Bonfante Gardens renamed Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park

From one perspective, the critical difference though (channeling Gonch here, LOL) is that Walt Disney's name BRINGS guests to Disney World. His name is a marketing device all its own.

I doubt the same could be said for Michael Bonfante. I'm not saying his vision isn't responsible for the park's existence (and for that he deserves enormous credit), merely that his NAME-RECOGNITION is such that park attendance will be unaffected regardless of what the park is called.

Nobody outside of the area probably knows what GILROY is either. I sure don't and Gardens has many meanings.

Gilroy botanical gardens and amusement center maybe might strike a chord or at least give a potential visitor the info they need to at least know about it.

Chuck

I wonder how Michael Bonfante feels about this? I don't know anything about him other than the stories I read about the opening of the park.

I wonder if he appreciates the efforts to grow the park and awareness for the trees or if he is upset over losing name recognition. Really makes you think.

- Jeff

I never knew where the 'Bonafante' part of the name came in anyway - and I'm supposedly an enthusiast. But I did know it was located in Gilroy even without ever having been there. So I'm the exact opposite of Chuck.

I could care less about the change, but I just don't like the way "Gilroy' looks and sounds. It's an ugly word. Plus, it reminds of Gilmore Girls and/or Jeff Gillooly - either way I lose.

^ Beware the upcharge "Kneecap Ride" at Gillooly Gardens. ;)

I like the thing about the "Magma XL 200" Should be the Magma "XH" 2000 for magma being EXTRA HOT at 2000+ degrees.

It seems the only people upset about the name change is people who have a general dislike for Cedar Fair. Coincidence?

Keep in mind this wasn't CF being the 800-pound gorilla, beating their chest, and saying "Me Want Name Change!"

"...recommendation by ... as well as their advertising agency, the park's Board of Directors unanimously agreed to rename..."

Look at that again. The advertising agency (read "not Cedar Fair") made the recommendation as well. You don't know what went on behind closed doors. It's possible that someone else made the suggestion and CF said "yeah, we agree" and went along with it. Perhaps this was something they've wanted to do for a while, and Paramount just wouldn't allow it? Now they're gone, CF says it's ok. You know how accurate the media is in quoting people and getting their facts straight. *rolls eyes*

Further, CF was not the one to change the name - the board of directors were - and unanimously at that. If you're going to blame someone, blame Bonfante's board of directors - not CF.

Oh, and add me to the list of people who never even heard of Michael Bonfante until this thread came along. :)

Your free to think what you want, As well as I am. I don't hate CF. Im kinda anti corporate park anyhow anymore.

What makes me more against is the CP is THE ULTIMATE! mentality and can do no wrong, Look at Dorney for instance, Im by far not the only one who thinks they ruined a charming park and it's not what they did, It's how they did it.

Chuck, YMMV

Educate educate educate. Why dumb it down to what sounds like a generic city park name? Plus...for once (gasp!) I actually agree with Gonch...it just plain sounds ugly. Oh well what can you do? It's not that I'm anti CF either...I'm more in line with Chuck here as anti-corporate. As someone mentioned elsewhere here on CBizz, the name Cedarberry Farm comes closer to matching the atmosphere at Bonfante *and* sounds a heck of a lot cooler.

Well, I did know who Michael Bonfonte was even before the park was built, but I'm in the minority...

I was perfectly happy to have it named Bonfonte Gardens just as an attraction up in Victoria BC is named Buchart Gardens... both are horticultural attractions - though the similarity pretty much ends there... Thing is, NO ONE would EVER consider renaming Buchart Gardens. It's been there for over 100 years (or at least 90 IIRC) even though I'm pretty sure that Mr. and Ms. Buchart no longer own it.

Eh, I'm not trying to say I hate the idea, just... don't really see a need for it. But if it DOES help bring business to the park well, that's a definite plus. I really enjoyed my one visit there, it's a very beautiful place and I would be sad if it closed.

-Esch

Gilroy's Bonfontaine Gardens?

Not very catchy is it?

For someone so concerned over keeping the meaning of the park alive, you'd think he'd get the last name right more often.

ETA:

Chuck kind of proves part of the point of the name change. Even someone who is dedicated to preserving meaning behind amusement parks and knows the back story of how the park came into existence has spelled "Bonfante" wrong two out of three times in this thread. Gilroy has not been misspelled yet.

- Jeff

*** This post was edited by Uncle Coaster 2/28/2007 6:53:55 AM ***

LOL

Gilroy just makes me think of Killroy which was figure WW1 soldiers would use in enemy territory.

KILLROY WAS HERE, with a big nose and two eyes looking over a wall.

Chuck

Santa Clara Valley Gardens Family Park? Or just SCVGFP for us folks on CB. ;)

I think it's fine. Bonfante bailed. As long as they keep those gardens up. We'll be there this summer. Check out my picture to see the artichoke dip.

I'm surprised no one has commented on the new park logo. I love the "Joe Cool" Garlic.

Let's not forget that with all the financial problems the park had over the years, the Bonfante name has really been dragged through the mud. I think it's wise to drop it.

Walt and Roy Disney went into debt to finance and develop Disneyland and Disneyworld. Everything they had was put into the park. Walt died while working on Disneyworld, and Roy died only a few months after Disneyworld opened. Bonfante has already left California and moved to Branson, Missouri. He worked part-time on the park until about 1999, at which time he sold the Nob Hill Food Chain, having invensted about 10 to 20% of his net worth into the park. While he did a great job, and built one of the most beautiful theme parks in the country, he never invested himself into the park like the Disneys. Changing the name to Gilroy Gardens is appropriate. At least people might have a chance of finding the place now. Hopefully, the city of Gilroy will protect this beautiful creation and help it grow and prosper.