A Familiar Farewell

In Southern California, a beloved amusement park is set to close its doors for good, but one nostalgic eatery will endure. Fiesta Village Family Fun Park, located in Colton, about 80 miles east of Los Angeles, is scheduled to shut down this month after over 50 years of operation. Owners Michelle and Patrick O’Brien attribute the closure to a decline in attendance and increasing operational costs.

Meanwhile, Nickelodeon Pizza, an iconic family-run restaurant that has been a staple in the area, announced it will continue to serve its customers. Local residents can take a breath of relief; the restaurant’s survival isn’t tied to the amusement park’s fate.

“Many people have enjoyed this amusement park for generations, and we are very disappointed to hear of its closure,” the eatery wrote on Facebook.

The restaurant has roots dating back to 1973, originally opening as Roaring 20’s Pizza Parlor opposite San Bernardino Valley College. It later adopted the name Nickelodeon Pizza and moved to Movieland Frontier Town in 1981, maintaining its presence even after the themed attraction closed in 2000.

Fiesta Village will host its last public days on July 10th and 11th, with several private events following. The pizza place reassured the community that it will remain in the same location with unchanged hours of operation.

Former owner Gary Grosick, who passed the torch to local residents Michael and Amanda in 2025, expressed confidence in the restaurant’s future. “As far as pizza restaurants go, I think it’s going to do well,” he said. He emphasized that ensuring the new owners were locally rooted was crucial, as the business holds a special place in the hearts of many in Colton.

Reflecting on the amusement park’s decline, Grosick described it as “a sign of the times.” He noted how kids today seem more absorbed in their phones rather than enjoying the hands-on fun that previous generations experienced. “It seems to have become obsolete,” he mentioned, observing a broader trend of local attractions closing. He pointed to the closures of Pharaoh and Scandia as examples of shrinking options for amusement in the area.

In a farewell message, Fiesta Village thanked its staff and patrons for the cherished memories over the years, saying, “Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives and family traditions. We will continue to cherish the role Fiesta Village has played in bringing people together.”

The amusement park’s final days are approaching, marking an end to a beloved chapter for the community while Nickelodeon Pizza stands ready to welcome customers for years to come.