SANTA ANA, Calif. — Theme parks across the United States are gaining an unwanted reputation for teen brawls and hot-headed melees following a surge in fights over the past two years that threatens to brand the family-friendly playgrounds as unsafe havens of violence, chaos and panic.
“It’s something we’ve never really seen in our theme parks until last year,” said Dennis Speigel, an industry expert with International Theme Park Services. “Guests are shorter tempered as a result of the pandemic. The most minor altercation will set something off.”
The nationwide outbreak of fights since theme parks returned from COVID-19 pandemic closures finally reached Knott’s Berry Farm in mid-July when multiple altercations involving teenagers caused the Buena Park theme park to close early and institute a chaperone policy.
