Belmont Park files for bankruptcy in response to 700% rent increase

Holy Crap!

Damn... that sucks.

That's INSANE! I hope they win.

Seeing the city officials, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses all listed on the park's homepage makes me smile.

If they mess with the Dipper, there will be hell to pay!!

And by hell, I mean a stern letter full of frowny faces.

Posting by Belmont to their FB page, 2:08pm today: "the San Diego Coaster Company, operators of the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and rides at the park, are not impacted during the time of uncertainty."

staticman00 said:
And by hell, I mean a stern letter full of frowny faces.

That's still a hell (:)) of a lot more effective than an online petition.

So what was the rent? $1, and now $7? Or was it $1 million, and now $7 million?

Well if they feel they have to declare Chapter 11, let's go with a larger number.

All, I can say is WOW! I liked Belmont when I visited a few years back. Hope everything turns out good for them.

rollergator said:
Posting by Belmont to their FB page, 2:08pm today: "the San Diego Coaster Company, operators of the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and rides at the park, are not impacted during the time of uncertainty."

Well, then. I am no longer upset or even slightly interested in this story.

If the city decides to raze the property (which has been considered several times before) they will definitely be impacted. Even if they try to find another leaseholder, I can't imagine anyone doing it for what they are trying to get for it. The current master leaseholder took over after the original (after the refurbishment of the property) couldn't make it. Lochtefeld has a history in the waterpark industry, being one of the partners that built Raging Waters. SD Coaster is the largest sub lease holder. It is very much a going concern now, which is probably why it's a target now.

The city of San Diego is in deep financial trouble, largely due to some behind closed doors shenanigens involving the employee pension fund, which apparently they can't get out of now. With income down from fewer taxes being collected they are grabbing at straws trying to pay the bills, resorting to the curtailing of services and browning out fire and lifeguard stations and reducing the number of police officers on staff, among other things

Sounds like pretty much every other city in the great U.S. of A.

Geez. Why don't they just dump EVERY small/family/boardwalk park! Are the local governments trying to make the world full of only Six Flags And Cedar Fair? lol

Any business operating on land that belongs to the city of San Diego (and there is quite a number of them)is going to have to deal with this same issue eventually, especially ones that are doing reasonably well. As far as Belmont, there are still people who want to bulldoze it and turn it into a regular park, regardless what it contributes to the city coffers.

Michael W. Moss said:
Geez. Why don't they just dump EVERY small/family/boardwalk park! Are the local governments trying to make the world full of only Six Flags And Cedar Fair? lol

U mad, bro?

Raven-Phile said:

Michael W. Moss said:
Geez. Why don't they just dump EVERY small/family/boardwalk park! Are the local governments trying to make the world full of only Six Flags And Cedar Fair? lol

U mad, bro?

A little bit. I hate to see these type of parks go down. As I have only gotten into even going to amusement parks a little over a decade ago, I find it kind of sad that there are simply going to be ones that I will never get to which is harder to swallow when I lose another opportunity to visit a more classic/boardwalk style park :(

Yeah, I understand. Unfortunately, times do change, and not everything can keep up with them. It happens, and it sucks but what are you gonna do?

Okay, I have to correct my previous statement about San Diego Coaster Co. subleasing from Belmont. Apparently they do lease directly from the city.