Parques Reunidos
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2013) |
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement parks |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Madrid, Spain |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Pascal Ferracci (CEO) |
| Owners | EQT AB (51.0%) Elliott Management (12.8%) |
| Website | www |
Parques Reunidos (meaning "Reunited Parks") is an international entertainment operator based in Madrid, Spain. The group operates over 30 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 Europe 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]
Palace Entertainment
[edit] | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Amusement parks |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Defunct | 2025 |
| Fate | Assets acquired by Herschend Family Entertainment |
| Successor | Herschend Family Entertainment |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
Area served | United States |
| Owner | Parques Reunidos |
| Website | www |
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, Parques Reunidos announced a definitive agreement to sell its U.S. business, Palace Entertainment, to Herschend Family. This strategic move marks a key milestone in the long-term vision of Parques Reunidos, which seeks to consolidate its leadership in the European leisure market and enhance its growth thanks to the high quality of its portfolio of iconic parks in the region.
Amusement parks
[edit]
Parques Reunidos currently operates 8 amusement park properties across two continents and eight countries.
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | ||||
| Bobbejaanland | Lichtaart, Belgium | 1961 | 2004 | |
| BonBon-Land | Næstved, Denmark | 1992 | 2007 | |
| Mirabilandia | Ravenna, Italy | 1992 | 2006 | |
| Movie Park Germany | Bottrop-Kirchhellen, Germany | 1996 | 2010 | |
| Parque de Atracciones de Madrid | Madrid, Spain | 1969 | ||
| Parque Warner Madrid | Madrid, Spain | 2002 | ||
| Attractiepark Slagharen | Hardenberg, Netherlands | 1963 | ||
| Tusenfryd | Vinterbro, Norway | 1988 | ||
Zoos, aquariums and nature parks
[edit]Parques Reunidos currently operates 9 zoos, aquariums and nature parks across one continents and five countries.
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | ||||
| Atlantis Aquarium | Madrid, Spain | |||
| Blackpool Zoo | Lancashire, England | 1972 | ||
| Faunia | Madrid, Spain | |||
| Lakes Aquarium | Lakeside, England | 1997 | ||
| Oceanarium | Bournemouth, England | |||
| Selwo Aventura | Estepona, Spain | 1999 | ||
| Selwo Marina | Benalmádena, Spain | 2002 | ||
| Weltvogelpark Walsrode | Walsrode, Germany | 1962 | 2019[11] | |
| Zoo Aquarium | Madrid, Spain | 1770 | ||
Water parks
[edit]Parques Reunidos currently operates 10 water parks located in different regions of Europe and Australia.
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | ||||
| 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 | |||
| Mirabeach | Ravenna, Italy | 2003 | 2006 | Part of Mirabilandia |
| Tropical Islands | Krausnick, Germany | 2004 | 2018 | |
| Aquasplash | Antibes, Frances | |||
| Warner Beach | Madrid, Spain | 2014 | Part of Parque Warner Madrid | |
| Australia | ||||
| Raging Waters Sydney | Sydney, Australia | 2013 | 2018[12] | |
Family Entertainment Centers
[edit]Parques Reunidos currently operates one family entertainment centers in the United Kingdom.
| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | ||||
| Nickelodeon Adventure Lakeside | Thurrock, England | 2020 | ||
Lodging and other ventures
[edit]| Name | Location | Year Opened | Year Acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Europe | ||||
| Attractiepark Slagharen | Hardenberg, Netherlands | Attractiepark Slagharen offers a large on-site camping area including cabins | ||
| Tropical Islands | Krausnick, Germany | 2018 | Tropical Islands offers an on-site hotel, campground and holiday homes | |
| So Blue Hotel | Antibes, France | 2025 | ||
Cable cars
[edit]The company operates one cable car in Spain.
References
[edit]- ^ "2008 Attraction Attendance Report" (PDF). TEA/ERA. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2009.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Festival Fun Parks". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- ^ "MidOcean Partners Announces Sale Of Palace Entertainment To Parques Reunidos". MidOcean Partners. 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Palicki, Martin (12 November 2010). "Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company Announces Sale of Dutch Wonderland to Palace Entertainment". InPark Magazine. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ 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) - ^ "California theme park company to buy Miami Seaquarium". Miami Herald.
- ^ "Palace Entertainment sells 14 entertainment centers and water park". Los Angeles Times. 2014-09-19. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ Goulding, Gage (2020-03-07). "Kennywood's parent company opening corporate facility in Pittsburgh area". WTOV. Retrieved 2020-11-11.
- ^ "BELGRANO & CO has advised the shareholders of Vogelpark Walsrode GmbH on the sale to Parques Reunidos S.A." (PDF).
- ^ "Parques Reunidos completes Wet'n'Wild Sydney acquisition - Australasian Leisure Management". www.ausleisure.com.au. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
- "Home". Candover. 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
- "Info" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2009
- McCaffrey, Sam (March 1, 2018). "Lionsgate focusing on Europe and Asia theme park opportunities". blooloop. Archived from the original on Sep 29, 2020. Retrieved December 7, 2018.