Cedar Point GM John Hildebrandt retiring

Posted | Contributed by Jeff

[Ed. note: The following is an excerpt of a press release. -J]

Cedar Fair (NYSE: FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and active entertainment, today announced that H. John Hildebrandt, Vice President and General Manager of Cedar Point, will retire at the end of 2013. He will be succeeded by Jason McClure, Vice President and General Manager of Dorney Park.

“I would like to thank John for his 40 years of service and extensive contributions to Cedar Fair,” said Richard Zimmerman, Chief Operating Officer of Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. “John has helped to grow Cedar Point from a one park, one hotel, one marina operation, to the ‘Best Amusement Park in the World’ with a separately-gated water park, four hotels, two marinas, cottages and luxury campgrounds. He has directed the marketing campaigns for Cedar Point’s most iconic rides including Magnum, Raptor, Mean Streak, Mantis, Millennium Force, and Top Thrill Dragster. Throughout his career, John has led by example, emphasizing the Cedar Fair cornerstones and ensuring that each guest has a ‘Best-Day-of-Summer’ experience, each and every time they visited a Cedar Fair park. We will miss John and we wish him a happy and healthy retirement.”

John began his career with Cedar Point as a seasonal employee in Rides in 1969. He joined the Company full-time in February 1974 as a staff writer in the Marketing Department and went on to serve in various marketing and leadership roles including, Communications Manager, Marketing Manager, Director of Marketing and Vice President of Marketing.

In 2004, John was given the opportunity to move to Allentown, Pennsylvania as Vice President and General Manager of Cedar Fair’s Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. He returned to Cedar Point as Vice President and General Manager just prior to the 2005 operating season and has remained in this role for the past eight years.

Jason McClure, Vice President and General Manager of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, will succeed Hildebrandt upon his retirement and Michael Fehnel, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, will be promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Dorney Park.

McClure has more than 10 years of experience with Cedar Fair. Prior to his promotion to Vice President and General Manager of Dorney Park in 2008, Jason served as the Vice President of Finance at Kings Island from 2004 to 2008, and as Vice President of Finance at Carowinds from 2001 to 2004. Prior to joining Cedar Fair, Jason was a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young.

Fehnel has more than 20 years of experience with Cedar Fair and its Dorney Park amusement park. He began his career as a seasonal employee within the Games Department and has served in a variety of leadership roles throughout Games, Merchandise and Foods before being promoted to Vice President and Assistant General Manager in 2013.