Has Cedar Fair purchased six flags parks?

I was talking with a co-worker today about amusement parks, because she has plans to visit New Jersey over the weekend. I suggested that she should visit the Six Flags over there, and she told me that she heard something on the news that Cedar fair was going to purchase the park? Along with La Ronde park in Montreal, and, several other Six Flags parks.

I'm thinking that she my have La ronde confused with Canadas wonderland. But, since she is not a big park fan I can't think of any reason to doubt what she is saying. Unless she has mistaken Paramount for six flags...I don't know.

But, she was pretty sure that La Ronde was being purchased by Cedar fair, and Great adventure. So, I thought I would pass it on, and get some info.

Ain't gonna happen until the new acquisitions finish paying for themselves.

That's what everyone thought after the GL purchase and then they buy the whole Paramount chain. Anything can happen in this industry. Do I believe it will? No, at least not right away (meaning 5-10yrs).

I think it would be really stupid of Cedar Fair to purchase any more parks right now since they just recently acquired Paramount Parks, and Cedar Fair mangagement doesn't seem like the type to make dumb decisions. *** Edited 7/7/2006 12:26:38 AM UTC by Avaro***

Like the rest, I can't imagine it happening right now - but if it should, I'd be confident that CF knows exactly what it's doing and has a coherent plan.

No matter how risky it might be, it would still make any park CF bought more stable than it is now.

Cedar Fair buying GL is the only one I know off.
I would not be surprised if they aquired more 6F parks over time.

Maybe 6F is hoping CF buys SFMM. (just a thought)

Hey, I gotta eat my words when I said no way CF could buy the whole Paramount chain.

Chuck, eating crow but doesn't see a SF purchase, Maybe a couple parks but not the chain.

Six Flags would never ever sell Great Adventure.

That would be like Cedar Fair selling Cedar Point.

Great Adventure has the land and the potential to be a great park. A lot better then it is now.

Shapiro sees this. They would not have moved the headquaters so close to it

I think its just a bogus rumor

I also said CF wouldn't try to buy the entire Paramount chain...then they did!

Cedar Fair always SEEMED to run under the "slow, but steady" growth model. I'm not getting burned again, they could do ANYTHING! ;)

Seriously, though, after the Ohio thing with GL, I can't say they (CF) WON'T buy SFMM. Then again, given their *experience* with GL, maybe they'll take a "pass" on SFMM (since reputations are hard to shake). I know I would, and I love parks....while they're just a business.

CF could purchase parks like SFEG or SFDL since they would sell for little money!

^ SFDL perhaps....

SFEG, I already booked my trip to Denver, I am *THAT* convinced that park is going to developers... :-/

Sounds like she's confusing Great America with Great Adventure, and the two big Canadian parks.

I see Cedar Fair's home page has been updated again, and the Paramount name is back in front of all the newly acquired parks. No sign of Great Adventure or Magic Mountain. :)

I didn't understand how Six Flags managed to go on their insane rampage of park purchases, anymore than I understand how Cedar Fair is managing the purchase of Paramount Parks, let alone Six Flags parks. I mean its one thing for multi-billion dollar corporations like GE or Time Warner. But Six Flags didn't have all this cash lying around to purchase these parks, anymore than Cedar Fair does now.

How do these companies barrow billions that they don't have to purchase these parks? And how does Cedar Fair hope to avoid to financial pitfalls Six Flags fell into? I just don't get it. *** Edited 7/7/2006 6:48:16 PM UTC by rc-madness***

Why would they buy any Six Flags Park except SFGAm (which is the only one with a CF "aura" at all) after buying the Paramount chain? That makes no sense. She was confused with Paramount. Anything can happen with Cedar Fair, but this rumor has gone around for a long time. I can see it happening, but, in time.

This is story is a rumor and I wouldn't put give it much weight. For one thing, Six Flags owns only the La Ronde attractions, but the land is leased from the City of Montreal. SF is selling parks with huge tracts of undeveloped land to pay down debt.

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rollergator said:

SFEG, I already booked my trip to Denver, I am *THAT* convinced that park is going to developers... :-/

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Just don't forget about Lakeside. It's everything SFEG isn't.

^ HIGHLY unlikely. Lakeside is the last of the "Great Old Amusement Parks" from the old PBS series....been making sure to get to all of those.

The one in N. America I never got? Whalom.... :(