Castle Park Will Close Rides for November Expansion
The 30-acre Riverside amusement park will pause all 21 ride operations starting November 2 to begin a park makeover.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Theme Parks
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Castle Park will suspend its 21-ride operations on November 2, 2026, as the Riverside facility undergoes a site expansion and makeover. The park, which sits along the 91 Freeway, aims to create a reimagined experience for its guests.
Why it matters
This renovation effort marks a significant pivot for the 30-acre property following its 2025 ownership transition to Lucky Strike Entertainment. By expanding the ride area, the facility seeks to modernize its guest offerings while maintaining portions of the park's long-standing footprint.
The park covers a total of 30 acres and has operated since its founding by Bud Hurlbut in 1976. The ride area currently features 21 distinct attractions that will be affected by the upcoming construction.
The players
Castle Park
This 30-acre amusement park in Riverside was founded in 1976 and is currently owned by Lucky Strike Entertainment.
Bud Hurlbut
He was the founder of Castle Park who also established a history of amusement design with early attractions in El Monte.
The details
While the rides are scheduled for closure to facilitate the expansion, management confirmed that the onsite arcade and miniature golf areas will remain open to visitors throughout the project. The park's current Castle Dark Halloween event is scheduled to conclude on November 1.
Timeline
The Castle Dark Halloween event concludes on November 1, 2026.
All 21 rides will close for the expansion on November 2, 2026.
The Buccaneer Cove water park is slated to reopen in May 2027.
Travel Outlook
This project follows a design pattern long established by the park's historical ties to the Knott's Berry Farm style. The expansion represents a shift toward modernizing regional theme parks to stay competitive against larger global tourism fluctuations.
Visitors should plan their upcoming trips knowing that all 21 rides will be unavailable starting November 2, 2026. However, the arcade and miniature golf courses remain accessible for those visiting the park before the water park returns in May 2027.
The takeaway
This closure represents a major transition for the long-standing Riverside attraction as it seeks to overhaul its guest experience. Families should check the park website for progress updates to determine when the expanded ride offerings will be available for public use.
What happens next
The park plans to share further updates regarding the scope and timeline of the ride area expansion as the project progresses.
Further reading
For more information on the regional attractions landscape, visit the Theme Parks section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Bernardino Sun.
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