Safety a priority at Western Playland ahead of extended Summer season

Western Playland is getting ready to start it’s extended summer hours this week, now open Wednesdays through Sundays.

President Patrick Thomson told ABC-7 Tuesday there was some confusion after a deadly carnival accident in El Paso earlier this year.

“Some people, as soon as they see an amusement ride, the first thing they think of is Western Playland, so some people thought it happened here,” Thomson said. “I had to let people know ‘no, it did not happen here.'”

Thomson has been president of Western Playland for 20 years, the third generation to run the amusement park started by his father and grandfather. He said Tuesday his rides are inspected daily in addition to yearly required inspections.

Thomson also mentioned the rides at Western Playland are stationary, meaning they are not rented out to carnivals at other location.

“You know, the carnival is a different business,” Thomson said, “And so I think people looked at it like ‘this is why we go to Western Playland.’ We’re not tearing our rides down every week and moving them.”