “I think, in many ways, the last year was when we proved that we could turn positive profitability-wise. And this year we expect significant improvements over last year.”
On radio commercials, Paramount touts Bonfante Garden’s newest attraction – a 1,500-square-foot bird aviary containing about 350 parakeets, cockatiels and eastern rosellas.
“It’s going to be an interactive aviary,” said Andrew Schleis, an animal trainer in charge of the attraction. “Visitors can feed the birds with seed-sticks they can buy. … This is about as close as you can get to the birds without being in the wild.”
Another source of revenue for Bonfante Gardens is playing host to company picnics and corporate meetings, said Nicole Koebrich, public relations manager for Paramount.
A variety of wedding packages also are available in scenic garden sections throughout the park. Options include catering packages, she said.
“We’re just starting to tap into it,” she said. “We have so many people who request it.”
Still, the park’s bread and butter is its visitors.
The Bumgardner family traveled from Grants Pass, Ore., to visit relatives in Sunnyvale as well as spend a day at Bonfante Gardens.
“This was on our list before we got here,” said Rachel Bumgardner, who enjoyed the park on Saturday with her husband Keith and their three daughters Cheyanne, 3, Auna, 11, and Amber. “I like it because there’s a lot of stuff for the little ones.”
Keith said he thought the admission was “a little steep” for the type of rides the park offers.
“It just seems about $10 overpriced,” he said. “But it’s going to a good use, I guess.”
A day-pass to Bonfante Gardens costs $32 for adults and $23 for children ages 3 to 6 and seniors 60 years or older. Special Garden Days when rides are not available cost $12 for adults.
