The old Santa’s Village in Skyforest is schedule to reopen later this year as an adventure action park called Skypark at Santa’s Village. The park was opened in 1955, an was the world’s first franchised amusement park. After being closed for some 17 years the revamped park will feature mountain bike riding, camping, fishing, a retail store and a bakery located in the original Good Witch’s bakery building.
LAKE ARROWHEAD >> The future of an iconic mountain amusement park became a platform this week for traffic concerns and the need for more jobs in the San Bernardino mountain communities. About 200 people — some wearing Santa hats – attended a meeting here Tuesday evening to give public input for an environmental impact report about a developer’s multi-million plan to remake Santa’s Village, which has been closed for nearly two decades.A preliminary version of that report is expected to be available for public comment this fall, said Sonya Hooker, a consultant hired by San Bernardino County to develop the document for SkyPark at Santa’s Village.
The proposal would turn the once-seasonal Santa’s Village into a year-round park that includes mountain biking, zip line, hiking, fly-fishing lessons, trout fishing, trout fishing, climbing walls, weddings and camping. At the beginning of the meeting, a mention of the name Bill Johnson, the SkyPark project manager, drew almost deafening applause. And mention of concerns about the project drew a chorus of boos almost as loud. Johnson said he viewed the Tuesday night meeting as an important step in the process.“It opens the door for the permit,” he said, adding that he wants to here concerns about the project “so we can address them.”Hooker said that she anticipates the environmental impact report — and the project — could go before county supervisors in Spring 2016. Johnson has said the project would open sometime in 2016 — after approvals. Among those raising concerns about the project was Sue Walker: a longtime resident:“With the increase of hundreds of cars on the mountain, will air quality be affected? How will this be mitigated? Is there any thought to a shuttle bus from down the Mountain to SkyPark?” she asked. “Could Mountain Transit be involved?”Kim Foltz, who lives near the project, said she has concerns about the viewscape and wondered if screens could shield the septic tank and parking areas and if future utility cables could be put underground. Brandi Elliott, who works with at-risk children and their families, said the park will be an important place for children to learn to appreciate nature, so when they grow to adulthood, they will become good custodians of the great outdoors. “I think the EIR should consider the environment of the human condition in the mountains, and the need for more jobs,” said Harvey Durand. “We know our community is essentially in a downward slide....the school district is laying off teachers because of declining enrollment...and businesses are struggling to stay alive.“It’s nice to talk about greenhouse gasses...but what are the hazards of not having the biggest opportunity this community has ever had,” he said.
All public comments will be addressed in the final environmental review, which will be presented at public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, said David Wert, a county spokesman.
Because the project includes a proposal to amend the county’s general plan, the final review authority will be the Board of Supervisors, Wert said.