October 3, 2005 -- County commissioners are wondering why the owner of Western Playland is moving to Sunland Park, N.M., when there's close to 10 years left in the contract between El Paso County and the owner.

"We read the newspapers and watch the news like everyone else and our understanding was this is the last ride on the Bandido or something or other they're shutting it down they're moving it to Westside," said County Commissioner Dan Haggerty.

Haggerty and the rest of the court need to know the intentions of Pat Thomson, the owner of Western Playland Amusement Park.

That's why they authorized the county attorney to send Thomson a letter asking about his intentions.

"We're going to be downsizing here. When we started back in 1960 we started with six rides and that's what we're gonna go back to," said Pat Thomson the owner of Western Playland.

Thomson says his plans for this location are still within the limits of the contract between him and the county. He says he knows the importance of the amusement park in El Paso, but he did what he had to do.

"They've never let us work or do anything and expand. We've tried to expand for the city of El Paso, that's what they've wanted and they've held us back from doing it," said Thomson.

Commissioner Haggerty says Western Playland is a great asset to El Paso County but he hopes everyone can abide by the contract.

"We have a responsibility to the citizens of El Paso county, there's a contract in place, his intention may be to leave the rides that are there. As long as he complies with the terms of his contracts, we certainly have no heart burn over that," said Haggerty.

Thomson says Western Playland will open again sometime next summer.

Some of the rides he's planning to keep are the Tsunami, the go carts, the bumper cars and some kiddie rides.