From California wildfires to Arctic freezes in Tennessee, America’s theme parks have increasingly contended with sudden closures in recent years. Once largely associated with hurricanes or technical breakdowns, these disruptions now include another unexpected culprit: infrastructure failure.
The latest example comes from Virginia, where Kings Dominion—one of the state’s most visited attractions—abruptly closed its gates this weekend following a nearby water main break. Guests were turned away, and the park remains shut through at least Sunday.
The announcement came just hours before the park’s scheduled Saturday opening. No guests were admitted, and no further details about the issue’s location or severity have been shared publicly.
From Summer Staple to Standstill
“Due to a nearby water main break that is impacting our water supply, Kings Dominion will not open today,” the park stated in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We apologize for the inconvenience. All tickets will be valid for any operating day during the 2025 season.”
Due to a nearby water main break that is impacting our water supply, Kings Dominion will not open today. We apologize for the inconvenience. All tickets will be valid for any operating day during the 2025 season. Please check back for updates about Sunday’s operation. pic.twitter.com/RBSUzv6MKs
— Kings Dominion (@KingsDominionVA) June 21, 2025
The park later confirmed that the closure would continue into Sunday. “We aim to reopen our gates on Monday, June 23,” it added. “Please check back on Monday prior to visiting for any important updates.”
For a park that had been operating on schedule since March 29, the timing is disruptive. School holidays are beginning across the region, and summer attendance typically begins to peak this time of year.
The water issue affects not just basic operations but all areas of the park, including the adjacent Soak City water park, food service areas, and sanitation systems. Without running water, the park cannot meet safety and health requirements to operate.
A Legacy Park With Modern Pressures
Opened in May 1975, Kings Dominion has been part of Virginia’s tourism economy for nearly five decades. The park’s one-third scale Eiffel Tower replica is a recognizable feature for drivers along Interstate 95. It has long balanced thrill rides like Pantherian and Twisted Timbers with family-focused areas like Planet Snoopy.
The property has seen several ownership changes over the years. Originally under Taft Broadcasting, it was later operated as Paramount’s Kings Dominion before being acquired by Cedar Fair in 2006. It is now part of Six Flags Entertainment Corporation following the 2024 merger between Six Flags and Cedar Fair.
That merger brought together dozens of amusement parks under a single corporate structure, intended in part to streamline operations and investments. Still, local infrastructure issues like this weekend’s water main break remain outside the company’s control.
Kings Dominion is not the first major park to face such a problem. Dollywood shut down unexpectedly twice in 2024—once due to a water main issue in July, and again in December during a severe cold snap. Other parks, including SeaWorld San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood, have also closed temporarily due to weather or natural disasters.
Do you plan on visiting Kings Dominion this summer?
