Parques Reunidos

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(Redirected from Palace Entertainment)
Parques Reunidos
Company typePrivate
IndustryAmusement parks
Founded1967 (1967)
HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Pascal Ferracci (CEO)
OwnersEQT Partners (51.0%)
Elliott Management (12.8%)
SubsidiariesPalace Entertainment
Websitewww.parquesreunidos.com/en/

Parques Reunidos (meaning "Reunited Parks") is an international entertainment operator based in Madrid, Spain. The group operates over 60 parks in about dozen countries. Parques Reunidos operates theme and amusement parks, zoos, water parks, family entertainment centers, and cable cars. These facilities are located in Spain, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and the United States. Through acquisitions of established names such as Kennywood Entertainment Company, Dutch Wonderland and Palace Entertainment, Parques Reunidos greatly expanded its presence in American amusement operations beginning in 2007 through today. Annual visitors to the group's attractions exceed 22 million, with revenue exceeding $570 million (USD). In 2008 it had the fifth-highest attendance figures for worldwide chains with 24.9 million, ahead of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment and Cedar Fair.[1]

Palace Entertainment[edit]

Palace Entertainment
Company typePrivate
IndustryAmusement parks
Founded1998; 26 years ago (1998)
HeadquartersPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Area served
United States
OwnerParques Reunidos
Websitewww.palaceentertainment.com

Palace Entertainment is a subsidiary of Parques Reunidos based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is primarily involved in the operation of attractions in the United States.

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.[2] In the early 2000s the company purchased various Water Parks and Family Entertainment Centers.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6]

On March 2, 2012, Palace Entertainment announced the acquisition of Noah's Ark Water Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.[7]

In 2014 Palace Entertainment acquired Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Florida.[8]

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.[9]

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.[10]

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

Amusement parks[edit]

The entrance of Mirabilandia, Ravenna, Italy
Polar bear at Marineland of Antibes, France

Parques Reunidos currently operates 17 amusement park properties across three continents and nine countries.

Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Asia
Motiongate Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2016
Europe
Bobbejaanland Lichtaart, Belgium 1961 2004
Belantis Leipzig, Germany 2003 2018
BonBon-Land Næstved, Denmark 1992 2007
Mirabilandia Ravenna, Italy 1992 2006
Movie Park Germany Bottrop-Kirchhellen, Germany 1996 2010
Parque de Atracciones de Madrid Madrid, Spain 1969
Parque Warner Madrid Madrid, Spain 2002
Attractiepark Slagharen Hardenberg, Netherlands 1963
Tusenfryd Vinterbro, Norway 1988
North America
Adventureland Altoona, Iowa 1974 2021 Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary
Castle Park Riverside, California 1976
Dutch Wonderland Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1963 2010
Idlewild and Soak Zone Ligonier, Pennsylvania 1887 2007
Kennywood West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 1899 2007
Lake Compounce Bristol, Connecticut 1846 2007
Story Land Glen, New Hampshire 1954 2007

Zoos, aquariums and nature parks[edit]

Parques Reunidos currently operates 15 zoos, aquariums and nature parks across two continents and six countries.

Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Europe
Atlantis Aquarium Madrid, Spain
Blackpool Zoo Lancashire, England 1972
Delfinario Costa Daurada Costa Daurada, Spain
Faunia Madrid, Spain
Lakes Aquarium Lakeside, England 1997
Marineland Antibes, France 1970 2006
Oceanarium Bournemouth, England
Kid's Island Antibes, France Part of Marineland
Selwo Aventura Estepona, Spain 1999
Selwo Marina Benalmádena, Spain 2002
Weltvogelpark Walsrode Walsrode, Germany 1962 2019[11]
Zoo Aquarium Madrid, Spain 1770
North America
Living Shores Aquarium Glen, New Hampshire 2019 Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary
Sea Life Park Waimanalo Beach, Hawaii 1964 2008

Water parks[edit]

Parques Reunidos currently operates 21 separately-gated water parks across three continents and eight countries.

Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Europe
Aqua Mexicana Hardenberg, Netherlands Part of Attractiepark Slagharen
Aquopolis Cartaya Cartaya, Spain
Aquopolis Costa Daurada Costa Daurada, Spain
Aquopolis Cullera Cullera, Spain
Aquopolis Torrevieja Torrevieja, Spain
Aquopolis Villanueva de la Cañada Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
Aqualud Le Touquet, France
Aquasplash Marineland Antibes, France Part of Marineland
Bø Sommarland Bø i Telemark, Norway 1985 2006
Mirabeach Ravenna, Italy 2003 2006 Part of Mirabilandia
Tropical Islands Krausnick, Germany 2004 2018
Warner Beach Madrid, Spain 2014 Part of Parque Warner Madrid
North America
Noah's Ark Water Park Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin 1979 2012[12] Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary
Raging Waters Los Angeles San Dimas, Los Angeles County, California 1983
Raging Waters San Jose East San Jose, San Jose, California 1985
Sandcastle Waterpark West Homestead, Pennsylvania 1989 2007
Splish Splash Riverhead, New York 1989 1999[13]
Water Country Portsmouth, New Hampshire 1984 2000
Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe Greensboro, North Carolina 1984 2002[14][15]
Australia
Raging Waters Sydney Sydney, Australia 2013 2018[16] Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary

Family Entertainment Centers[edit]

Parques Reunidos currently operates six family entertainment enters in the United States, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
Europe
Nickelodeon Adventure Lakeside Lakeside, England 2020
North America
Boomers! Palm Springs Palm Springs, California 1998 Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary
Boomers! Vista Vista, California 1998
Malibu Grand Prix Norcross, Georgia 2002
Mountasia Marietta, Georgia 2002

Lodging and other ventures[edit]

Name Location Year Opened Year Acquired Notes
North America
Adventureland Inn Altoona, Iowa 2021 Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary
Adventureland Campground Altoona, Iowa 2021
Cartoon Network Hotel[17] Lancaster, Pennsylvania 2020[18]
Flamingo Motel & Suites[19] Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin 2012
Lake Compounce Campground[20] Bristol, Connecticut 2014[21]
Old Mill Stream Campground Lancaster, Pennsylvania 2001[22] 2010
Attractiepark Slagharen Hardenberg, Netherlands Attractiepark Slagharen offers a large on-site camping area including cabins
Tropical Islands Krausnick, Germany 2018 Tropical Islands offers an on-site hotel, campground and holiday homes

Cable cars[edit]

The company operates one cable car in Spain.

Former properties[edit]

Park Location Property Type Year Opened Year Sold/Closed Notes
Asia
Bollywood Parks Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates Amusement Park 2016 Status Unknown Owned by Dubai Parks and Resorts; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018. Closed since early 2023.
Dragon Park Hạ Long, Vietnam Amusement Park 2017 Status Unknown Owned by Sun Group; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018
Typhoon Water Park Hạ Long, Vietnam Water Park 2017 Status Unknown Owned by Sun Group; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018
Europe
Aquopolis Seville Seville, Spain Water Park 2021 Rebranded back to Guadalpark; Now operated by Wibit[23]
Aquaopolis San Fernando de Henares Madrid, Spain Water Park 2018 Did not reopen for 2019, Planned to become green space[24]
El Balcón de Rosales Madrid, Spain Night Club 2008 Closed after an 18 year old was beaten to death.[25]
L'Oceanogràfic Valencia, Spain Aquarium 2003 2015[26] Now operated by Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
Nickelodeon Adventure Madrid Madrid, Spain Family Entertainment Center 2018[27] 2019 Closed September 8, 2019[28]
Nickelodeon Adventure Murcia Murcia, Spain Family Entertainment Center 2017 2022
Teleférico de Madrid Madrid, Spain Cable Car 2017 Operations were taken back over by the city of Madrid[29]
Valwo Matapozuelos, Spain Zoo 1982 2007 Closed in 2007
South America
Aquarium de Mar del Plata Mar del Plata, Argentina Aquarium 2018 Sold to Dolphin Discovery[30]
North America
Big Kahuna's Destin, Florida Water Park, Family Entertainment Center 1986 2014 Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary
Boomers! Parks Various Family Entertainment Center 2014
Anaheim, California 2004
Bakersfield, California 2004
Dania, Florida 2015
Escondido, California 2004
Medford, New York 1999 2019
Jazzland New Orleans, Louisiana Amusement Park 2000 2002
Malibu Grand Prix Redwood City, California Family Entertainment Center 1979 2013
San Antonio, Texas 1978 2014
Miami Seaquarium Miami, Florida Marine Animal Park 1955 2014
Mountain Creek Water Park Vernon Township, New Jersey Water Park 1978 2011
Mountasia Houston, Texas Family Entertainment Center 2014
Kingwood, Texas 2007
Raging Waters Sacramento Cal Expo, Sacramento, California Water Park 1986 2022
Silver Springs Silver Springs, Florida Attraction 1878 2013
SpeedZone Dallas, Texas Family Entertainment Center 1997 2014
Los Angeles, California
Waterworld California Concord, California Water Park 2011 2017
Wet N' Wild Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada 2002 2004
Wild Waters Water Park Silver Springs, Florida 1978 2013

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2008 Attraction Attendance Report" (PDF). TEA/ERA. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  2. ^ DreamEast (May 20, 2015). "DreamEast Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement With Palace Entertainment". PR Newswire (Press release). Archived from the original on Apr 4, 2023. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  3. ^ "Festival Fun Parks". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  4. ^ "MidOcean Partners Announces Sale Of Palace Entertainment To Parques Reunidos". MidOcean Partners. 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  5. ^ "New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced" (PDF). Kennywood Entertainment. 2008-05-11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  6. ^ Palicki, Martin (12 November 2010). "Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company Announces Sale of Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment". InPark Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  7. ^ 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 2020-11-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "California theme park company to buy Miami Seaquarium". Miami Herald.
  9. ^ "Palace Entertainment sells 14 entertainment centers and water park". Los Angeles Times. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  10. ^ Goulding, Gage (2020-03-07). "Kennywood's parent company opening corporate facility in Pittsburgh area". WTOV. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  11. ^ "BELGRANO & CO has advised the shareholders of Vogelpark Walsrode GmbH on the sale to Parques Reunidos S.A." (PDF).
  12. ^ 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 2020-11-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Strugatch, Warren (2001-05-20). "Places for Swinging, Splashing, Thrashing (Published 2001)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  14. ^ "Emerald Pointe sold to nation's largest water park operator". wfmynews2.com. 10 July 2002. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  15. ^ 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 2020-11-12.
  16. ^ "Parques Reunidos completes Wet'n'Wild Sydney acquisition - Australasian Leisure Management". www.ausleisure.com.au. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  17. ^ "Cartoon Network Will Open Its First Hotel Next Summer in Pennsylvania". 30 October 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  18. ^ Writer, KEVIN STAIRIKER | Staff (10 January 2020). "Cartoon Network Hotel opened today; here's what to know before you go". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  19. ^ "Flamingo Motel & Suites". Flamingo Motel & Suites. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  20. ^ "Lake Compounce - Camping". Lake Compounce. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  21. ^ "Lake Compounce - LAKE COMPOUNCE TO OPEN 'BEAR CREEK CAMPGROUND' IN 2014". Lake Compounce. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  22. ^ Writer, TOM MURSE Staff (12 November 2010). "Dutch Wonderland changes hands". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  23. ^ "¡Adiós Aquópolis, hola Guadalpark!". 21 May 2021.
  24. ^ "San Fernando de Henares says goodbye to Aquópolis forever". 27 April 2019.
  25. ^ Barroso, F. Javier (17 November 2008). "Medidas tardías de las instituciones tras la muerte de Álvaro Ussía". El País.
  26. ^ "L'OCEANOGRÀFIC".
  27. ^ "PARQUES REUNIDOS OPENS "NICKELODEON ADVENTURE" MADRID AT INTU XANADÚ". 17 December 2018.
  28. ^ "Nickelodeon Adventure Madrid to Close on Sunday 8th September 2019".
  29. ^ "The Madrid City Council will recover the management of the cable car". 27 July 2017.
  30. ^ "Grupo Dolphin compra Aquarium de Mar del Plata".

External links[edit]