Busch Gardens Williamsburg announced it is adding a chaperone policy, days after a guest was stabbed in a fight.
On Sunday, an employee called police shortly before 10 p.m. to report a fight in the France section of the park. By the time James City County officers arrived, the fight had ended. But an 18-year-old man told police he had been stabbed, and authorities took him to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Now, Busch Gardens will require visitors ages 15 and younger to be accompanied by a chaperone at least 21 years old after 4 p.m. The chaperone must enter the park with the minor, remain inside the park and be available by phone.
The policy begins Friday and will take effect through the Halloween season, which ends Nov. 3. The park did not immediately say if it will extend the policy into the Christmas season or in 2025.
Guests who are 16 years or older must present an identification to enter the park alone. A chaperone can accompany no more than 10 minors.
The stabbing was the second disturbance to occur at Busch Gardens recently. One week earlier, police responded to what they called a public disturbance in the parking lot. Two large groups of young adults and teenagers argued with each other, Norfolk television station WVEC reported. Police made no arrests.
Last year, Kings Dominion added the same policy — guests 15 and younger need an adult 21 years or older after 4 p.m. When the park's parent company merged with Six Flags this year, Six Flags adopted the policy at its other parks.