DEAR EDITOR:
Why is Bonfante Gardens failing for the second season?
As a two-year season pass holder I am asking this question. We
need to find an answer!
DEAR EDITOR:
Why is Bonfante Gardens failing for the second season?
As a two-year season pass holder I am asking this question. We need to find an answer!
What does the park have right now? The Circus Trees (the main attraction) plus a lake with beautiful waterfalls, a maze, sunken gardens, a huge greenhouse to hold tropical plants, a railway for the “different view,” a monorail thru the greenhouse, several restaurants/snack bars, an amphitheatre and stage for shows, and … rides.
All the above mentioned attractions, minus the rides, could just as well be part of Butchard Gardens in Victoria, Canada, or Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania. These parks attract about 1 million visitors each based on their beautiful horticultural exhibits alone. Butchard Gardens only has 55 acres, and Longwood Gardens occupies 1,050 acres. For comparison Bonfante Gardens sits on 600 acres.
Bonfante Gardens could also offer restaurants/snack bars matching the garden themes, like a Japanese tea house or sushi bar to go with a Japanese garden, fish and chips or Devonshire Cream Teas to go with a wild English garden or a rose garden, A shop selling herbal creams, potpourri etc, near the herb garden. All chances to draw money out of the pockets of the visitors.
But what about the children?
When I was a child in England we had little books called “I-Spy —-” They contained questions to encourage children to look around and read signs. It encouraged the curiosity of the surroundings and competitive spirit among friends and siblings while also learning about the flowers.
What about the teenagers?
I am not sure I have an answer for this one. Maybe we should ask them how they would fit into this park. What would attract them? What about the rides?
Well, although the rides are fun, they are very tame compared to Great America or any of the other theme parks. Maybe they could stay or maybe they are too much of a liability and not worth it. I don’t really think they would be any great loss.
These are just a few ideas to get people thinking. We need to make Bonfante Gardens a definite part of Gilroy. Maybe we can exploit more the old Gilroy standby of garlic and fit that in? We need to come up with ideas folks.
Please put your thinking caps on and think “out of the Box.”
Gillian Gilbart, Gilroy
Submitted Tuesday, Nov. 12 to ed****@ga****.com
