Sk610

Yes Lance has not been as good about reporting news in recent years as this is something we all knew about a few weeks ago. I do not think that CNL will be in a hurry to sell any parks just to sell them. They have investors that they have to make sure they are getting the best price. I would expect the park to be sold in the middle of the operating season or at the end of 2015 operating season most likely. That is when the value of the park would be highest

^ You are 100% correct the CNL has to pony up the money first, and that may be a tall task. But don't forget that some new flats could easily still be added to the park for next year. They don't take long to install, so its still a possibility. The park didn't announce Rowdy's Ridge until like February and had those 3 new flats in the park and ready by opening day. It can easily still be done for 2015

I have to say that I am not surprised that Premeir is running their parks well. First off, they are parks they already owned and operated once, and did so very well. second, I think they know how to operate a good park, just not on a large scale. I thought they did great in their first run with DL, but once they bought SF they had too many parks to operate and got in over their heads. As i have said previously, I fully expect some type of coaster at DL next year. That is how premeir boosted attendance previously, and they will do the same next year most likely. I do agree that when bids go out HFE most likely will buy DL outright, but in the meantime llet Premeir add a new coaster or two and then buy the park and turn it into the HFE vision they had for it in the first place

I do think Premeir wants to get back into park ownership, and managing a few for CNL may give them an inside track when CNL goes to sell. Seeing as Kieran Burke is still in charge, much like he was when the original Premier owned DL, I am very interested to see their additions they have made to their parks. Also, does anyone know how the new additions go? Does the management group get a budget? Does CNL have to approve of the ride? Does CNL just make the additions to the park and tell the management group to do something with what we are putting in? Lastly, I hope a new owner continues to theme the park as they started. I also hope they expand the Boardwalk area over to Predator as what goes better with an area that is supposed to be out of the 50's than a wooden coaster. All it would take is some concrete in the walkway and to finish off the area around lasso to match that around blast off and the giant wheel

I think we all pretty much knew Premier was coming in to manage DL. My bigger concern is how are they doing at EG and the other parks they are managing for CNL? I know that with CNL holding the pocketbook, it is tough, but did they make good investments into the park? HFE did alot with a litle when they built Rowdy's Ridge and Boardwalk. Which parks other than EG is Premier managing for CNL? Do we know what they added to those parks since taking over management?

In changing the topic a bit, does anyone know what happens with any future ideas for the park when they change ownership/management? I distinctly recall SF saying at one point that the had at least 4 coasters designed for the park already,it was just a matter of time and money. I am sure HFE had plans and drawinfgs for future attractions and things they wanted to add to the park over time. Do we think those things have been passed down to new ownership/management? I do understand that each company invested money into those projects, but could sell them off to new owners for a fee. Its like buying a house and negotiating the appliances in. It would at least keep some synergy to the park and make it not look like three different companies with three differnt visions ran it, which is exactly where it looks like we will be in the coming years.

^exactly right. CNL isn't going to do anything for anyone but themselves at this point. The reason the website may not have changed can be two things. First maybe Premeir wants to change the site and are building one in the background and are keeping this one up until the new one is ready to go live. Second, that site may be contracted to HFE and DL doesnt have authority to make changes...once again calling for a new site to be built. On a similar note, I really think DL has a great website, and hope it does not change. It is a very professional site, and really tells the DL story well.

So I was thinking about this and wanted to get opinions...does anyine think CNL may have actually ended the relationship with HFE as opposed to HFE backing out? i ask this cuz at the begining of the year HFE came in with a number of guarantee promises and didn't deliver on all. I am pretty sure one talked about two train operation if the lines got long, and they never did deliver. In the end, they ended up giving away free return tickets, and hence costing money at the gates. On similar lines, does anyone know the status of some of the second trains? Will premier have to buy ROS and ME brand new second trains? If they do, I sure hope ME gets the new restraints that are supposed to be more comfortable and have less headbanging.

Please done ever say never as that is pretty strong and there are always chances of just about anything happening. Now the chances of DL closing for good are probably very slim. They get good attendance, and recently have turned the park in a very positive direction. Could new ownership or management change that sure thing. BTW, SF would kinda be buying the park back with Premeir management or ownership. Kieran Burke was the original CEO of Premier Parks and then SF when Premier purchased them. So with him being back in the picture, it is kinda like having the original Premier back. From my point of view, that isn't so bad. Premier made some pretty good additions to the park

So i was just thinking that all of the time that has passed since the park closed, HFE has spent that time packing up to leave. In a normal year, this is a great time to get some projects like painting and any prep work for projects in the spring to happen. This is especially true for land prep. Also, it would be a good time to remove Ranger if needed. Now Ranger is going to get dumped onto Premier and will probably be SBNO next year again. In a normal year, they could remove it and maybe even prepare the site for something new next year. I just want some continuity for the park for an extended period of time. I dont care who manages/runs/owns the park, just some extended continuity with a vision in the future. SF told us that they had 4-6 coasters actually designed for the park, but they didn't stick around long enough to build any of them. Does the park still have those plans? I highly doubt it. HFE looked like they had some good momentum and good vision for the park, but again didn't stay long enough to expand on their park overhaul. Even back when Premier originally owned the park...they looked to have some good things going on, and then bought out Six Flags and left one of the parks that got them the capital to buy SF to basically rot away. I hope that when CNL sells whoever they sell to, HFE or Premier, stays a long time and makes something great of the park. HFE will nost likely turn it into another SDC or Dollywood with great themeing and a mix of family and thrills. Premier will try to add coasters, but will most likely add cheap cookie cutter coasters much like they did with ME and Boomerang previously. Which is best? Only time will tell

Yes, the bathrooms actually say alot about the business in many cases. I know I have actualyy left local businesses to not return after going into a bathroom that looked like it came out of a gas station in the middle of nowhere. Will upgraded bathrooms bring in new customers, no. Will they keep customers? Sure Personally a new ride or slide along with some of those behind the scenes upgrades would work best

It doesnt mean HFE will not own the park in the future. All it says is that they couldn't come to a deal both liked. HFE could, and probably will put in a bid when CNL sells the park. I am sure they liked DL as they chose to stick on managing it past their other agreements. On the flip side, I am sure they won't overpay for the park either. It's just not good business.

^^ I am pretty sure that post by DougMJr answers all of your questions. He probably works at the park, hence the use of the term "our customers" So park employees do look at these threads, as I think most of us already knew. Way back when it wasmat amusementgraffix, on employee even got terminated for saying something on a forum like this. With all of that, does the park GM and other higher ups look here? Who knows?? Maybe they do and maybe they dont. Maybe the park social media person trolls these forums to see what the talk is about. Either way, don't flood the park with useless things. I am sure once everything on the back end gets worked out, they will tell us. Also, purely speculation, but it could be possible that if there were to be a management change, they coul be waiting on that announcement to make the capital expenditures announcement as well. I still beleive that the park can easily add rides for next year, just not a major coaster, but a small one could surely happen

Golddisk makes a very good point. I can go and anonymously change the wiki page for the buffalo sabres to say that i own them. That is one of the biggest downfalls to wikipedia. As far as the management change, we will just have to keep our eyes out for any subtle hints in the management changes. I am thinking about things like taking the season pass page no longer talking about discounts at other HFE properties and other things that would indicate HFE management is no longer in place.

I would think that the Lake Monster project is dead for now at least. Who knows what next year holds though.... I would like to point out a few positives to all of this...Premier ownership were people that came from Six Flags. Back in the day, the original Premier ran this park and ran it very well before buying out Six Flags and getting in over their heads. Who here remembers the four straight years with coaster additions in the 90's? My point is that these people know the park and know how to manage it. Secondly, Premier may want to look good to CNL if they have hopes of buying the park eventually. With that in mind, they may try to do something very quickly to generate attendance. Is there time to add a coaster to the park still? Maybe...as long as they can get footers poured before the freeze happens. Even after it can happen, it just costs more. Even if no new coaster, could they add a thrilling flat ride or two to try to increase attendance? Sure. And don't forget about the waterpark. The old premier used to put in a coaster and something in the waterpark each year. I think of they have the capital and follow the same plan, they should be fine Lastly, if they are from the old premier an Six Flags, they will most likely be putting a focus on thrill rides and coasters. I know the big knock on HFE is that they are too family oriented and are just not Disney. Maybe in a few years when DL has three more costers in four years and some waterslides, we may be singing a different tune. I still think HFE is the best option as I would like to se DL with actual themed areas like they are getting and a great variety of rides, but it may not be as bad as some may think

Yes CNL may just quietly sell DL to HFE, but in reality the park will be put up for sale. The reality may be that there is only one option but it will be put up for sale. I still stick to previous statements to say that HFE ownership will be the best thing for the park in the long run. On the flip side with the park up for sale possibly, I would not expect CNL to be investing heavily in the park...meaning no new rides next year. The best thing would be to have the sale to HFE now, so at least they could get a new flat in place for next year at least.

Really? they just closed for the year and they already are giving a countdown until opening day next year? Maybe if they gave us something good to look forward to next year I would be excited for opening day next year. Until then I will be there next year, just not opening weekend unless something major. Hanges between now and then

Yes, thanks for doing those as they are very cool. My only ask is to not do red as we already have two red coasters and need to change those very bad. I thought the purple on viper looked awesome. I am thinking one of the current red coaster should turn blue. On a similar note, you should rent out your services to parks to show them what their coasters would look like after being painted. If you charged $100 per picture, and each coaster took 5-10 pictures to make a decision you could make some decent extra money

I think people need to recognize feelings and such. It wasnt all that long ago that someone in this forum thread regularly was banned for a period of time. This is a forum to express freely and openly for discussion. That should be no matter how many times spinning coasters or slides to replace cuda falls are mentioned. To be perfectly honest, sine removing cuda falls, the park definately needs new slides. I just dont expect them to go in the same spot where cuda falls was. And if a spinning coaster would fit in the galaxy theater it would probably make for a pretty cool ride. Does darienlaker mention it alot? Yes, but they have a right to freely express their opinion here without being criticized or made fun of

So i was looking online earlier today at the season pass sale they have going on and noticed something very interesting that may answer some of our questions. I think in years past, one of the perks associated with buying a season pass is discounts at other HFE properties. The current list of benefits mentions nothing of thiis benefit. Maybe HFE is pulling out, maybe they are still working out a sale or management agreement for next year still. Either way, i found it very interesting that that was left off

While i do agree that this is a prime spot for a new flat ride, and as you travel down that path towards rt 77 there is nothing but open space where you could build just about anything you want, i do think that there are a few holes inside the park that should get filled first. The old UFO spot is open and should get filled. I expect to see ranger removed and that spot will need filling. If they chose to get creative the could try to put a ride or two inside viper, especially where the old mini golf was

And that is 100% trues as well. The only difference is that wild adventures never really had shade when it was originally built, and unfortunately trees take a very long time to grow to create that natural shade areas. DL is much more of a mature park than what wild adventures was when HFE bought them. As with everything, is the grass greener on the other side? sometimes yes, but sometimes its brown as well. Unfortunately you never know until you get there

Yes HFE could have walked away from DL before this year, much like they did to Elitch Gardens. I don't think HFE really saw much potential at EG, and hence never persued ownership of the park after the one or two years managing it. On the other hand HFE may have seen lots of ownership potential at DL, and continued on with their management and persuing of ownership. If CNL is asking way too much for full ownership of the park and HFE doesn't feel the park is worth their asking price, no reason to stick around and manage something you have no chance of ever owning, so jump ship. I truly think that the park has taken a couple of steps forward under HFE management, and I would really love for that management to continue

Yes if HFE does stick around ROS area is severly lacking. All it really has is one coaster and two shops. That area really needs a flat ride or tow and maybe even a restaurant. I am sure that if HFE sticks around, they will know what to do and will do it the right way.

I would like to know where you heard these reports? Do you work at the park and are talking to the GM, or are you talking to the gift shop cashier? If this report is true, that would be very sad though. HFE has done great things at the park. I am very sure they would love to own the park outright, but if CNL is asking too much or is unwilling to sell, the it is smart for HFE to walk away if they have no chance at owning the park in the future