Cedar Fair completes acquisition of Michigan's Adventure
Posted Friday, June 1, 2001 6:41 AM | Contributed by Jeff
It's official, Cedar Fair now owns and operates Michigan's Adventure. The transaction was completed today, and former Vice President of Revenue Operations for Dorney Park, Larry MacKenzie, assumes the post of general manager.
So, how much land does M. A. have? As much as I would like to see them build a resort area, I think Cedar Fair will operate M A as a 1-day family park.
I predict the first thing CF will want to do is give MA the same look as the other parks. I would think 2002 will bring a Camp Snoopy, Coasters restaurant, and a new coaster. While I'm sure we'd like it to be the hyper the previous owner has mentioned I'd suspect we'd see something smaller first, like a Boomerang.
Yes, I know none of us want to see another 'Rang but WoF just got one so obviously Cedar Fair is not against something cheap and easy for a quick fix and to get more peeps into the park. Remember they may not be thrilling to US but to the average park-goer they're pretty exciting.
Another interesting thing in the press release is the fact that Larry L. MacKenzie moves to MA from Dorney. I'm certainly NOT an alarmist but I hope he was not the one who OKd putting the brakes to Herc and Thunderhawk.
All-in-all this can only mean good things for MA. It will be interesting to see where CF takes this park.
But don't think it happened without his approval. However, CCIs are a different breed of coaster. They are close to perfectly designed, and have the best pacing I have ever seen. CF will not alter this ride(ST), there is no need to.
*** This post was edited by DWeaver on 6/1/2001. ***
There is a ferry that leaves from Sheboygan, which is 45 minutes north of Milwaukee, to Muskegon and it takes longer than driving and costs more than the gas would. The only thing you avoid is having to drive through Chicago traffic.
Inverted_one, The ferry actually leaves Manitowoc about 1 Hour 15 Minutes north of Milwaukee and goes to Ludington, MI about Forty miles North of Muskegon. Its at WWW.SSBADGER.COM. Really not a good deal for us Wisconsin folks.
I knew it! Yesterday, as I was leaving the employee lot, all the heavy equipment and earth moving stuff was on flatbeds and being moved out.
MIAdventure has an excavation business also, which was not purchased in the deal, thus, it was leaving. I didn't want to jump the gun, though.
Here's the deal: MIAdv has a clearance for 200+ feet and has oodles of room for a hyper. Jourden also had somethign set in motion for 2002, which CF is completing. Keep in mind, more to Cedar Fair's interest, MIAdv w/ a hyper and world-class wood competes w/ SFGAm strongly, as well as somewhat off of SFWoA, and prevents Six Flags from squeezing CP w/ a SE Michigan park (near Dundee) by draining central Michigan. They have gobs of room, and aren't hurt by CF's standard practices. They need some landscaping (trees...) and some covered eating options. They have tons of room. They have a lot of the classic CF park stuff. They have tons of room.
The mascot is circa 1988, actually, and no, they employees aren't attached to it. I do like the logo minus the lion, though.
(Titling, w/ two coasters [woodies] surrounding a central Gondola Wheel) -- very old-school and looks classy.
Why Michigan's adventure is in a good area?
Grand Rapids - 1hr away Southwest MI vacation zone can be drained -- Saint Joseph - Traverse all within 2hrs Draws some of Chicago visitors going to Michigan -- 3 hours away
Do I expect top see brakes on ST? No. The CF guys were there a couple of days ago, and seemed impressed. I've talked to Larry, actually, for a couple of minutes, and he seemed impressed w/ the ride, too.
I want to know if my MIAdv pass (or employee tag) will get me into CP this year. =)
Those comments from Richard Kinkel (CP captain) kinda made me sick to my stomach. It was purely about money and stock... I know that no matter how you look at it, it's business, but it makes me sick. All that concrete too! It's a brainwash scheme to a point (as is the employee training at CP, as well as it works ). Thank God for parks like Holiday World and Kennywood. It's supposed to be fun, not cost you an arm and a leg for a soda!
The press release is a corporate release intended for Wall Street. What did you expect it to say? Keep in mind that Cedar Fair is in it to make money, but they understand that the best way to do that is maintain their "four cornerstones:" safety, courtesy, cleanliness and service. Kinzel said this in the interview we had with him:
"We try to make our guests have the best experience of their summers at our parks, and we try to instill in our employees that our guests are the most important things we have, and they’re to be treated as if this was the best day of their summer. They’re number one. If we don’t have our guests, we won’t have our business. That culture that we’ve been taught, and that we’ve taught to the future Cedar Fair management will continue."
Michigan's Adventure is in good hands.
------------- Jeff Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com
So, how much land does M. A. have? 
250 acres. Read the press release. 
I predict the first thing CF will want to do is give MA the same look as the other parks. I would think 2002 will bring a Camp Snoopy, Coasters restaurant, and a new coaster. While I'm sure we'd like it to be the hyper the previous owner has mentioned I'd suspect we'd see something smaller first, like a Boomerang. 