Gilroy Gardens

Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park, often shortened to Gilroy Gardens, is a horticulture-themed amusement park located in Gilroy, California, United States. Designed and built by Michael Bonfante, the park originally opened as Bonfante Gardens in 2001. The is owned by the city of Gilroy and operated by Gilroy Gardens, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; it features over 40 rides and attractions and is known for its Circus Trees, created by Axel Erlandson.

History

The park was founded by Michael and Claudia Bonfante after selling their Nob Hill Foods supermarket chain to Raley's in order to focus on building their tree park. The park was constructed gradually over a period of 25 years. Before it became an amusement park open to the public, it was known as Tree Haven, and was a commercial plant nursery, as well as a recreational facility for employees of Nob Hill Foods. The park opened to the public in June 2001 as Bonfante Gardens. The name was changed to Gilroy Gardens in February 2007.Bonfante Gardens to Be Renamed Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park (Feb. 26. 2007), prnewswire.com The park features 19 rides, 27 attractions and six gardens. The most well known garden features 24 Circus Trees that were grown and shaped with multiple trunks, basket-weave patterns, and hearts by the late Axel Erlandson."Landscaping – February 2015" (Feb 2015), iaapa.org

Starting in 2004, the park began its annual holiday celebration, Gilroy Gardens Holiday Lights.

The park struggled with financial difficulty and low attendance during the first two years of operation. It closed early for its first two seasons and the park's management debated whether to open the park at all for the third season. Paramount Parks began to manage the park on contract starting with the 2003 season.

Cedar Fair (now Six Flags) acquired Paramount Parks from CBS Corporation in June 2006 and continued the management contract to operate Gilroy Gardens. On December 31, 2021, the contract to manage the park expired after both parties decided not to renew the contract. Gilroy Gardens Inc., the nonprofit that owns the park, began operating the park on its own for the 2022 season.

The city of Gilroy purchased the park on March 5, 2008.

In mid-March 2020 the park shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It reopened in May 2021, and since then it has been restricted to California residents and adhering to strict measures like social distancing and wearing masks.

On July 25-27, 2025, the site hosted the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival.

Attractions Roller coasters NameOpenedManufacturerModel DescriptionThrill LevelQuicksilver Express Mine Coaster2001MorganA mine-themed roller coaster.4Timber Twister Coaster2001ZiererMedium TivoliA rattlesnake themed roller coaster.3

Family rides NameOpenedManufacturerModel DescriptionThrill LevelApple & WormZiererChildren's caterpillar ride around a giant apple core.1Artichoke Dip2001MorganJunior SeastormArtichoke ride around a coastal live oak tree.1Banana Split2001Chance RidesPirate ShipBanana-shaped swinging ship ride.3Balloon Flight2001Bradley and KayeBalloon FlightBalloon ride.2Big Red Engine Co.2001Venture ManufacturingChildren's firetruck ride.1Bonfante Railroad Train Ride2001Chance RidesTrain ride narrow gauge train ride around park perimeter.2Bulgy The Goldfish2001Children's fish ride.1Claudia's CarouselCarouselChildren's carousel.1Illions Supreme Carousel2001Brass Ring Carousel CompanyCarouselModern fiberglass carousel inspired by the original built in 1927 by M.C. Illions1Paddle Boats2001Bonfante family Paddle BoatsDuck shaped paddle boats.2Panoramic Wheel2001ZiererFerris WheelMini Ferris wheel.2Pit Stop Racers2001RamagosaChildren's race car ride.1Rainbow Garden Round Boat Ride2001Hopkins RidesRaft rideRaft ride though flower gardens.2Sky Trail Monorail2002MorganMonorailMonorail ride through Monarch Butterfly Greenhouse. Audio tape still refers to the park as "Bonfante Gardens"2South County Backroads2002MorganTrack rideCar attraction featuring two tracks: one side themed to the 1920s cars, and the other themed to 1950s cars.2Strawberry Sundae2001MorganJunior Chair-O-PlaneSpinning strawberry ride.1Tubs-O-Fun2001Chance RidesTeacup rideChildren's "tea cups" ride.1

Thrill rides NameOpenedManufacturerModel DescriptionThrill LevelGarlic Twirl2001MorganTeacupsGarlic-themed "teacups" style ride.3Mushroom Swing2001ZiererWave SwingerMushroom shaped swing ride.3

Other attractions: Bonfante Falls (formerly Pinnacles Waterfall)Bridge behind an artificial waterfall. Oak Park PlaygroundChildren's play area. Lakeside Splash - Water playground and slides for children (introduced in 2024 replacing Bonfante's Splash Garden) Water OasisWater play area aimed at smaller children (introduced in 2014 replacing Pinnacles Rock Maze.)

Former attractions:

Pinnacles Rock MazeArtificial maze resembling caves found at Pinnacles National Park. Bonfante's Splash GardenWater play area, opened in June 2005, closed 2022.

Mascots Gilroy Gardens has two mascots, Gil and Roy. Gil was introduced in 2007 and Roy in 2013.

The park also uses seasonal mascots for its Great Big Boo and North Pole Nights events.

Gilroy Gardens

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