Parques Reunidos

Last updated
Parques Reunidos
Company type Private
Industry Amusement parks
Founded1967 (1967)
Headquarters Madrid, Spain
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Pascal Ferracci (CEO)
Owners EQT AB (51.0%)
Elliott Management (12.8%)
Website www.parquesreunidos.com/en/

Parques Reunidos (meaning "Reunited Parks") is an international entertainment operator based in Madrid, Spain. The group operates over 60 parks in about dozen countries. Parques Reunidos operates theme and amusement parks, zoos, water parks, family entertainment centers, and cable cars. These facilities are located in Spain, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Australia. Annual visitors to the group's attractions exceed 22 million, with revenue exceeding $570 million (USD). In 2008 it had the fifth-highest attendance figures for worldwide chains with 24.9 million, ahead of United Parks & Resorts and Cedar Fair. [1]

Contents

Palace Entertainment

Palace Entertainment
Company type Private
Industry Amusement parks
Founded1998;27 years ago (1998)
Defunct2025
FateAssets acquired by Herschend
SuccessorHerschend
Headquarters Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Area served
United States
OwnerParques Reunidos
Website www.palaceentertainment.com

Palace Entertainment was a subsidiary of Parques Reunidos based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is primarily involved in the operation of attractions in the United States.

Palace Entertainment was established in 1998, after the acquisition of four independently owned family entertainment companies. These four companies consisted of five brands: Camelot Parks, Palace Park, Boomers!, Grand Prix Race-O-Rama and Family Fun Center. [2] In the early 2000s the company purchased various Water Parks and Family Entertainment Centers. [3]

On February 27, 2006, it was announced that MidOcean Partners was to acquire Palace Entertainment. This transaction occurred in the second quarter 2006.

On August 24, 2007, MidOcean Partners sold Palace Entertainment to Parques Reunidos for $330 Million. This transaction took place in the third quarter of 2007. [4]

Fernando Eiroa joined Palace Entertainment in 2007, serving as president and chief executive officer.

On December 11, 2007 Kennywood Entertainment Company entered an agreement to sell their Five Properties (Kennywood, Idlewild and Soak Zone, Sandcastle Waterpark, Lake Compounce and Story Land) to Palace Entertainment's parent company Parques Reunidos. By 2009 Palace had taken over operations of all five parks. [5]

On November 12, 2010, Palace Entertainment announced the acquisition of Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. [6]

On March 2, 2012, Palace Entertainment announced the acquisition of Noah's Ark Water Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. [7]

In 2014, Palace Entertainment acquired Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Florida. [8]

Later that year Palace Entertainment sold 15 properties to the newly formed Apex Parks Group Including Big Kahuna's, 10 Boomers locations as well as an additional Family 4 Entertainment Centers. This was in an effort to move away from Family Entertainment Center operations for Palace Entertainment. [9]

In March 2020, it was announced that Palace Entertainment would open a new corporate facility near the Kennywood property. This new facility will house 25 executives as well as their East Coast team. [10]

In December 2021, Palace Entertainment acquired Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa.

In March 2025, Herschend announced it had reached an agreement to acquire all of Palace Entertainment's United States parks. [11]

Amusement parks

The entrance of Mirabilandia, Ravenna, Italy Mirab-img0004.JPG
The entrance of Mirabilandia, Ravenna, Italy
Polar bear at Marineland of Antibes, France Ours polaire antibes.jpg
Polar bear at Marineland of Antibes, France

Parques Reunidos currently operates 10 amusement park properties across two continents and eight countries.

NameLocationYear OpenedYear AcquiredNotes
Europe
Bobbejaanland Lichtaart, Belgium19612004
BonBon-Land Næstved, Denmark19922007
Mirabilandia Ravenna, Italy19922006
Movie Park Germany Bottrop-Kirchhellen, Germany19962010
Parque de Atracciones de Madrid Madrid, Spain1969
Parque Warner Madrid Madrid, Spain2002
Attractiepark Slagharen Hardenberg, Netherlands1963
Tusenfryd Vinterbro, Norway1988

Zoos, aquariums and nature parks

Parques Reunidos currently operates 10 zoos, aquariums and nature parks across one continents and five countries.

NameLocationYear OpenedYear AcquiredNotes
Europe
Atlantis Aquarium Madrid, Spain
Blackpool Zoo Lancashire, England1972
Delfinario Costa Daurada Costa Daurada, Spain
Faunia Madrid, Spain
Lakes Aquarium Lakeside, England1997
Oceanarium Bournemouth, England
Selwo Aventura Estepona, Spain1999
Selwo Marina Benalmádena, Spain2002
Weltvogelpark Walsrode Walsrode, Germany 19622019 [12]
Zoo Aquarium Madrid, Spain1770

Water parks

Parques Reunidos currently operates 11 separately-gated water parks across two continents and seven countries.

NameLocationYear OpenedYear AcquiredNotes
Europe
Aqua Mexicana Hardenberg, NetherlandsPart of Attractiepark Slagharen
Aquopolis Cartaya Cartaya, Spain
Aquopolis Costa Daurada Costa Daurada, Spain
Aquopolis Cullera Cullera, Spain
Aquopolis Torrevieja Torrevieja, Spain
Aquopolis Villanueva de la Cañada Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain
Aqualud Le Touquet, France
Mirabeach Ravenna, Italy20032006Part of Mirabilandia
Tropical Islands Krausnick, Germany20042018
Warner Beach Madrid, Spain 2014Part of Parque Warner Madrid
Australia
Raging Waters Sydney Sydney, Australia 20132018 [13]

Family Entertainment Centers

Parques Reunidos currently operates one family entertainment centers in the United Kingdom.

NameLocationYear OpenedYear AcquiredNotes
Europe
Nickelodeon Adventure Lakeside Thurrock, England2020

Lodging and other ventures

NameLocationYear OpenedYear AcquiredNotes
Europe
Attractiepark Slagharen Hardenberg, Netherlands Attractiepark Slagharen offers a large on-site camping area including cabins
Tropical Islands Krausnick, Germany2018Tropical Islands offers an on-site hotel, campground and holiday homes

Cable cars

The company operates one cable car in Spain.

Former properties

ParkLocationProperty TypeYear OpenedYear Sold/ClosedNotes
Asia
Motiongate Dubai Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAmusement Park2016Status UnknownOwned by Dubai Parks and Resorts; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2022
Bollywood Parks Dubai Dubai, United Arab EmiratesAmusement Park2016Status UnknownOwned by Dubai Parks and Resorts; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018. Now known as Real Madrid World.
Dragon Park Hạ Long, Vietnam Amusement Park2017Status UnknownOwned by Sun Group; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018
Typhoon Water Park Hạ Long, Vietnam Water Park2017Status UnknownOwned by Sun Group; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018
Europe
Aquopolis Seville Seville, Spain Water Park2021Rebranded back to Guadalpark; Now operated by Wibit [14]
Aquaopolis San Fernando de Henares Madrid, Spain Water Park2018Did not reopen for 2019, Planned to become green space [15]
Belantis Leipzig, GermanyAmusement Park20032025Sold to Compagnie des Alpes [16]
El Balcón de Rosales Madrid, Spain Night Club2008Closed after an 18 year old was beaten to death. [17]
L'Oceanogràfic Valencia, Spain Aquarium20032015 [18] Now operated by Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
Marineland of Antibes Antibes, France Aquarium, Water Park, Kid's Center19702025 [19]
Nickelodeon Adventure Madrid Madrid, Spain Family Entertainment Center2018 [20] 2019Closed September 8, 2019 [21]
Nickelodeon Adventure Murcia Murcia, SpainFamily Entertainment Center20172022
Teleférico de Madrid Madrid, Spain Cable Car2017Operations were taken back over by the city of Madrid [22]
Valwo Matapozuelos, Spain Zoo19822007Closed in 2007
South America
Aquarium de Mar del Plata Mar del Plata, Argentina Aquarium2018Sold to Dolphin Discovery [23]
North America
Big Kahuna's Destin, Florida Water Park, Family Entertainment Center19862014Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary
Boomers! Parks VariousFamily Entertainment Center2014
Anaheim, California 2004
Bakersfield, California 2004
Dania, Florida 2015
Escondido, California 2004
Medford, New York 19992019
Jazzland New Orleans, Louisiana Amusement Park20002002
Malibu Grand Prix Redwood City, California Family Entertainment Center19792013
San Antonio, Texas 19782014
Miami Seaquarium Miami, Florida Marine Animal Park19552014
Mountain Creek Water Park Vernon Township, New Jersey Water Park19782011
Mountasia Houston, Texas Family Entertainment Center2014
Kingwood, Texas 2007
Raging Waters Sacramento Cal Expo, Sacramento, California Water Park19862022
Raging Waters San Jose East San Jose, San Jose, California Water Park19852023
Silver Springs Silver Springs, Florida Attraction18782013
SpeedZone Dallas, Texas Family Entertainment Center19972014
Los Angeles, California
Waterworld California Concord, California Water Park20112017
Wet N' Wild Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada 20022004
Wild Waters Water Park Silver Springs, Florida 19782013
Adventureland Altoona, Iowa Amusement Park19742025Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary, acquired by Herschend Family Entertainment
Castle Park Riverside, California 1976
Dutch Wonderland Lancaster, Pennsylvania 1963
Idlewild and Soak Zone Ligonier, Pennsylvania 1887
Kennywood West Mifflin, Pennsylvania 1899
Lake Compounce Bristol, Connecticut 1846
Story Land Glen, New Hampshire 1954
Living Shores Aquarium Glen, New Hampshire Aquarium2019
Sea Life Park Hawaii Waimanalo Beach, Hawaii 1964
Noah's Ark Water Park Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Water Park1979
Raging Waters Los Angeles San Dimas, Los Angeles County, California 1983
Sandcastle Waterpark West Homestead, Pennsylvania 1989
Splish Splash Riverhead, New York 1989
Water Country Portsmouth, New Hampshire 1984
Wet'n Wild Emerald Pointe Greensboro, North Carolina 1984
Boomers! Palm Springs Palm Springs, California Family Entertainment Center1998
Boomers! Vista Vista, California 1998
Malibu Grand Prix Norcross, Georgia 2002
Mountasia Marietta, Georgia 2002

References

  1. "2008 Attraction Attendance Report" (PDF). TEA/ERA. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
  2. DreamEast (May 20, 2015). "DreamEast Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement With Palace Entertainment". PR Newswire (Press release). Archived from the original on Apr 4, 2023. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  3. "Festival Fun Parks". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  4. "MidOcean Partners Announces Sale Of Palace Entertainment To Parques Reunidos". MidOcean Partners. 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  5. "New Chapter in Kennywood Entertainment History Announced" (PDF). Kennywood Entertainment. 2008-05-11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  6. Palicki, Martin (12 November 2010). "Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company Announces Sale of Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment". InPark Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  7. badams@madison.com | 608-252-6148 | @madnewsboy, BARRY ADAMS | Wisconsin State Journal | (2 March 2012). "Noah's Ark sold to California company". madison.com. Retrieved 2020-11-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. "California theme park company to buy Miami Seaquarium". Miami Herald.
  9. "Palace Entertainment sells 14 entertainment centers and water park". Los Angeles Times. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  10. Goulding, Gage (2020-03-07). "Kennywood's parent company opening corporate facility in Pittsburgh area". WTOV. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
  11. Gregory, John (2025-03-18). "Dollywood owner Herschend to buy over 20 U.S. properties from Parques Reunidos" . Retrieved 2025-03-18.
  12. "BELGRANO & CO has advised the shareholders of Vogelpark Walsrode GmbH on the sale to Parques Reunidos S.A." (PDF).
  13. "Parques Reunidos completes Wet'n'Wild Sydney acquisition - Australasian Leisure Management". www.ausleisure.com.au. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
  14. "¡Adiós Aquópolis, hola Guadalpark!". 21 May 2021.
  15. "San Fernando de Henares says goodbye to Aquópolis forever". 27 April 2019.
  16. "COMPAGNIE DES ALPES ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF BELANTIS, ONE OF THE LARGEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN EASTERN GERMANY". compagniedesalpes.com. April 3, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  17. Barroso, F. Javier (17 November 2008). "Medidas tardías de las instituciones tras la muerte de Álvaro Ussía". El País.
  18. "L'OCEANOGRÀFIC".
  19. Bazizin, L., Richier, A., Chapelard, R., Alphonse, C. (2024), Antibes : Marineland annonce une fermeture définitive le 5 janvier 2025 , retrieved 4 December 2024
  20. "PARQUES REUNIDOS OPENS "NICKELODEON ADVENTURE" MADRID AT INTU XANADÚ". 17 December 2018.
  21. "Nickelodeon Adventure Madrid to Close on Sunday 8th September 2019".
  22. "The Madrid City Council will recover the management of the cable car". 27 July 2017.
  23. "Grupo Dolphin compra Aquarium de Mar del Plata".