Cedar Fair

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company

Company type	Public
Industry	Amusement parks
Founded	1983
Headquarters	Sandusky , United States
Area served	United States, Canada
Key people	Richard Zimmerman (CEO)
Products	Amusement parks, water parks, resorts
Parent	Six Flags (since July 1, 2024)

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, commonly known as Cedar Fair, was a publicly traded American corporation based at its premier amusement park, Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio. Established in 1983 following Cedar Point's acquisition of Valleyfair, the company's name was derived from these two flagship parks. By 2006, Cedar Fair's holdings encompassed eleven amusement parks, eleven outdoor water parks, and one indoor water park throughout the United States and Canada. The portfolio further expanded in 2019 with the addition of two outdoor water parks through the purchase of Schlitterbahn.

On July 1, 2024, Cedar Fair completed a merger with its longstanding competitor Six Flags, resulting in a combined entity that retained the Six Flags brand. This merger, announced in November 2023 as a union of equals, saw former Cedar Fair executives assume leadership roles alongside two executives from Six Flags. The headquarters for the merged company is now situated in Charlotte, North Carolina, a location formerly associated with Paramount Parks prior to its acquisition by Cedar Fair in 2006. Meanwhile, Sandusky continues to serve as a center for financial and administrative operations.

History

Cedar Point Amusement Park originated in the 1870s as a bathing beach resort, which led to the creation of the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company in 1887 to facilitate commercial development. Following an economic slump during the 1890s, George Arthur Boeckling formed the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company of Indiana and purchased Cedar Point in 1897 for $256,000. This company was later reorganized as the G.A. Boeckling Company.

Throughout Boeckling’s tenure until his death in 1931, the resort experienced significant growth. The G.A. Boeckling Company managed Cedar Point for much of the twentieth century. In 1978, Cedar Point expanded by acquiring Valleyfair, and five years later in 1983, it established the parent entity Cedar Fair Limited Partnership—named after its two main parks. Cedar Fair went public on April 29, 1987, and continued to grow by acquiring additional properties across the United States, thereby increasing its share of the amusement park market.

Dick Kinzel era

The company's initial acquisition under this period was Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in 1992, followed by Worlds of Fun three years later in 1995. A landmark purchase occurred in 1997 with Knott's Berry Farm, marking Cedar Fair’s entrance into year-round park operations. This era also included ownership of Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America, which was divested in 2005. Expansion of water park assets included multiple Knott's Soak City facilities acquired between 1999 and 2001. Additionally, Michigan's Adventure was acquired for $27.6 million in 2001.

In November 2004, Cedar Fair launched Castaway Bay, its first indoor water park aimed at generating revenue throughout all seasons. That same year, it purchased Six Flags Worlds of Adventure (later renamed Geauga Lake) for $145 million from Six Flags and subsequently removed licensed Six Flags branding while closing its zoo section. Geauga Lake operated until 2007; its adjacent water park continued under the name Wildwater Kingdom until closing in 2016.

On May 22, 2006, Cedar Fair successfully outbid rivals to acquire all five parks within the Paramount Parks portfolio—including attractions such as Star Trek: The Experience and management responsibilities for Gilroy Gardens—for $1.24 billion from CBS Corporation. Following this acquisition, the company rebranded as Cedar Fair Entertainment Company while retaining its legal entity name. Paramount-related branding was phased out by early 2007; licensing agreements connected to Paramount properties were ended before the start of the 2008 season to reduce expenses. A licensing partnership with Nickelodeon persisted until just prior to the 2010 season.

In December 2009, Apollo Global Management proposed an $11.50 per share offer—a premium of approximately 28%—to take Cedar Fair private in a transaction valued near $2.4 billion including debt assumption. However, after delays related to shareholder voting processes, this proposal was withdrawn in April 2010; subsequently, Cedar Fair implemented a unitholder rights plan designed to guard against hostile takeover attempts.

In September 2011, JMA Ventures reached an agreement to acquire California's Great America along with management rights for Gilroy Gardens from Cedar Fair but eventually withdrew before receiving regulatory approval.

Matt Ouimet period

On June 20, 2011, Cedar Fair revealed that long-standing CEO Dick Kinzel planned to retire on January 3, 2012, with Matt Ouimet appointed as his successor. Ouimet brought with him 17 years of expertise from The Walt Disney Company, where he held executive positions including president of Disney Cruise Line and the Disneyland Resort. He officially began his tenure as CEO on January 3, 2012. During Ouimet's leadership, Cedar Fair introduced redesigned park websites and launched the Thrills Connect marketing initiative in 2012 to boost customer interaction and strengthen brand visibility.

In an effort to streamline its holdings, Cedar Fair divested Knott's Soak City: San Diego to SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment in November 2012, followed by the sale of Knott's Soak City: Palm Springs to CNL Lifestyle Properties in August 2013. According to a 2013 SEC filing, Cedar Fair’s portfolio consisted of eleven amusement parks, four outdoor water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels, illustrating a diversified operational structure.

On September 5, 2016, Cedar Fair ceased operations at Wildwater Kingdom—the final remaining section of the former Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom—signaling a strategic withdrawal from that location. Portions of the property have since been repurposed to support corporate growth initiatives.

Richard Zimmerman period

On October 4, 2017, Cedar Fair announced CEO Matt Ouimet’s resignation, with COO Richard Zimmerman designated to take over as CEO starting January 1, 2018. Ouimet moved into the role of executive chairman of the board.

On March 27, 2019, Cedar Fair acquired the 112-acre site beneath California's Great America from the City of Santa Clara for $150 million, ending a lease arrangement that cost $6–7 million per year. In April 2019, Cedar Fair collaborated with Feld Entertainment to launch Monster Jam Thunder Alley attractions at selected parks.

In June 2019, Cedar Fair agreed to purchase Schlitterbahn Waterparks' Galveston and New Braunfels locations for $261 million, including an option on the Kansas City park and rights to the Schlitterbahn brand. The following month, it acquired Sawmill Creek Resort near Cedar Point for $13.5 million.

In October 2019, Six Flags proposed a $4 billion acquisition bid for Cedar Fair, which was declined. On July 29, 2021, Cedar Fair submitted plans for a $28 million expansion of an esports arena at its Sandusky Sports Center, aiming for completion in 2023.

The management agreement for Gilroy Gardens concluded on December 31, 2021; both parties mutually decided against renewal. In February 2022, SeaWorld Entertainment presented an unsolicited all-cash offer of $3.4 billion for Cedar Fair; this bid was rejected within two weeks.

In June 2022, Cedar Fair sold the land beneath California's Great America to Prologis for $310 million and entered into an eleven-year leaseback agreement, with intentions to close the park after the lease expires.

On November 2, 2023, Cedar Fair announced a merger with Six Flags to establish a new company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina—the former base of Paramount Parks before its acquisition by Cedar Fair in 2006. Some operational functions will continue in Sandusky, Ohio. The combined entity will operate under the Six Flags brand while retaining Cedar Fair's stock ticker (FUN), managing a total of 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and nine resorts. Richard Zimmerman will assume the role of President and CEO of the merged company; Six Flags CEO Selim Bassoul will become executive chairman. The merger was finalized on July 1, 2024.

Amusement parks

Park Name	Location	Opening Year	Acquisition Year	Number of Roller Coasters	Remarks
California's Great America	Santa Clara, California	1976	2006	9	Operates seasonally; obtained through the Paramount Parks acquisition.
Canada's Wonderland	Vaughan, Ontario, Canada	1981	2006	18	Cedar Fair's highest-attended seasonal park; acquired from Paramount Parks.
Carowinds	Charlotte, North Carolina	1973	2006	14	Included in the Paramount Parks purchase; straddles North and South Carolina.
Cedar Point	Sandusky, Ohio	1870	Original Franchise	17	The chain’s flagship and oldest park; former headquarters location.
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom	Allentown, Pennsylvania	1884	1992	7	First park acquired under Cedar Fair brand for $48 million.
Kings Dominion	Doswell, Virginia	1975	2006	13	Part of the Paramount Parks acquisition.
Kings Island	Mason, Ohio	1972	2006	14	Obtained through the Paramount Parks deal.
Knott's Berry Farm	Buena Park, California	1920	1997	9	Cedar Fair’s most frequented park; purchased from the Knott family.
Michigan's Adventure	Muskegon, Michigan	1956	2001	7	Acquired for $28 million from the Jourden family.
Valleyfair	Shakopee, Minnesota	1976	1978	8	Bought by Cedar Point before Cedar Fair was established in 1987.
Worlds of Fun	Kansas City, Missouri	1973	1995	8	Purchased from Hunt-Midwest for $40 million.

Included with admission

Name	Location / Parent Park	Opening Year (Original)	Acquisition Year / Built By	Notes

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|- ! style="width:170px;" | Carolina Harbor ! Carowinds ! Opened in 1982 as Ocean Island ! Acquired in 2006 ! Located within Carowinds; part of the Paramount Parks acquisition. |- ! style="width:170px;" | Oceans of Fun ! Worlds of Fun ! Established in 1982 ! Purchased in 1995 ! Adjacent to Worlds of Fun; included with admission since 2013. |- ! style="width:170px;" | Soak City (Kings Dominion) ! Kings Dominion ! Debuted in 1992 as Hurricane Reef ! Acquired in 2006 ! Situated inside Kings Dominion; acquired through Paramount Parks deal. |- ! style="width:170px;" | Soak City (Kings Island) ! Kings Island ! Opened in 1989 as WaterWorks ! Acquired in 2006 ! Located within Kings Island; part of the Paramount Parks portfolio. |- ! style="width:170px;" | Soak City (Valleyfair) ! Valleyfair ! Launched in 1983 as Liquid Lightning ! Developed by Cedar Fair ! Found inside Valleyfair. |- ! style="width:170px;" | South Bay Shores ! California's Great America ! Opened in 2004 as Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay ! Acquired in 2006 ! Located within California's Great America; acquired via Paramount Parks purchase. |- ! style="width:170px;" | Splash Works ! Canada's Wonderland ! Established in 1992 ! Acquired in 2006 ! Part of Canada's Wonderland; obtained through Paramount Parks acquisition. |- ! style="width:170px;" | WildWater Adventure ! Michigan's Adventure ! Opened in 1991 ! Acquired in 2001 ! Situated inside Michigan's Adventure. |- ! style="width:170px;" | Wildwater Kingdom ! Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom ! Launched in 1985 ! Acquired in 1992 ! Located within Dorney Park. %}

Separate admission/property

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Indoor

Name	Location	Year Opened	Year Acquired	Notes
Cedar Point Shores	Sandusky, Ohio	Launched in 1988 as Soak City	Developed by Cedar Fair	Positioned next to Cedar Point.
Knott's Soak City	Buena Park, California	Established in 2000 under the name Knotts Soak City USA	Created by Cedar Fair	Located adjacent to Knott's Berry Farm; originally named Soak City U.S.A.
Schlitterbahn Galveston	Galveston, Texas	Opened in 2006	Purchased in 2019
Schlitterbahn New Braunfels	New Braunfels, Texas	Founded in 1979	Acquired in 2019

Name	Location	Year Opened	Notes
Castaway Bay	Sandusky, Ohio	2004	The only indoor water park owned by Cedar Fair, situated near Cedar Point.

Former

Name	Location	Year Opened/Acquired	Year Closed/Sold	Notes
Geauga Lake	Aurora, Ohio	Acquired in 2004 from Six Flags for $145 million	Closed in 2007 (ride side); water park Wildwater Kingdom shuttered in 2016.
Gilroy Gardens	Gilroy, California	Became part of Cedar Fair through Paramount Parks acquisition in 2006	Management ended in 2021
Knott's Camp Snoopy	Mall of America	Opened in 1992	Closed in 2005 for renovations; partnership with Mall of America concluded in 2006.
Knott's Soak City: Palm Springs	Palm Springs, California	Began operation as Oasis Water Park in 2001	Sold to CNL Lifestyle Properties in 2013
Knott's Soak City: San Diego	Chula Vista, California	Initiated as White Water Canyon in 2000	Sold and rebranded by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment in 2012
Star Trek: The Experience	Las Vegas, Nevada	Included through Paramount Parks acquisition in 2006	Closed due to licensing issues in 2008
Wildwater Kingdom	Aurora, Ohio	Launched in 2005 on former SeaWorld Ohio grounds	Closed permanently in 2016

Fast Lane

Introduced at Kings Island in 2011, Fast Lane is a premium queue system designed to improve guest satisfaction and drive additional revenue for Cedar Fair. For an extra charge, guests obtain a wristband that permits quicker access to most rides. Originally available only during afternoon hours, it was later extended to all-day use and rolled out across all Cedar Fair parks by the 2012 season. During Halloween festivities, a similar service called Fright Lane is offered for haunted attractions. Beginning with trials at Valleyfair and Dorney Park in 2016, all-season Fast Lane passes became a standard offering by 2019, reflecting Cedar Fair’s commitment to enhancing premium guest services and fostering business expansion.

See also

• Dick Kinzel, CEO of Cedar Fair (1986–2012)
• Incidents at Cedar Fair parks

External links

• Cedar Fair SEC Filings