Dutch Wonderland sold to Palace Entertainment

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http://www.wgal.com/news/25775341/detail.html

Dutch Wonderland Sold

POSTED: 4:03 pm EST November 12, 2010
UPDATED: 4:20 pm EST November 12, 2010

LANCASTER, Pa. -- Hershey Entertainment and Resorts has sold Lancaster theme park Dutch Wonderland.

Hershey made the announcement Friday afternoon in a news release, saying Dutch Wonderland and "related properties in Lancaster County" had been sold to Palace Entertainment, which is the nation’s largest operator of water parks and family entertainment centers. Palace is based in California, but is a division of a larger international company.

"It was a very difficult decision for us to make; however, the sale will allow us to continue to focus all of our resources and energy on our operations in Hershey," Hershey Entertainment CEO Ted Kleisner said in the news release.

Palace is owned by Parques Reunidos, an international entertainment operator that with this new acquisition operates in total 70 theme parks, water parks, zoological parks and family entertainment centers around the world, distributed in 10 countries mainly throughout Europe and the USA. Parques Reunidos is the second largest leisure park operator in Europe and the third largest worldwide.

"We were attracted to Dutch Wonderland because of its position as an outstanding family amusement park -- especially for families with younger children. It is our goal to continue to operate the park in a manner which maintains its impeccable reputation, focusing on the highest level of customer care and memorable experience for which Dutch Wonderland is known," said Fernando Eiroa, CEO of Palace Entertainment, in the news release. "We are very sensitive to the unique position that Dutch Wonderland has within its community. We will strive to maintain and enhance the Dutch Wonderland brand, while keeping the special family appeal of the Park."

Dutch Wonderland was originally founded by the Clark family of Lancaster in 1963. Hershey Entertainment purchased it in 2001.