https://www.hfecorp.com/whats-new/herschend-to-acquire-palace-entertainments-us-attractions-from-parques-reunidos/
HFEC just got a lot bigger. Now they will have Kennywood, Lake Compounce, and Dutch Wonderland.
I am stoked. I worry about them getting too big and corporate, but at the same time they have to grow to survive. This will make the chain a lot stronger, especially once they bring Kennywood and Lake Compounce up to the HFEC standard. As long as HFEC stays privately owned, they can still operate in a much better way than Six Flags by investing in things for the long term rather than worrying about quarter to quarter results.
The purchase also included Adventureland in Altoona (by Des Moines). Palace Entertainment had just bought it from the original owners a couple of years ago and made a bunch of changes.
The purchase has officially been completed.
https://www.hfecorp.com/whats-new/herschend-completes-acquisition-of-palace-entertainments-us-attractions/
R.I.P. to the wooden coasters. I doubt they will keep them to spec and will eventually replace them sooner than later.