WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Starting Friday, anyone 15 years old or younger will need to have a chaperone that is 21 or older to attend Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Howl-O-Scream after 4 p.m., officials with the theme park announced Wednesday.
"The chaperone must accompany their party at entry, remain inside the park during their visit and be available by phone throughout their stay," park officials wrote. "Guests aged 15 years or younger who are found inside the park unaccompanied by a chaperone who is not in the park and available by phone will be subject to ejection without refund."
The chaperone has to stay with their party during entry, remain inside the park during their visit and be available by phone, according to the new policy.
Guests 16 years or older must show a government-issued photo ID like a driver’s license, passport or Military ID with their date of birth before entering the park.
"If unable to verify proof of age, guests may be denied entry into the park," officials warned.
Park officials said the move comes as part of the park's commitment to the safety of guests and workers.
The new chaperone policy, which applies to all ticket holders and members and will continue through Sunday, Nov. 3, comes after a teenager told police he was stabbed at the park Saturday night.
Police were called about a fight reported in the France area of the park. When officers arrived, the people involved in the altercation had left, according to police. But shortly, an 18-year-old man came up to officers at the entrance of the park and said he had been stabbed.
The incident came after police responded to a different altercation during the opening weekend of Howl-O-Scream. That disturbance started as a verbal dispute between two large groups of people, mostly children and young adults, who were in line for rides near the park's entrance, according to police.
Kings Dominion announced a similar policy last April where anyone 15 or younger would need to have a chaperone 21 or older to be in the park after 4 p.m.
"The safety of our guests and associates has always been our top priority at Kings Dominion," the park posted on their website and social media at the time. "Over the past two years, there have been increasing incidents of unruly and inappropriate behavior across our industry and at other major entertainment venues."
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