One of Los Angeles’ sweetest family traditions is coming back. After closing in December 2022, the Griffith Park Pony Rides will return this December under a new operator, The Pony Collective — a partnership between the owners of Sweet Water Farms Petting Zoo in Huntington Beach and KC’s Family Fun Rides — following approval by the Los Angeles Board of Recreation and Park Commissioners in October 2026.
For more than seven decades, generations of Angelenos took their first ride on the gentle ponies at 4400 Crystal Springs Drive, in the southeast corner of Griffith Park near the Los Angeles Zoo. The new chapter promises a kinder, more transparent experience, with a strong focus on animal welfare, improved care and enrichment for the ponies, shaded areas for families and clearer information for parents planning a visit.
The reopening adds one more reason to spend a happy day in Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America, alongside the Los Angeles Zoo, Travel Town and the park’s famous hiking trails. Exact reopening dates and hours will be announced by Los Angeles Recreation and Parks, so families can start planning a nostalgic outing — and a first ride for a whole new generation.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
