Palace Entertainment

Palace Entertainment is a subsidiary of Madrid, Spain based Parques Reunidos which operates various attractions including amusement parks, zoos, and water parks around the world. Palace Entertainment is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is primarily involved in the operation of attractions in the United States.

Palace Entertainment
TypePrivate
IndustryAmusement parks
Founded1998 (1998)
HeadquartersPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Area served
United States
OwnerParques Reunidos
Websitewww.palaceentertainment.com

History

Palace Entertainment was established in 1998, after the acquisition of four independently owned family entertainment companies. These four companies consisted of five brands: Camelot Parks, Palace Park, Boomers!, Grand Prix Race-O-Rama and Family Fun Center.[1] In the early 2000s the company purchased various Water Parks and Family Entertainment Centers.[2]

On February 27, 2006, it was announced that MidOcean Partners was to acquire Palace Entertainment. This transaction occurred in the second quarter 2006.

On August 24, 2007, MidOcean Partners sold Palace Entertainment to Parques Reunidos for $330 Million. This transaction took place in the third quarter of 2007.[3]

Fernando Eiroa joined Palace Entertainment in 2007, serving as president and Chief Executive Officer.

On December 11, 2007 Kennywood Entertainment Company entered an agreement to sell their Five Properties (Kennywood, Idlewild and Soak Zone, Sandcastle Waterpark, Lake Compounce and Story Land) to Palace Entertainment's parent company Parques Reunidos. By 2009 Palace had taken over operations of all five parks.[4]

On November 12, 2010, Palace Entertainment announced the acquisition of Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park in historic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company.[5]

On March 2, 2012, Palace Entertainment announced the acquisition of Noah's Ark Water Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.[6]

In 2014 Palace Entertainment acquired Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Florida.[7]

Later that year Palace Entertainment sold 15 properties to the newly formed Apex Parks Group Including Big Kahuna's, 10 Boomers locations as well as an additional Family 4 Entertainment Centers. This was in an effort to move away from Family Entertainment Center operations for Palace Entertainment.[8]

In March 2020 it was announced that Palace Entertainment would open a new corporate facility near the Kennywood property. This new facility will house 25 executives as well as their East Coast team.[9]

In December of 2021 Palace Entertainment would acquire Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa.

Amusement parks
Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Adventureland Altoona, Iowa 1974 2021 Acquired in December of 2021
Castle Park Riverside, California 1976 Acquired from Alfa Smart Parks
Dutch Wonderland Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1963 2010 Acquired From Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company in 2010
Idlewild and Soak Zone Ligonier, Pennsylvania 1887 2007 Acquired From Kennywood Entertainment Company in 2007; co-flagship park
Kennywood West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 1899 2007 Acquired From Kennywood Entertainment Company in 2007; flagship park
Lake Compounce Bristol, Connecticut 1846 2007 Acquired From Kennywood Entertainment Company in 2007
Story Land Glen, New Hampshire 1954 2007 Acquired From Kennywood Entertainment Company in 2007

Water parks
Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Noah's Ark Water Park Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin 1979 2012[10] Acquired in 2012
Raging Waters Los Angeles San Dimas, Los Angeles County, California 1983 Formerly known as Raging Waters San Dimas;Acquired from Alfa Smart Parks
Raging Waters Sydney Sydney, Australia 2013 2018[11] Formerly known as Wet'n Wild Sydney; Acquired in 2018 from Village Roadshow Theme Parks
Sandcastle Waterpark West Homestead, Pennsylvania 1989 2007 Acquired From Kennywood Entertainment Company in 2007
Splish Splash Riverhead, New York 1989 1999[12] Acquired in 1999 from the Gentiles who also own Adventureland New York (not to be confused with the unaffiliated Adventureland in Iowa purchased by Palace in 2021)
Water Country Portsmouth, New Hampshire 1984 2000 Acquired from the Samuels Family true subsidiary Festival Fun Parks
Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe Greensboro, North Carolina 1984 2002[13] Acquired from subsidiary Alfa Smart Parks in 2002 [14]

Marine animal parks
Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Living Shores Aquarium Glen, New Hampshire 2019 Built adjacent to Story Land in the former Heritage USA building.
Sea Life Park Waimanalo Beach, Hawaii 1964 2008 Acquired from Dolphin Discovery

Family entertainment centers
Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Boomers! Palm Springs Palm Springs, California 1998
Boomers! Vista Vista, California 1998
Malibu Grand Prix Norcross, Georgia 2002 Acquired from subsidiary Alfa Smart Parks in 2002 [14]
Mountasia Marietta, Georgia 2002 Acquired from subsidiary Alfa Smart Parks in 2002 [14]

Hotels and campgrounds
Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Adventureland Inn Altoona, Iowa 1973 2021 Part of the Adventureland Resort Acquired in December of 2021
Adventureland Campground Altoona, Iowa 2021 Part of the Adventureland Resort Acquired in December of 2021
Cartoon Network Hotel[15] Lancaster, Pennsylvania 2020[16] Located Near Dutch Wonderland
Flamingo Motel & Suites[17] Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin 2012 Acquired with Noah's Ark Water Park
Lake Compounce Campground[18] Bristol, Connecticut 2014[19] Located in the rear of Lake Compounce's Parking Lot. Known as Bear Creek from 2014-2021.
Old Mill Stream Campground Lancaster, Pennsylvania 2001[20] 2010 Acquired with Dutch Wonderland

Former properties
Park Location Year Opened Year Sold/Closed Notes
Big Kahuna's Destin, Florida 1986 2014 Water Park, Family Entertainment Center; Sold to Apex Parks Group in 2014
Boomers! Parks Various 2014 Family Entertainment Center; 10 Boomers Locations would be sold to Apex Parks Group in 2014. See Boomers! Parks for details.[21]
Anaheim, California 2004 Family Entertainment Center; Located next to Camelot Golfland, closed in 2004 later replaced with warehouses.[22]
Bakersfield, California 2004 Family Entertainment Center; Sold in 2004, later rebranded back to Camelot Park.[23]
Dania, Florida 2015 Family Entertainment Center; located next to the Dania Beach Hurricane, Boomers! Dania Beach would close in 2015 to make way for Dania Pointe.[24]
Escondido, California 2004 Family Entertainment Center; Sold in 2004,[25] Later replaced by a Car Max dealership.[26]
Medford, New York 1999 2019 Family Entertainment Center; No Updates since Summer 2019, Removed from Palace Entertainment Website in 2020. Park is currently abandoned and has no plans to reopen or to be renovated.[27]
Jazzland New Orleans, Louisiana 2000 2002 Amusement Park; Sold to Six Flags in 2002, closed in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina
Malibu Grand Prix Redwood City, California 1979 2013 Family Entertainment Center; Closed due to High Rent.[28] Soon after Jay Paul Co. would buy the property with plans to develop it into an office campus.[29]
San Antonio, Texas 1978 2014 Family Entertainment Center; Sold to Apex Parks Group in 2014
Miami Seaquarium Miami, Florida 1955 2021 Marine Animal Park; Purchased from Wometco in 2014. Sold to The Dolphin Company in late 2021[1]
Mountain Creek Water Park Vernon Township, New Jersey 1978 2011 Water Park; Operators of the water park were leased out to Palace from the early 2000s till 2011. When Crystal Springs bought out the adjusted resort and took over water park operations.
Mountasia Houston, Texas 2014 Family Entertainment Center; Mountasia was sold to Apex Parks Group in 2014, Soon after it would be rebranded as a Boomers!
Kingwood, Texas 2007 Family Entertainment Center; Sold in 2007 to become Houston Grand Prix[30]
Raging Waters Sacramento Cal Expo, Sacramento, California 1986 2022 Water Park; Acquired from Six Flags in 2006, Operated by Palace from 2007 till 2022. Palace would Terminate their lease on November 8th, 2022 "after a careful review of company priorities".
Raging Waters San Jose East San Jose, San Jose, California 1985 2023 Acquired from Alfa Smart Parks. Palace would terminate their lease with the city of San Jose in 2023 "after a careful review of company priorities".
Silver Springs Silver Springs, Florida 1878 2013 Attraction; Palace would operate the property from 2002 till 2013 when it was returned to the State of Florida to become a State Park. in the process Palace agreed to invest 4 million dollars into the property.
SpeedZone Dallas, Texas 1997 2014 Family Entertainment Center; SpeedZone also known as Malibu SpeedZone was sold to Apex Parks Group in 2014
Los Angeles, California
Waterworld California Concord, California 2011 2017 Water Park; Owned by CNL Lifestyle Properties and operated by Palace from 2011 till 2017 when Six Flags Entertainment Corp took over operations.[31]
Wet N' Wild Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada 2002 2004 Water Park; Palace acquired the property in 2002 from Alfa Smart Parks and would operate the park till it would close in 2004.[32]
Wild Waters Water Park Silver Springs, Florida 1978 2013 Water Park; Palace would operate the property and the nearby Silver Springs from 2002 till 2013.[33]

References
  1. DREAMEAST. "DreamEast Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement With Palace Entertainment". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. "Festival Fun Parks". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  3. "MidOcean Partners Announces Sale Of Palace Entertainment To Parques Reunidos | MidOcean Partners". www.midoceanpartners.com. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  4. "New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced" (PDF). 11 May 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  5. Palicki, Martin (12 November 2010). "Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company Announces Sale of Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment". InPark Magazine. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  6. badams@madison.com | 608-252-6148 | @madnewsboy, BARRY ADAMS | Wisconsin State Journal | (2 March 2012). "Noah's Ark sold to California company". madison.com. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  7. "California theme park company to buy Miami Seaquarium". Miami Herald.
  8. "Palace Entertainment sells 14 entertainment centers and water park". Los Angeles Times. 19 September 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  9. Goulding, Gage (7 March 2020). "Kennywood's parent company opening corporate facility in Pittsburgh area". WTOV. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  10. badams@madison.com | 608-252-6148 | @madnewsboy, BARRY ADAMS | Wisconsin State Journal | (2 March 2012). "Noah's Ark sold to California company". madison.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  11. "Parques Reunidos completes Wet'n'Wild Sydney acquisition - Australasian Leisure Management". www.ausleisure.com.au. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  12. Strugatch, Warren (20 May 2001). "Places for Swinging, Splashing, Thrashing (Published 2001)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  13. "Emerald Pointe sold to nation's largest water park operator". wfmynews2.com. 10 July 2002. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  14. Writer, AMY JOYNER Staff (9 July 2002). "EMERALD POINTE GETS NEW OWNER\ THE COMPANY PLANS SMALL CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE WATER PARK EXPERIENCE". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  15. "Cartoon Network Will Open Its First Hotel Next Summer in Pennsylvania". 30 October 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  16. Writer, KEVIN STAIRIKER | Staff (10 January 2020). "Cartoon Network Hotel opened today; here's what to know before you go". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  17. "Flamingo Motel & Suites". Flamingo Motel & Suites. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  18. "Lake Compounce - Camping". Lake Compounce. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  19. "Lake Compounce - LAKE COMPOUNCE TO OPEN 'BEAR CREEK CAMPGROUND' IN 2014". Lake Compounce. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  20. Writer, TOM MURSE Staff (12 November 2010). "Dutch Wonderland changes hands". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  21. Kleiman, Joe (18 September 2014). "Apex Parks Group Acquires Fourteen FEC's and One Waterpark from Parques Reunidos Subsidiary Palace Entertainment". InPark Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  22. "Boomers! Parks Online :: Anaheim". 12 June 2004. Archived from the original on 12 June 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  23. "Boomers! Parks Online :: Bakersfield". 3 August 2004. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  24. Hurtibise, Ron (24 January 2015). "Boomers entertainment center closed". sun-sentinel.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  25. "Boomers! Parks Online :: Escondido". 3 August 2004. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  26. "Family Fun Center Reduced to Rubble | walking towel". 28 June 2006. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  27. "Boomers Family Fun Center (Medford, New York, United States)". rcdb.com. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  28. "Redwood City: Malibu Grand Prix closes its doors after 35 years". The Mercury News. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  29. "Jay Paul snaps up Redwood City's Malibu Grand Prix, plans 3 office towers". Biz Jornel.
  30. "Mountasia of Kingwood - Home". 7 February 2004. Archived from the original on 7 February 2004. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  31. Palicki, Martin (25 January 2011). "CNL Lifestyle Properties Announces New Management for Eight Properties". InPark Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  32. Palicki, Martin (15 September 2013). "Gettin' wild in Las Vegas". InPark Magazine. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  33. Abandoned Southeast (7 January 2019). "Wild Waters". Abandoned Southeast. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
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