![]() As a 1988 Los Angeles Times article stated, “The Balboa Fun Zone, even with its recent facelift, is one of the country’s delightful anachronisms. Though the site has undergone numerous renovations over the years, most notably in 1986 when it was torn down and completely rebuilt by then-owner Jordan Wank, it has managed to retain its nostalgic charm. The bustling boardwalk complex boasts a multitude of attractions including a Ferris wheel, several rides, an arcade/game room, 16,660 square feet of mixed-use space, a parking garage and a 25-slip marina with 775 linear feet for docking. People from all around the world come here.”Īnd now, thanks to Chartwell, the Fun Zone is entering a new phase!Įncompassing 0.79 acres of land, Balboa Fun Zone is rather diminutive when compared to Southern California’s other amusement parks (Disneyland measures in at a whopping 500 acres), but is chock full of family fun nonetheless. There is a Southern California feel to it. You’re strolling along the boardwalk, enjoying the weather on a summer night, grabbing a dessert, and hopping on the Ferris wheel or one of the other rides. Gary Sherwin, president and CEO of Visit Newport Beach, told Spectrum News 1, “Of all the places in Orange County, this place is the embodiment, the essence of the Orange County experience. The Fun Zone has since become part of the framework of the city, touching the lives of generation after generation of both OC locals and tourists alike. Perched along 212 feet of idyllic Newport Bay waterfront, the historic mixed-use development was the brainchild of Al Anderson, who, in 1936, built a small fun park on leased land that originally housed a boatyard. Lars Platt and Joseph Lising of Cushman & Wakefield represented Discovery Cube, while Bob Thagard and Matthew Godman, also of Cushman & Wakefield, backed Chartwell. While the sales price is also undisclosed, a quick check of property records reveals it to be a cool $21 million. The property was picked up just six months later by the OC-based Chartwell Real Estate Development company and escrow closed September 1. But, like so many places across the world, the Covid-19 pandemic hit the site hard, forcing a nearly year-long shuttering of many of its attractions that resulted in beleaguered owner, Discovery Cube, listing it for sale last December at an undisclosed price. on Newport Beach’s Balboa Peninsula, has been a local landmark – not to mention frequent film star – ever since it was first established over eight decades ago. An Orange County icon has changed hands! Balboa Fun Zone, the beloved entertainment complex located at 600 E.
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