Castle Park Will Lay Off 130 Employees In December

The Riverside amusement park is cutting staff ahead of a planned ride area expansion and site renovation.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Theme Parks

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a generic roller coaster track near a construction barrier, representing a temporary amusement park closure. — Castle Park in Riverside will lay off 130 employees in December as the facility shuts down its ride operations for a site-wide renovation. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Castle Park will lay off 130 employees on December 4, 2026, as part of a temporary shutdown of its ride operations. The Riverside facility is pausing its 21-ride attraction slate on November 2 to undergo a reimagining of its amusement area.

Why it matters

The park is closing its ride section to facilitate a planned expansion and site renovation. While operations are paused, management intends to create a reimagined experience for visitors, though a specific reopening date remains unannounced.

The layoffs include 55 ride attendants, 23 food service workers, 13 admissions associates, and 12 managers. While the 21-ride area will close, the park's arcade, miniature golf, and water park attractions are scheduled for continued or seasonal operations.

The players

Castle Park

Located in Riverside along the 91 Freeway, this 30-acre amusement center features rides, a water park, and miniature golf.

The details

Castle Park filed a formal notification with state officials on October 4 to confirm the staff reduction. Employees were provided with 60 days of notice as the company pivots to its planned expansion project.

October 4, 2026: Castle Park filed a WARN letter with the State of California.
November 1, 2026: The Castle Dark seasonal event concludes.
November 2, 2026: The ride area will officially close.
December 4, 2026: The layoffs will take effect.
May 2027: The Buccaneer Cove water park is expected to resume operations.

Travel Outlook

Amusement parks frequently undergo off-season expansions to refresh aging ride portfolios and compete with newer regional entertainment centers. This strategic pause allows the park to pivot toward a modernized footprint rather than maintaining legacy infrastructure.

Visitors should note that all 21 rides will be unavailable starting November 2, making the park's current ride-focused passes unsuitable for the immediate future. Guests interested in Buccaneer Cove will need to wait until May 2027 for the water park to reopen.

The takeaway

The park's shift underscores the necessity of seasonal flexibility in the regional entertainment industry. Guests planning future visits should monitor the park's official updates to identify when the redesigned ride area will become accessible to the public again.