Reminds me of a story told to me by a tech executive in the 70s. Whenever out-of-town guests would come to visit, he would promise to take them to the long lost silicon mines ... "tomorrow."

Today is my birthday - my 71st (actor Annette O'Toole was also born today, and also turning 71). When I consider the concept of a full-blown, Silicon Valley amusement park it brings a smile to my face.

Let's do it and build the fastest roller coaster on the planet. Let it go underground, into pure darkness, like the ancient coaster in Santa Cruz on the Boardwalk - the world famous Giant Dipper.

Of course we'd follow the lead of Disney and build Star Wars type rides, fully immersive events.

And the Bay, let's not forget the fact we're adjacent to bird sanctuaries. What sort of "Wild Bird Ride" could the brilliant minds littering Silicon Valley come up with? No doubt it would include smells and splatter to accompany this new-found concept.

As far as location goes . . . my suggestion is to buy-out the current amusement park in Santa Clara along with the adjacent stadium (trust me, we have the money) and build it there.

No car parking - all attendees shall use public transportation, walk or bicycle.

Come on folks - Let's Do It !!!

Awesome. You had me until the SBF ride!

What . . . no parking for automobiles? Come on people, look at the MASSIVE amount of space our stupid cars take up. Wouldn't it be lovely to simply hop on a bus, free of course, and be dropped right at the front gate of this new, world-famous Silicon Valley Amusement Park - land of the finest rides on the planet? Wow. Consider it done!

If only it could be true. Anything to get rid of the nasty airport.

Glad to see the inventiveness of your staff. Loved it.

This is April 1st, right?

Sounds interesting but what about the increased traffic it would bring to Palo Alto?

I had heard the park was in fact to actually be floating, to preserve the use of the land below and for travel to other destinations.
Welcome back, PA Online 4/1 authors

An amusement park????
That is not something I would suggest for this spot. Are we (Palo Alto residents) that hard up?

We don't need to build an amusement park out at the baylands. Has anyone considered what will happen when global warming shoves sea levels far beyond predictions. If the glacier Thwaites goes into a full melt down as it appears it will, sea level will increase by, I think I read something like 7 feet. Aside from that, we need to keep the wildlife out at the baylands intact. If you must, build it somewhere else, not at the baylands.

Sounds awesome. Sitting in a cubicle in a 1960s-era tilt-up! Your ticket requires (not “allows you”) to remain in the park until exhausted. The driving game involves sitting in an immobile “car” on a simulated 101.. The park attendants only speak in technical jargon (do you want a PN or NP pizza? For just $5 extra you can have the crust made of strained Si). Insanely great!

Lol, today I learned how many people do not read the full story before commenting!

The Silicon Valley Bank Collapse "drop" tower was a good one!

There are some things that make sense, a tech-themed interactive science experience/museum for example (not at all competing with the excellent cal academy). But an amusement park seems a bit ridiculous.

I just saw the dinosaurs of Cabazon yesterday. Another theme park that was begun and then left as a reminder that pipe dreams never come true after the City lacks funding to complete. A better mousetrap conceived on an acid trip. As reported by an anonymous source ;)

Brilliant all around!!

The Palo Alto Weekly has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in humor writing for all of the great news stories today!

The writers there have the talent to put Palo Alto on the map!

This had me going for a while. In other years it would not have, but with the recent negativity (mostly unjustified in my view) about Silicon Valley in the press, I was starting to wonder if we had finally jumped the shark. I think (hope) that there is still enough lucrative R&D to be done that we won't be resorting to gimmicks any time soon.

I think it’s a great idea and falls in line with my post a couple weeks ago suggesting ways to make Palo Alto a destination city. Redwood City had its Marine World, right? Santa Clara had its Great America. It’s our turn.

Fred - yes, of course the park will be floating! This is essential to allay potential concerns about sea level rise and proximity to the bay.