GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The 2021 season at Bay Beach Amusement Park thrived in comparison to 2020.
Manager of Bay Beach Jason Arnoldi says after limiting capacity last year, large crowds and families returned.
The year doesn’t officially close out until February of 2022, but Arnoldi tells FOX 11 the numbers look promising so far.
“We’re very close to 2019 numbers. We’re just a little bit behind, but very comparable to 2019, which is our best season ever. And we had our three best single days ever this summer, so it’s been great seeing people return to the park and families having a good time again.”
Not including 2020, the park gross revenue topped $3 million for the fourth year in a row.
Arnoldi adds funds will be added to development fund to try and bring in new attractions.
Staffing shortages have impacted every industry throughout the pandemic, and Arnoldi says Bay Beach was no different.
“Typically we have about 300 seasonal staff working out here, and this year we were in about the 250 range. So, we were about 50 short from what we normally like to have on hand.”
With eyes set on the 2022 season, Bay Beach is already looking at how it can bring in workers to get back to the 300 number.
“Whether it’s higher wages, maybe different shift differentials, easier application process. We look at a number of things that could possibly be preventing us from getting staff and we try to go in and make adjustments to those things and make things more appealing as far as applicants go.”
The staff shortage did require some rides to be closed on select days.
“As far as the staffing, if you don’t have the people, you can’t open the ride. And you have to be 18 to run the ride so we can’t move people around in that aspect.”
As for development at Bay Beach, Arnoldi added that the beach will likely not open next year, but he is hoping to add a boardwalk and a wildlife viewing platform that extends out into the bay.
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