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Five Star Parks & Attractions acquires Family Entertainment Centres in Seven States
F
ive Star Parks & Attractions, backed by Fruition Partners, a Denver-based private equity firm, has completed the acquisition of two separate companies that operate family entertainment centres (FEC’s) in a move that significantly expands its offerings throughout the Midwest and southern United States.
The transactions combine a portfolio of five locations from Dubby’s Attractions, an operator in both Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and all five locations of Celebration Station, known for offering food and fun in a family- friendly atmosphere.
Five Star acquired The Track Family Fun Parks, a trio of FEC’s in Branson, last summer, so it now operates 13 locations in seven states. Five Star recently acquired five Dubby’s attractions in two of the country’s leading vacation destinations, including Xtreme Racing Center Branson and Branson Zipline in Branson and Xtreme Racing Center Pigeon Forge, Speed Zone Fun Park and LazerPort Fun Center in Pigeon Forge. The group has also acquired Celebration Station’s five FEC’s in the prime suburban locations
New flower carousel for the Traumland Freizeitpark auf der
Bärenhöhle Art Engineering has delivered an interactive new flower carousel to German park Traumland Freizeitpark auf der Bärenhöhle. The themed ride is available in two
different versions. Using a small watering can attached to the side of each gondola, passengers can direct a spray of water at the flower targets in the middle. With a capacity of 360 visitors per hour,
a diameter of only 9.2 metres and no age or size restrictions, “this ride is the ideal addition to any park,” said Art Engineering.
of Clearwater, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Greensboro, North Carolina; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Mesquite, Texas. John Dunlap, who most recently served as president of SeaWorld and Aquatica in San Diego, is leading the efforts at Five Star Parks & Attractions as the group’s newly appointed CEO. Prior to his time at SeaWorld, Dunlap operated his own consulting firm, led the San Diego Zoo, and managed the legendary Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square.
“Delivering quality experiences so that families can make lasting memories together is at the very heart of what Five Star is all about,” Dunlap said. “I’m delighted that we’ve added these additional assets to our portfolio.”
Jay Coughlon, co-founder and managing partner of Fruition Partners, said, “We’re thrilled about the future of family entertainment and can’t wait to build on the solid record of success that these businesses have achieved.”
“We look forward to combining our experience in operational excellence with the incredible legacies of the family-run attractions we’ve acquired,”
Dunlap added. “We can’t wait to introduce generations of guests to a full gamut of exciting changes.”
28th edition of DEAL promises exciting innovations
Global brands from the FEC, theme park and amusement industries are heading to DEAL to capitalise on the spectrum of opportunities that the Middle East and African region are set to offer. The 28th edition of the show will be a live-in person event to be held at the iconic Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 to 30 March 2022. “Exhibitors from around the globe are ready to unveil some of their best creative entertainment concepts and DEAL is proud to provide them with a platform to showcase these,” said a spokesperson. While most of the visitors come from the Gulf nations, the event has witnessed multiple serious buyers from Africa, Asian (South Asia and Far-East Asia, Eastern Europe, CIS countries and even as far as the USA, UK and Western Europe.
DEAL along with MENALAC and TUV-SUD Middle East also organise seminars, conferences and avenues
where visitors can not just rub shoulders with the who’s who of the industry but gain knowledge from the leaders in the industry and visiting speakers.
Apart from bringing the focus to several innovations, DEAL 2022 will bring forth top shelf attractions and experiences in everything from virtual reality games to drones, dark rides, robotics, family entertainment centre equipment and much more besides.
WINTER PART 2 2022
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