Montage Mountain Waterpark in Scranton will reopen on June 26 with coronavirus safety guidelines
With the summer weather heating things up and Lackawanna County set to move into the green phase of reopening this on June 26, Montage Mountain Waterpark in Scranton has announced that it will open this Friday at 10 a.m. to season pass holders and 11 a.m. to the general public.
The park, which has over 70 days left in its current season, is ensuring guests that it is keeping within CDC and state-issued safety guidelines and is asking all patrons to do the same. The park’s Safe Visit Guide opens with a warning about the coronavirus pandemic:
We have taken enhanced health and safety measures for you, other guests, and staff. You must follow all posted instructions during your visit to Montage Mountain Resorts.
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. By visiting Montage Mountain Resorts, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
Guests and employees will be subject to a wellness screening and no-touch thermal cameras before entry, and anyone exhibiting a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit will not be permitted to enter. Protective masks or face coverings are required for everyone coming into the park (1000 Montage Mountain Rd., Scranton), though it can be removed in certain areas.
“All guests will be required to wear masks entering the park, this includes in lines at bag check, temperature screenings, ticketing, and indoor areas, i.e. bathrooms and Guest Services. Guests will also be required to wear masks in lines at concessions and food/beverage areas. Masks are suggested for outdoor common areas but not required at lounge chairs, in lines for attractions, or walking from attraction to attraction,” Montage’s guide states.
“Masks should not be worn in pools or on attractions. As the CDC states, ‘There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g. with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.'”
It also says social distancing of at least 6 feet should be practiced wherever possible, including limiting groups of more than 10 people inside the park and spacing out chairs and dining areas. Guests can bring their own chairs, and outside food and beverages “will be permitted into the waterpark to limit interactions with Montage Mountain employees. No outside alcohol is permitted on Montage Mountain property. Food will be available for purchase inside the park; seated delivery and disposable menus will be offered throughout.”
Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the park, along with signage “hung resort-wide reinforcing proper hygiene.”
“Cleaning and sanitizing of all common areas will be increased to every 30 minutes. … All chairs, tubes, mats, etc. will be sanitized after each use, and additional cleaning will be done upon request. All chairs, tubes, mats, etc. will be sanitized nightly regardless of use. Cabanas will be sanitized every four hours and additionally by guest requests. Cabanas will be sanitized after park operations as well,” the guide continues.
“All pool filtration and sanitation operations already exceed state regulations and will continue to do so.”
Earlier this year, Montage Mountain was able to host Mountainfest with Gin Blossoms and the Tom Petty Appreciation Band on March 7, just before the state shut down. With a later start to the summer season, Montage’s other planned events have been delayed.
First introduced in 2019, the Lackawanna County Heritage Fair was originally scheduled to return on May 27-31, 2020 but has since been postponed “to an undermined date later this year,” according to a county press release.
The NEPA Yoga Festival has been pushed back to Aug. 1-2, 2020, and the Scranton Mac and Cheese Festival has been moved to April 10, 2021. The Inclusion Festival will now be presented online on Aug. 21-23, 2020, offering “a virtual gathering space where you can view or share ideas and activities for maintaining health, positivity, and togetherness at home. We also proudly supported a COVID-19 Relief Fund, created specifically to provide support to music lovers with disabilities and the musicians and event workers who work to include them in the live music scene,” according to the festival’s website.
However, the park’s popular Adult Nights featuring “swimming, sliding, and sipping some drinks in the waterpark after dark” are probably canceled for all of 2020.
“We are hopeful to have these events but with the CDC guidelines and state regulations this season, Adult Nights are most likely not going to happen,” Montage said on Facebook.
All 2020 concerts scheduled to come to The Pavilion at Montage Mountain adjacent to the water park have been canceled. When asked if there were any other plans for the facility this year, venue operator Live Nation did not have any more information available to the public.
“Appreciate your interest here. As things continue to evolve, we’re monitoring the situation closely. We don’t have any specific details to share just yet, but let’s stay in touch as plans develop,” Live Nation told NEPA Scene in an email today.
“In regards to refunds, information on our policy, including the ability for fans to request a 150 percent credit for cancelled shows, can be found at livenation.com/refund. If fans have any questions about the status of their Live Nation event, they can check livenation.com/eventstatus at any time for the most up to date information.”
The Pavilion’s biggest annual events that also include the water park, the Peach Music Festival and Camp Bisco, were canceled and rescheduled for the same weekends next year. The next Peach Fest will now be held on July 1-4, 2021 with the same headliners – Oysterhead (Trey Anastasio of Phish, Les Claypool of Primus, and Stewart Copeland of The Police), Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, and The String Cheese Incident – signed on to return. The Disco Biscuits’ Camp Bisco will be back on July 8-10, 2021.
