originally posted on 7/8/2022 1:51:00 AM
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
A news release distributed on June 28 caught the public and
enthusiasts off-guard. Cedar Fair announced that it sold the land upon which
California’s Great America (Santa Clara) resides. It will continue to lease the
land for a period of up to 11 years. This was the routine for four decades when
the park had to lease the land from the city. Cedar Fair acquired the land in
2019 but now is selling it off for a nice price: $310 million.
Which leaves California and park fans to say, “Now what?”
Well, details weren’t offered, but it was stated that the
corporation would close park operations at the end of the lease term. While
park fans can take comfort in the fact that California’s Great America will
still be around for another decade (hopefully), eventually that day will
come. When it does, California’s Great America will be no more.
There’s not a big silver lining here, but at least
enthusiasts have a decade to get to the park, unlike the harsh closure of
Geauga Lake (Aurora, Ohio) in 2007, when citizens found out overnight.
AstroWorld’s closure in 2006 allowed Houston residents only a month to enjoy
the park one last time.
But that’s about it.
Railblazer.
Photo: Tom Zeliff. View full-sized image.
Gold Striker.
Photo: Jonathan Hymes. View full-sized image.
The official statement reads: “Cedar Fair intends to use
proceeds from the land sale transaction to accelerate progress on its strategic
priorities of reducing debt to achieve its $2 billion target, investing in
high-return projects within its portfolio such as upgrading resort properties
and reinstating a sustainable unitholder distribution.”
While that sounds like a dollars-and-sense business maneuver
to benefit Cedar Fair and its stockholders, it leaves families and children in
the area to look on and only remember what once was. The loss of a park affects
a community.
Flight Deck.
Photos: Curt Schimmel. View full-sized image.
Patriot.
View full-sized image.
Currently the park owns nine coasters. If one were to take a
guess, that might be the end of the list. Anything added to the park at this
point would have to be very portable, so new coasters may not be happening at
Great America for the next 10 years. Of those nine coasters, two are wood and are
unlikely to be relocated elsewhere. Others might. Two Bolliger & Mabillard
coasters, while short, could find new homes in the chain’s lesser-population
locations. Other steel coasters could relocate as well. However, it is
inevitable that some rides will be lost forever.
ACEers will have a long time to process this loss, off in
the distance as it is. It does make the recently announced Coaster Con 46 in
Northern California in 2024 all the more relevant.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
Photo: Jill Ryan. View full-sized image.
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