Parks that could be defunct within five to ten years....

[cathyJ]

Over the years I have heard that Huntington, West Virginia's Camden Park is in "trouble over money woes" and may be gone soon. So far that hasn't happened even though I do remember hearing on the radio ( West Virginia Metronews network ) several years back that the park tore down their Thunderbolt Express coaster because the park simply didn't have the funds to fix it. What are the odds this park may be history say within the next five years?

 

Then there is DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Pennsylvania. A few years back they bought the Revolution corkscrew coaster from the defunct Libertyland in Memphis. As of yet that coaster never was built at DelGrosso's and according to RCDB, that site shows pics of the coaster lying around in pieces from 2006. Anyone know the reason why this coaster hasn't been built yet? Like Camden Park, I have heard "rumors" that this park in having money issues as well. However according to some of my firends who live in Altoona, PA they tell me the park is doing quite well however they don't know what the park never did build that coaster they got from Libertyland. Hopefully this isn't a sign of "trouble".

 

Are there any parks out there you think will be defunct within the next ten years? Or will Astroland be the last of parks we will hear going defunct for awhile?

[okinawaboy11]

Uhhh ding ding ding!

 

HRP

[astroworldfan1]

I think that Revolution was welded instead of bolted together. That may have caused problems.

 

I say Six Flags America. I hope I don't start an argument!

 

Uhhh ding ding ding!

 

HRP

 

I wouldn't even give it that long!

 

-Tatum

[YoshiFan]

Hard Rock Park was the first one that I thought of when I read the thread title. Also any of the sea shore parks in NJ since a lot of those areas are running out of room to build.

[winningfreak]

Thats though to say, look at a park like Six Flags Astroworld before it closed it was doing quite well but the management needed to look good to keep stock holders and they where not making money as a chain so one can assume because it was located in Houston (Between Dallas, SFOT and San Antonio, SFFT,) they could do away with this park and work on other parks... Whats to stop Cedar Fair from doing the same? I can see something like Vally Fair being sold or maybe KBF witch did not have a very good summer compared to its past before CF bought it... I think any of the smaller parks are at risk also because of the way the economy is right now. Its very slow for amusement parks and people wont have money to spend for sometime because of many factors in the world right now...

 

on the other hand:

 

Parks I think are safe:

Cedar Point

Six Flags Magic Mountain

The Disney parks

Six Flags Great Adventure

Holiday world

and many other chain parks, I think small parks are going to have a rough time over the next few seasons...

[okinawaboy11]

I can definitely see SFA going down soon. Summer week days all the rides are walk-ons. Even summer weekends ride lines never reach past 15 minutes. (With the exception of Batwing)

[winningfreak]

But just because there are not many people there dosent mean the park is not making money, They could be selling alot of food/merchandise to make up for slow attendance

[astroworldfan1]

^ Um, who is going to buy the food if no one is there? How can a park operate if people aren't in the park? People in the park = money, no people in park = no money.

 

-Tatun "I don't see where you got that idea from"

[RCFreak]

I definitely have to say Six Flags New Orleans... oh wait...

[spaceace12]

SFNO (or Legacy Amusement Park)(yes a park that might not even open (Tatum, lets not argue this and save it for the other thread))

HRP

Indiana Beach

[ElToroExtreme]

Clementon Lake Park- Its got 1 coaster and like 7 flats left!

Six Flags America- You can just tell Six Flags doesen't care about this park!

 

And on a REALLY sad note:

Hard Rock Park- I think it has big potential, but was built at the wrong time making it tough to survive!

[cathyJ]

And on a REALLY sad note:

Hard Rock Park- I think it has big potential, but was built at the wrong time making it tough to survive!

 

The funny thing is if and when HRP closes for good a lot of people will put the blame on rock music ( and put in the "good morals" and "America has turned conservative " factors ) as to why HRP closed nevermind the economy and other issues which could doom a park.

 

Exact same thing with Opryland. When that park closed to make way for Opry Mills Mall ( or whatever its called ) a lot of people ( mainly those folks way outside of Nashville ) put the blame on the fading country music scene of the late 90's as to why Opryland closed. At the time that park closed those pop music boy bands were popular, many radio stations were dumping country in favor of something else, and even Garth Brooks who had left his wife for Trisha Yearwood ( at the time a big country music scandal ).

 

So there you go...Garth Brooks is to be blamed for the closing of Opryland !!! Its soooooo funny at how many people would actually believe that.

[WillMontu]

Geauga Lake's waterpark (the waterpark has nothing special, and CF already closed the ride side)

Walygator in France (the place was run down and empty when TPR visited)

Six Flags America (what a dump)

Cypress Gardens (been struggling for years now)

Kentucky Kingdom (they closed off an entire section)

[larrygator]

Clementon Lake Park- Its got 1 coaster and like 7 flats left!

 

Clementon survives on their waterpark alone.

 

When the park was sold, it was listed at $15 Million, with a profit of $1 Million per year. An average profit margin for a small business.

[GoodOleComet]

Sadly there isn't much around me with Lincoln Park and Rocky Point gone. The only park I have left to go to is Six Flags New England and Canobie Lake.

 

The economy is really hurting everything. People don't want to travel anymore or spend alot of money.

 

I am really bummed about Astroland. I've always wanted to go there!

[sam06pr]

Geauga Lake's waterpark (the waterpark has nothing special, and CF already closed the ride side)

Walygator in France (the place was run down and empty when TPR visited)

Six Flags America (what a dump)

Cypress Gardens (been struggling for years now)

Kentucky Kingdom (they closed off an entire section)

 

CP has been having trouble forever. I think it knows how to survive. Its like a roach without its head! lol. it never seems to close

[Olsor]

No one's mentioned California's Great America yet?

 

I think the economy is a convenient scapegoat, but I think a lot of the industry's problems are rooted in what it did in the '90s. We saw unprecedented growth at a number of parks, and there didn't seem to be any consideration at the time as to whether any of those parks (even the big ones) could sustain that growth. There was definitely a belief in quantity over quality. On one hand, Premier/Six Flags throws a bunch of rides into Geauga Lake and thinks it can suddenly compete with Cedar Point, and on the other, you have places like Busch Gardens adding rides slowly and strategically.

 

We shouldn't be too surprised that a lot of smaller, independent parks have been closing. They can't compete with the major parks anymore in terms of attractions. They can have charm out the wazoo, but charm doesn't pay the bills. That's why it's extra impressive to see a place like Holiday World thriving.

 

If Hard Rock Park ends up failing, I might attribute it to horribly bad timing. First of all, the Hard Rock brand ain't what it used to be, the Vegas casino being an exception. I don't know if the Myrtle Beach park has broad appeal with rides named after Led Zeppelin and The Eagles. I mean, I appreciate it, but I doubt many teenagers do, and that's a big part of the demographic they're going after. But they also built an almost IOA-quality park at a location that's not nearly as popular as Orlando. It was too much up front. They could have started with something more modest and built up.

 

The parks I would worry about now are the ones that aren't adding anything and haven't been adding anything for a while, which means SFA could be in trouble. It has an AstroWorld-esque record of not adding anything new for a long period of time, as well as a reputation for less-than-stellar operation. When you give the locals little reason to visit year after year, they eventually stop coming. With BGE, KD, HP, and SFGADv all within driving distance, the locals might have already given up on SFA.

[astroworldfan1]

Well since The Bush Parks have been sold to InBev, maybe the Bush parks won't be open in five to ten years.

 

I also have to say Wild Adventures.

 

-Tatum

[coastercrazy216]

^ I disagree because those parks are some of the greatest. If anything they will be sold to different companies.

[SFAfan#1]

Even summer weekends ride lines never reach past 15 minutes. (With the exception of Batwing)

 

Wrong. Last time I was at the park on a August Saturday, Superman's line was about 30 minutes, Jokers line was about 30-45 minutes, and surprisingly, Mind Eraser's line was 50 minutes, all lines coming out of stations. Wild One and Roar were walk-ons as usual. I sadly agree that SFA probably won't be around in the next 5-10 years but I know its safe for atleast 3 more years. SFA hasn't seen major changes in a while, but has improved some minor things like; new employee lounge, new trams/tram lane, new slide, new speakers, new security cameras, and upgrades to the Gotham Arena. Nobody realizes these changes unless your a SFA park employee (like me )

[TheBannedKid]

SFA hasn't seen major changes in a while, but has improved some minor things like; new employee lounge, new trams/tram lane, new slide, new speakers, new security cameras, and upgrades to the Gotham Arena. Nobody realizes these changes unless your a SFA park employee (like me )

You just proved why SFA isn't doing well. If employees and guests that go to the park often are the only one's that notice a difference then there isn't much changing. I don't think the park can depend on these people.

 

I wish Knott's Berry Farm would go under, but that's just a wish.

[Sticky Nicky]

I can see something like Vally Fair being sold or maybe KBF witch did not have a very good summer compared to its past before CF bought it.

 

Valleyfair (judging by my view) has had one of the if not the greatest season this year in terms of attendance and in-park spending. From my 12 visits so far this summer, I have seen rides running to full capacity that I have not seen in recent years (i.e. Wild Thing running 3 trains, Corkscrew and High Roller running two trains most of the time) and a lot more people are in line spending money for food. The Halloween Haunt is also extended for two extra weekends this year.

 

I honestly don't think Valleyfair will be closing or sold anytime soon.

[okinawaboy11]

Even summer weekends ride lines never reach past 15 minutes. (With the exception of Batwing)

 

Wrong. Last time I was at the park on a August Saturday, Superman's line was about 30 minutes, Jokers line was about 30-45 minutes, and surprisingly, Mind Eraser's line was 50 minutes, all lines coming out of stations. Wild One and Roar were walk-ons as usual. I sadly agree that SFA probably won't be around in the next 5-10 years but I know its safe for atleast 3 more years. SFA hasn't seen major changes in a while, but has improved some minor things like; new employee lounge, new trams/tram lane, new slide, new speakers, new security cameras, and upgrades to the Gotham Arena. Nobody realizes these changes unless your a SFA park employee (like me )

 

 

Oh? Well excuse me. Sorry.

 

It's just the 5 or 6 weekend days I visited this year the park was still not as crowded compared to SFGAdv, SFGAm, KD, or HP. I hardly see how this park makes a profit.

[The Alex]

SFNO/Legend City might not even be open, so we can count it out. Even if Danny gets it up, I'll be shocked if they make it through the economy fall.

 

SFA - all reasons have been listed.

 

Six Flags Discovery World - It's a nice park, but I can see it going. Along with SFFT. Call me crazy, but I think that when there are two SFI parks in one state, the economy (along with SF's debt) will kill on of them off.

 

Definitely smaller, independent parks. HRP is a given, we don't need to go there at all. It's almost like Jazzland 2.0, in the way that it's debut season has been lackluster - something they may not be able to fix. Ever.

[SFAfan#1]

SFA hasn't seen major changes in a while, but has improved some minor things like; new employee lounge, new trams/tram lane, new slide, new speakers, new security cameras, and upgrades to the Gotham Arena. Nobody realizes these changes unless your a SFA park employee (like me )

You just proved why SFA isn't doing well. If employees and guests that go to the park often are the only one's that notice a difference then there isn't much changing. I don't think the park can depend on these people.

 

The point I was actually trying to get across was that you would only noticed those changes if you've been to the park many times before they got these upgrades. Most all parks have security cameras and speakers so you wouldn't think that the speakers or cameras are new/replaced at SFA.