Fresno Chaffee Zoo rendering shows takeover of neighbor Playland. Is it happening?

On proximity alone, Playland seems inextricably linked to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.

The historic children’s theme park sits just across the road from the zoo’s main entrance off Highway 99, and shares space inside the city’s 90-acre Roeding Park. That closeness — as well as a rendering of potential zoo expansion — has led some to wonder about the future of the park and its ties to the zoo.

“Think this was the first time I’ve ever seen anything ‘official,’ about the zoo taking over Playland,” Reddit user Aero247 wrote in a post earlier this month. “It’s always been talked about for years.”

Included in the post was a photo of a rendering, taken at the zoo. In it, a map appears to show an expansion project southwest of the zoo’s main entrance across the roadway in the Playland space.

But what does that rendering really tell us about possible futures for Playland and the zoo?

Not much.

Officials with both organizations confirm there were talks about the zoo expanding into the Playland space, but specific plans never materialized.

In 2022, the zoo released a 15-year master plan, which CEO Jon Forrest Dohlin called “aggressive” in terms of expansion and growth. It outlined several projects, including the addition of a parking structure (or structures) and a “Pacific Rim Aquarium,” which would include a deep-sea virtual reality tour, tide pools, and an interactive sting ray petting experience, The Bee reported.

Renderings released at the time showed those projects were within the zoo’s existing footprint. It is unclear if the rendering shared on Reddit depicts any of those projects or something new.

“This rendering represents just one of several master plan concepts the zoo has explored as we evaluate future possibilities,” the zoo said in a statement to The Bee.

“Our planning process remains flexible as we consider multiple pathways forward based on our mission, community support and financial practicalities.”

Will Playland reopen?

Playland has been more forceful in squashing rumors about a potential takeover from the zoo.

The park has been closed since May, after its operator, Helm and Sons Amusements, terminated its contract. At the time, officials with the nonprofit Storyland/Playland said the park was still early into a 30-year lease with the city and they weren’t willing to let it close for good or let the land get parceled out for another use.

“We’re not looking at that,” Storyland/Playland chair Susan Anderson told The Bee.

The plan at the time would have the park reopen, potentially under a new operator. It would keep its original set of rides (including the iconic train) with a pre-pandemic business model focusing on low-ticket price, consistent operating hours and a focus on younger children.

Those plans are still in the works, Anderson told The Bee last week.

Already, the train is running.

It can be accessed from inside of Storyland.

The other rides are also operational, but await state certification. That happens later this week, Anderson said. Once the rides are certified the park will reopen on weekends and with the help of several partner organizations.

Those partnerships are still being negotiated, she said, and will be announced before the reopening. That isn’t expected to happen before September.

As for any plans the zoo had to move on the Playland space, “that had been discussed in the past, but never moved forward,” Anderson said.

“We will be reopening in the next couple of months.”

This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Fresno Chaffee Zoo rendering shows takeover of neighbor Playland. Is it happening?."