Cedar Fair Now Owns The Paramount Parks

[GADVwow]

As can be seen on the welcome page here:

http://www.cedarfair.com/

The press release can also be found there.

For what it's worth, the page refers to the former Paramount Parks simply as Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Carowinds, Canada's Wonderland and Great America.  No Paramount's.  Probably a harbinger of things to come...

[David Jr]

I wonder if the Top Gun coasters and Borg: assimilator are going to be renamed?

[GADVwow]

My guess is yes, but not til next year.

[rjholla2003]

I didn't realise that they were taking immediate control of their new assets.  Then again, why not!  These are interesting times in the amusement industry.

[GADVwow]

Ah, yes.

The ancient Chinese curse:

May you live in interesting times....

[sir clinksalot]

I'm just waiting for a definative word on if CF AP's are good at the new parks. Once they are, PGA here we come.

[GADVwow]

I'm just waiting for a definative word on if CF AP's are good at the new parks. Once they are, PGA here we come.

Not this year.  The season pass program for next year has not yet been decided.  But for the remainder of this year, the old CF parks and the old PP parks have separate pass programs and no exchange between park family privileges...

[Nitro1118]

I have a very bad feeling about CF. With more and more purchases of new theme parks (GL, MIA, Paramount Parks) and the apparent decline of park quality and near sole focus on thrills (CP hasn't added a family/kiddie ride or section this millennium) it appears as though they are turning into the same company as the late 90's-early 00's SF. I just don't have a good feeling about this.

I really liked how Paramount handeled the chain. They were almost 50/50 with thrills and family. They would add top notch kiddie areas, then add a coaster, then 2 years later a thrill/family ride, etc... When I went to PKD it was spotless, and they themed it nicely and not cheesy. They always asked for guest input in survey's on the internet, and were just a high quality chain.

[GADVwow]

Yep, while Viacom ran the place, that's right.

This year, CBS had the parks...it has not been a pretty sight.  Sky high food prices, tremendous understaffing, ridiculous opening procedures at the gates (which ended about three weeks before the closing...at least at Kings Island).

Mr. Kinzel SAYS he understands the Paramount Parks have a more family focus.

I, like you, worry that Cedar Fair may very well have bitten off more than it can chew.  The debt level at Cedar Fair is very similar to that at Premier Parks right after the Six Flags acquisition from Time Warner...