GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WKBW) — “To anybody out there with the ultimate question, it's like the question of are The Beatles getting back together, is Fantasy Island going to reopen? My answer is maybe," Daniel Monroe, better know as 'Marshall Dan' to frequent visitors of Fantasy Island said.
He is optimistic that his beloved amusement park will once again be up and running. It’s been almost a year since Fantasy Island officially closed.
“It’s a real lost for us, I mean Fantasy Island has been on the island since what, 1960," Grand Island Town Supervisor John Whitney said. "It's part of the fabric of Grand Island.”
But almost as quickly as the park closed came hope that the gates would not stay shut for long.
“The plan going forward is simply to get it open in some form,” Monroe said.
“We’ve been approached by a notable entity that’s right now working through the financing options," Whitney added. "They have a track record of success in family recreation so we do have confidence in the viability and the future of the property.”
Whitney said this nameless group could break ground on the property by the end of summer or early fall.
“We do have a strong amount of confidence, and a lot of hope that they are successful,” he said.
But lovers are of the park are fearful that the recent vandalizations will slow down the process.
“The amount of damage is unbelievably bad,” Monroe said.
According to Whitney, almost every building on the park grounds is vandalized.
“It's sad, it really is," Whitney said. "We want to see this brought back to life."
While Grand Island police are not permitted to enter the park grounds, Whitney says his officers will continue to patrol the surrounding areas.
“You know it's something we love about Grand Island and we want to see it come back," Whitney said.
