Gilbert G.
Yelp
I lived in El Paso from 2001 to 2017. I was able to visit the park several times when it was at Ascarate Park in El Paso, TX. It was way better in Ascarate than now in New Mexico; there was at least shade around.
The way I heard it was that the park wanted to expand, as well as receive some much needed tax breaks from the city, and The City of El Paso in its infinite greed and corruption, denied them. This incited a game of "Chicken," where Western Playland promptly showed them they weren't bluffing and left to Sunland Park, NM.
That said, today it is pretty much all the same rides (just older and beat up), no notably, exciting expansions, and in fact they actually made detrimental changes to the park, ruining the nostalgia for many people.
Recommendations:
-Wear and take sunscreen - YOU WILL NEED IT! Take a big, shady umbrella with you, it will come in handy, I promise.
-Eat food, be full right before arriving at Western Playland. Everything there is to eat in the park is just as overpriced as their admission tickets.
-Drink LOTS of water! Dehydration is a killer!
-Don't worry about getting wet in the hot season--the heat will dry you out fast.
-Be prepared for popular rides to have up to 30 minute wait times. Why? Because THERE ARE AREN'T ENOUGH REPEATABLE OR INTERESTING ATTRACTIONS IN EL PASO OR SUNLAND PARK, and even worse, none for at least a 2-hour drive minimum in any direction. Be glad I can't rate an entire city on Yelp....but that's what Trip Advisor is for! HA!
-Lastly, remember, do NOT expect a Six Flags, Knotsberry Farm, Kings Dominion, Magic Kingdom, Busch Gardens....you get the idea. Expect it to be no different than a carnival/fair that came to town and your expectations won't be ruined. You CAN have fun here as long as you go with a positive attitude and don't expect too much!