Editor’s note: Please see our updated story, “Collector with conscience returns stolen rocket to Merced amusement park.”
8 a.m. Saturday update: Karen Adams, president of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced, said the stolen rocket has been retrieved. This story will be updated as more details become available.
Friday, Dec. 27 post:
Thieves have struck once again at a beloved institution in the Merced community.
Officials at the Kiwanis Club of Greater Merced say someone has stolen one of the rockets from the rocket ride at the club’s Kiddieland amusement park for children
Karen Adams, the nonprofit service club’s president, told The Merced FOCUS officials believe the rocket was stolen after someone broke into the park through a gate.
The rocket may have been stolen around Dec. 11, but the theft came to the club’s attention this week. The park has been closed for the season and isn’t scheduled to open until March.
A video was sent to the club showing an unidentified person rolling the rocket down the street on top of a cart.
Adams shared the video on social media, and she’s hoping the club will be able to recover the rocket.
Theft and vandalism has been a problem at Kiddieland over the years. “It’s an ongoing saga, unfortunately,” Adams said. “At this point we’re just trying to gather info.”
The club has filed a police report about the theft. Adams said the rocket ride has a unique history, as the passenger cars were created from fuel tanks taken from World War II era aircraft.
“Honestly it’s priceless because of the history,” Adams said.
Located in Applegate Park, Kiddieland is known as a local landmark in Merced, having opened in 1957, thus serving multiple generations of residents who first visited as children.
In recent years, the club also rallied local residents to raise more than $1 million to keep Kiddieland operational for future generations to enjoy.
Kiddieland wasn’t the only local institution to be harmed by thieves recently. Earlier this year Merced Shakespearefest and Playhouse Merced both suffered significant losses after being targeted by thieves.
Anyone with information about the stolen rocket can call the Merced Police Department’s anonymous tipline at (209) 385-4725.