![]() ![]() At the time of the merger in 2016, Discovery Cube officials announced plans to invest in and restore the Fun Zone. The Discovery Cube acquired the property a year after merging with local nonprofit ExplorOcean. "This is the heart of the peninsula," Sherwin said. Mostly, some people could be seen wearing masks, strolling along the boardwalk, enjoying the views of the marina, seeing the boats on the slips, and the multi-million-dollar homes that line the peninsula. A little more than half a dozen or so people were playing in the arcade. The Ferris wheel spun with no one aboard. With no customers, they stood behind counters, waiting for anyone to serve. Workers at the quick-serve restaurants appeared bored. A cool breeze blows off the bay and carries the lingering smell of the water. On a recent visit, one can feel the heat from the sun's rays hit the skin. The pandemic, though, has hit this place hard. The site was a popular field trip destination with schools across Orange County. It features a Ferris wheel dubbed as "the world's longest Ferris wheel ride," quarter arcade games with a Zoltar, a nautical museum, and a waterfront location.īefore the pandemic hit, the Fun Zone was a popular family-friendly destination for the millions of people who visit the city every year, according to Visit Newport Beach, the city's tourism arm. Referred to as the Coney Island of Newport Beach, the coastal amusement area was built in the early 1900s and sat along the Balboa Peninsula and across the Balboa Pier. "The market is responding really well," said Joseph Lising, a managing director at Cushman & Wakefield and one of the listing brokers. The listing broker said they've been contacted by several interested parties for the property. The nonprofit announced the sale in December, but the local landmark property didn't hit the open market until February. The Discovery Cube, the nonprofit owner that also oversees the Discovery Cube kid's museum in Santa Ana, has put up the Balboa Fun Zone for sale as the organization tries to weather the financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. The Balboa Fun Zone has been a staple in Newport Beach for more than 100 years, but its most recent listing on the commercial real estate market has some people concerned about the waterfront property's future. People from all around the world come here." There is a Southern California feel to it. "You're strolling along the boardwalk, enjoying the weather on a summer night, grabbing a dessert, and hopping on the Ferris wheel or one of the other rides. "Of all the places in Orange County, this place is the embodiment, the essence of the Orange County experience," said Sherwin, president and CEO of Visit Newport Beach. Residents say they hope whoever the new buyer is can keep it as a mini-amusement area and educational facility.Discovery Cube received the property after merging with ExplorOcean in 2016.The Balboa Fun Zone, built in the early 1900s, is a coastal amusement area and educational facility.Citing financial woes caused by the pandemic, the Discovery Cube is selling the Balboa Fun Zone in Newport Beach.
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