Park People
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safety and ride reliability practices. We think we are great today; I am sure we will be even better tomorrow. Working with IAAPA and with open dialogue with other industry players, we hope to play some small role in challenging continuous improvement in this area. The second is innovation. I would hope that we could serve as a catalyst for innovation across all aspects of our business, and that this innovation would serve to insure the vibrancy of the industry for a long time to come.
How important is if to you that each of the Cedar Fair parks retain their own names and identities?
One of our strengths is that we are less “corporate.” Unique park names and identities are important. We have great park loyalty in each of our markets and we need to respect the memories that have been created over decades.
Will we ever see Cedar Fair expand overseas? Unlikely.
What will be the bigger challenge in the years to come – growing attendance or per-cap spending? They both are challenging, but both are achievable if you continue to deliver an experience that guests enjoy. I am grateful to say the industry has advanced to the point where we no longer chase attendance at all cost. Cheap attendance is a poor strategy – it really doesn’t help the bottom line and it makes for a poorer experience for all.
The Cedar Fair empire Cedar Fair traces its roots to Cedar Point (pictured) which opened in 1870 as a recreational area in Sandusky, Ohio. The park developed over the years, going through only a few management changes. In 1977 the Cedar Point Pleasure Company acquired Valleyfair in Shakopee, Minnesota. The name Cedar Fair then was derived from the names of both parks and the new company founded in 1983, listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 1987, where it trades as FUN. “The best amusement park in the world,” Cedar
Point remains the groups flagship property, where its headquarters are based. The company also owns and operates a further 10 parks in the USA and Canada, including three outdoor waterparks, one indoor waterpark, as well as five hotels. The portfolio includes Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Orange County outside Los Angeles, California; King’s Island near Cincinnati, Ohio; Canada’s Wonderland outside Toronto; King’s Dominion near Richmond, Virginia; Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina; Great America in Clara, California; Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania; Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun in Kansas City, Missouri; Michigan’s Adventure near the city of Muskegon; Wildwater Kingdom near Cleveland, Ohio; plus the Soak City waterpark and Castaway Bay hotel waterpark resort adjacent to Cedar Point. Cedar Fair also manages Gilroy Gardens under contract with the city of Gilroy, California.
cedarfair.com
Asian Attractions Expo, Beijing, 2014 June 18-20, Booth 335
MARCH 2014
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