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Herschend Completes Acquisition of Palace Entertainment's U.S. Attractions (including 3 in Pittsburgh Area)
Herschend Newsroom ^ | 27 May 2025 | Herschend Corporate Announcement

Posted on 05/27/2025 4:10:53 PM PDT by Vigilanteman

ATLANTA, GA – Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation (“Herschend”), the world’s largest family-held themed attractions company, has officially completed its acquisition of Palace Entertainment’s 24 U.S. attractions, solidifying plans first shared in March.

As of today, Herschend operates 49 properties, with 22,000 hosts serving nearly 20 million guests annually. This milestone moment also coincides with Herschend’s 75th anniversary—two defining moments that underscore Herschend’s commitment to innovation and strategic growth, aligning with its purpose of Bringing Families Closer Together by Creating Memories Worth Repeating®.

“This is a landmark moment—not just for Herschend, but for every host, guest, and community we serve,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend. “To us, this is so much bigger than adding attractions to our portfolio of family brands—growth is about people. It’s about creating a great place to work so our hosts love what they do and can create memories worth repeating for our guests for generations to come.”

This season will be all about listening, learning, and building relationships. Guests can expect the same familiar attractions and hospitality they’ve come to know and love. Herschend's current focus is supporting its hosts and empowering them to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

“Our purpose has carried us through both bright seasons and challenging ones—and it will continue to guide us as we move into this next chapter,” said Chris Herschend, Board Chair and third-generation owner. “We’re focused on doing what’s right for the business, our hosts, and the communities we’re honored to be part of. This process will take time, and we know we will not get everything perfect, but we are committed to listening, communicating and continuously improving.”

(Excerpt) Read more at hfecorp.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: amusementpark; idlewild; kennywood; sandcastle
The three amusement parks in the Pittsburgh Area, Kennywood, Idlewild and Sand Castle, now have new ownership. The previous owners were based in Spain; the new owners are based in Georgia.

The parks are well-run, provide gainful employment for hundreds of local young people and the patrons spend almost as much time on the rides as waiting in line for them-- a far cry from the Disney theme parks.

1 posted on 05/27/2025 4:10:53 PM PDT by Vigilanteman
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To: Vigilanteman

I’m not far from Kennywood.


2 posted on 05/27/2025 4:17:07 PM PDT by rottweiller_inc (Lupus urbem intravit. Fulminis ictu vultures super turrem exanimat.)
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To: rottweiller_inc

Grew up going to Kennywood in the 60’s and 70’s, good times.


3 posted on 05/27/2025 4:32:59 PM PDT by DallasBiff (Apology not accepted.la is not the sharpest knife in the drawer)
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To: Vigilanteman

Who doesn’t love the yellow Kennywood arrows around town.


4 posted on 05/27/2025 9:33:01 PM PDT by krizzy (Damn the Torpedoes, Full speed ahead)
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