The high maintenance cost of operating Samoa’s and the Pacific's first and only amusement park has forced it to close permanently after a final run this weekend.

Samoa Fiafia Park located at Tafaigata opened its doors to the public in January 2020 only for the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic to throw the spanner in the works to lead to its partial closure. 

In 2022 there were discussions to sell the amusement park to a prominent business family in Samoa to keep it running but there were other factors that were considered in the final decision. 

The owner of the Magic Circus of Samoa and ringmaster, Tupai Bruno Loyale told the Samoa Observer, “That was the initial plan but it didn’t work out”. 

“This type of business is very different for them, they were mainly in retail and grocery. They really wanted the park to succeed.

"But I think their initial ambition would be to find somebody or the younger members of the family could take over the park, I don’t think that materialised. That was basically it and they don’t want to continue with the park.” 

The Ringmaster has announced that the park will be open for the last two days this week on Saturday and Sunday before it is permanently closed. 

All of the rides have been sold to a New Zealand firm and while the park will be closed the circus will continue its journey without the amusement park. 

Tupai said while COVID-19 has passed, there was an expectation that the amusement park would continue its operations. However, he said he has dedicated his time to his circus training and with his age he could only continue the circus. 

Looking on the bright side, Tupai said he is happy that the park gave an opportunity to a lot of children in Samoa and the villages to ride various rides such as the ferris wheel, the merry-go-round and others. 

“I was so happy to see many people enjoying the rides with their families and children ride, it’s a very nice feeling. But financially I just can’t maintain it. It's part of life and I tried to move it to town which would have been better but the Government was very difficult to come to any terms.”

The park will close after Sunday and the rides will be dismantled and packed away to be shipped to New Zealand.