Family-owned parks surviving the downturn

It probobly helped the smaller family owned parks that many families canceled large vacation plans and didn't travel as much. So, instead of going away more people stayed local.

I am having trouble following this article. First off, I would take any credibility from the University of Pennsylvania. I am quite certain that guy has never worked a day in his life at a park.

What are the 'Great Adventure Parks'? Some simple research would have given accuracy. It could have read "Six Flags, Inc, operator of New Jersey's Six Flags Great Adventure, the largest theme park in the nation-wide chain, filed for Chapter 11."

Morey's Piers do not have 'older bumper cars and a carousel', unless those rides built in the 1980's count as such. By the way, the 2 sets of bumper cars and 2 double decker carousels at Morey's are in very good condition, and quite impressive.

What three parks closed due to 'family issues'? Kiddieland, well they just retired, and what are the other two? That park in Atlantic Beach, NC, was barely a park, I can't recall any amusement area closing in New Jersey since a small family park closed in Sea Isle City in 1996. It was in less then stellar condition at best. Sea Isle did not lease back any land, they created a developed piece of land from landfill and cleanups on the bay. Not ocean front where the last park was.

Maybe its me, but the NY Times never impresses.

I thought the marketing guy from Lagoon would have known that Elitch's isn't Six Flags anymore.

Great Adventure parks, as in, amusement park and zoo thing? Kiddieland was a family issue. The operating family wanted to keep it, the owning family wanted to sell it. Furthermore, the reporter is quoting a source, not making stuff up on his own.

Some of the article I agree with, other parts I don't. I think it's pretty simplistic to say that family owned parks can get by because the whole family will work for the summer and forego compensation and bonuses. Even the smallest parks employ hundreds of people, who aren't part of the owners' family and have to be paid. The article makes it sound like Jim Bob and Mary Ellen do everything from maintain the rides to grill hot dogs and work the whack-a-mole stand.