Cedar Fair#Water parks

Cedar Point Amusement Park began as a bathing beach resort in the 1870s, and its growing popularity as a recreational destination led to the formation of Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company in 1887. The company was founded with the purpose of expanding the resort commercially. An economic depression in the 1890s threatened the resort's future, however. A newly formed business, Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Company of Indiana led by George Arthur Boeckling, purchased Cedar Point for $256,000 in 1897. It was later reorganized as the G.A. Boeckling Company.{{cite book |last1=Francis |first1=David W. |last2=Francis |first2=Diane DeMali |title=Cedar Point |date=2004 |publisher=Arcadia |location=Charleston, SC |isbn=9780738532349}}

The resort thrived under Boeckling's leadership, which lasted through 1931. G.A. Boeckling Company continued to control operations at the amusement park for much of the 20th century. A proposal in 1974 to build an amusement park in Cambridge Township, Michigan, was contemplated and later abandoned the following year.{{cite web|url=http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x1602164858/Cedar-Point-sells-Cambridge-Township-property|title=Cedar Point sells Cambridge Township property|access-date=August 30, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731000106/http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x1602164858/Cedar-Point-sells-Cambridge-Township-property|archive-date=July 31, 2012}} Then in 1978, Cedar Point acquired Valleyfair amusement park. Parent company Cedar Fair Limited Partnership, commonly known as Cedar Fair, was formed in 1983. Its name was derived from both parks – "Cedar" representing Cedar Point and "Fair" representing Valleyfair.{{cite book |last1=O'Brien |first1=Tim |title=Dick Kinzel Roller Coaster King of Cedar Point Amusement Park |date=October 2015 |publisher=Casa Flamingo Literary Arts |location=Nashville, TN |isbn=978-0-9743324-6-8 |page=23}} The company went public on April 29, 1987.{{cite web|title=Cedar Fair, Form 10-K, Annual Report, Filing Date Mar 23, 1994|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1050/81153294000011/filing-main.htm|website=Securities and Exchange Commission|access-date=March 21, 2013}} Under Cedar Fair's leadership, Cedar Point grew to become one of the largest amusement parks in the world, and the company increased its portfolio by acquiring other amusement properties throughout the United States.

The first acquisition of the new Cedar Fair company came in 1992 when Cedar Fair bought Dorney Park from Harris Weinstein. Cedar Fair also bought Worlds of Fun from Hunt-Midwest in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2395/81153295000023/filing-main.htm |title=Cedar Fair, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Aug 9, 1995 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}} One of the biggest acquisitions came in 1997 when Cedar Fair bought Knott's Berry Farm from the Knott family.{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/375/81153298000002/filing-main.htm |title=Cedar Fair, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Jan 13, 1998 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}Merritt, Christopher, and Lynxwiler, J. Eric. Knott's Preserved: From Boysenberry to Theme Park, the History of Knott's Berry Farm, pp. 156–60, Angel City Press, Santa Monica, CA, 2010. {{ISBN|978-1-883318-97-0}}. This marked the first time Cedar Fair operated a year-round amusement park. The acquisition included operations of the Camp Snoopy indoor park at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. In 2005, Cedar Fair withdrew from the lease arrangement leaving Mall of America to manage the park on its own. Mall of America formed a partnership with the Nickelodeon franchise in 2007 and continues to operate under the name Nickelodeon Universe. Several new water park properties named Knott's Soak City opened around the southern California area since the acquisition which included Buena Park in 1999, Chula Vista in 2000 and Palm Springs in 2001.{{cite web|title=Cedar Fair, Form 10-K, Annual Report, Filing Date Mar 30, 2001|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2199/81153201500004/filing-main.htm|website=SECDatabase.com|access-date=March 21, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/1364/0000811532-02-000002.pdf |title=Cedar Fair, Form 10-K, Annual Report, Filing Date Apr 1, 2002 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}} Michigan's Adventure in Muskegon, Michigan was purchased for $27.6 million in 2001.{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2210/81153201500015/filing-main.htm |title=Cedar Fair, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date Nov 14, 2001 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}

Cedar Fair opened its first indoor water park in November 2004, Castaway Bay. It was added to the former Radisson Hotel which was then renamed. The indoor waterpark resort is open year-round.{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/1797/0000950152-04-005364.pdf |title=Cedar Fair, Form 424B2, Filing Date Jul 15, 2004 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}

Larger acquisitions followed in 2004 with Six Flags Worlds of Adventure. Cedar Fair purchased the park for $145 million, reverting its name to Geauga Lake, as it was before its Six Flags branding in 2000.{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1053/81153204000024/filing-main.htm |title=Cedar Fair, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Apr 23, 2004 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}{{cite news|last=Potter|first=Derek|title=Cedar Fair Buys Six Flags World of Adventure|publisher=Theme Park Insider|date=March 10, 2004|url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/news/response.cfm?ID=1564|access-date=December 20, 2007}} Subsequently, Cedar Fair stripped the park of all references to Looney Tunes and DC Comics characters which were licensed properties owned by Six Flags. The zoological and marine life portion of the complex (SeaWorld Ohio), which was annexed to the theme park in 2001, was also shuttered. Six Flags retained ownership of the animals.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2004/03/08/daily24.html?jst=b_ln_hl |title=Six Flags agrees to sell Ohio park for $145M |work=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=March 10, 2004 |accessdate=December 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201225337/https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2004/03/08/daily24.html?jst=b_ln_hl |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |url-status=live}} The amusement park remained in Cedar Fair's portfolio through 2007,{{cite web |last1=Bhatia |first1=Kabir |title=Ten Years After Closing, Geauga Lake Amusement Park Ready For New Purpose |url=https://radio.wosu.org/post/ten-years-after-closing-geauga-lake-amusement-park-ready-new-purpose#stream/0 |website=WOSU Radio |access-date=June 16, 2020 |date=September 18, 2017}} and the water park continued to operate as Wildwater Kingdom through 2016.{{cite press release |url=https://www.wildwaterfun.com/media-center/wildwater-kingdom-update |title=Wildwater Kingdom Update|date=August 19, 2016|access-date=September 3, 2016|publisher=Cedar Fair|url-status=usurped |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160915113203/https://www.wildwaterfun.com/media-center/wildwater-kingdom-update|archive-date=September 15, 2016}}{{Cite news|url=http://wkbn.com/2016/08/19/wildwater-kingdom-announces-it-will-close-after-2016-season/|title=Wildwater Kingdom announces it will close after 2016 season|date=August 20, 2016|work=WKBN.com|access-date=December 6, 2017}}

On May 22, 2006, Cedar Fair announced it had outbid competitors and intended to purchase all five parks in the Paramount Parks chain, including Star Trek: The Experience at the Las Vegas Hilton and the management agreement of Bonfante Gardens (now known as Gilroy Gardens). On June 30, 2006, Cedar Fair announced that it had completed its acquisition of Paramount Parks from CBS Corporation in a cash transaction valued at US$1.24 billion.{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/757/81153206000061/filing-main.htm |title=Cedar Fair, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Jul 7, 2006 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}{{cite news|title=Cedar Fair to Acquire Paramount Parks |newspaper=The Point Online |date=May 22, 2006 |url=http://www.thepointol.com/news/2006/76.html |access-date=December 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814210552/http://www.thepointol.com/news/2006/76.html |archive-date=August 14, 2007 |url-status=dead }} Shortly following the transfer of ownership, Cedar Fair began the process of integrating the two companies. With the purchase of the Paramount Parks, Cedar Fair LP announced that it would do business under the name Cedar Fair Entertainment Company. Cedar Fair LP remains the legal company name.{{cite news|title=Cedar Fair to call self entertainment company|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Economy/2006/10/25/Cedar-Fair-to-call-self-entertainment-company.html|newspaper=Toledo Blade|access-date=October 9, 2012|date=October 25, 2006}}

File:Cedar Point WindSeeker Full Shot.jpg opened at Cedar Point in 2011, and the ride was also added to other Cedar Fair parks.]]

The individual parks continued to operate under their Paramount names during the 2006 season, however Cedar Fair began removing the Paramount name and logo from the parks in January 2007. The names of the parks were changed back to their original pre-Paramount names (the Paramount's prefix was removed) with the Cedar Fair corporate logo added. Bonfante Gardens was changed to Gilroy Gardens. Cedar Fair began removing references to Paramount Pictures. Although the acquisition granted Cedar Fair a ten-year licensing deal for Paramount names and icons, such as Star Trek, Cedar Fair opted to terminate the agreement and not pay an annual licensing fee. All references to Paramount/CBS-licensed properties were removed before the beginning of the 2008 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.toledoblade.com/Economy/2006/05/23/Cedar-Point-s-parent-firm-buys-5-additional-parks-for-1-24-billion.html|newspaper=Toledo Blade|first=Jon|last=Chavez|title=Cedar Point's parent firm buys 5 additional parks for $1.24 billion|date=May 23, 2006|access-date=October 25, 2017}} This deal also included a four-year licensing deal for Nickelodeon names and icons, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Rugrats, this agreement was retained until it expired prior to the 2010 season.

In December 2009, it was announced that Apollo Global Management would offer Cedar Fair $11.50{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/707/90951809000914/filing-main.htm |title=Cedar Fair, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Dec 17, 2009 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}{{cite web

|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2011535721_apusapollocedarfair.html

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130031555/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2011535721_apusapollocedarfair.html

|url-status=dead

|archive-date=January 30, 2013

|title=Cedar Fair: Takeover not happening

|date=April 6, 2010

|publisher=The Seattle Times

|access-date=November 19, 2011

}}

per share, a 28 percent premium over the market price, as part of a takeover plan which would also make Cedar Fair a private company.

{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/cedar_fair_expected_to_be_boug.html|title=Cedar Fair to be acquired by New York private-equity firm|last=Samavati|first=Shaheen|date=December 16, 2009|website=Cleveland.com|access-date=November 19, 2011}}

The deal included a cash payment of $635 million in addition to assuming Cedar Fair's debt of over US$1.7 billion putting the total value of the transaction close to US$2.4 billion. Cedar Fair planned to hold a shareholder meeting on March 16, 2010, to vote on the transaction but postponed the meeting to April 8, 2010, implying that two-thirds of the shareholder vote needed for approval wasn't yet secured.{{cite web|url=http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/03/16/sale-of-knotts-berry-farms-owner-postponed/37805/|title=UPDATE: Knott's grandson weighs in on sale delay|date=March 16, 2010|publisher=The Orange Register|access-date=November 19, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720091025/http://ocresort.ocregister.com/2010/03/16/sale-of-knotts-berry-farms-owner-postponed/37805/|archive-date=July 20, 2011}}

On April 6, 2010, the deal was terminated, and Cedar Fair paid $6.5 million to reimburse Apollo for expenses incurred from the proposed transaction.{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/1222/0001193125-10-077164.pdf |title=Cedar Fair, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Apr 6, 2010 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}} Cedar Fair also adopted a unitholder rights plan as a preventative measure to help protect unitholders in the event of any future hostile takeover.{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cedar-fair-and-affiliates-of-apollo-global-management-mutually-terminate-merger-agreement-89989157.html|title=Cedar Fair and Affiliates of Apollo Global Management Mutually Terminate Merger Agreement|date=April 6, 2010|publisher=Cedar Fair Entertainment Company|access-date=November 19, 2011}}

On September 16, 2011, JMA Ventures, LLC entered into an agreement to purchase California's Great America from Cedar Fair and take ownership of the Gilroy Gardens management contract.{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/1589/0001193125-11-253139.pdf |title=Cedar Fair, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Sep 21, 2011 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}{{cite news |title=Gilroy Gardens Management to Transfer to JMA Pending Approval of JMA's Acquisition of California's Great America |publisher=Gilroy Gardens |date=September 22, 2011 |url=http://www.gilroygardens.org/news-media/article.cfm/news_alias/Gilroy-Gardens-Management-to-Transfer |access-date=December 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108185630/http://www.gilroygardens.org/news-media/article.cfm/news_alias/Gilroy-Gardens-Management-to-Transfer |archive-date=January 8, 2012 }} The agreement required approval of Santa Clara's city council which was scheduled to vote on the matter on December 6, 2011. However, JMA canceled its plans to purchase Great America and bowed out of the agreement.{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/654/0001193125-11-333177.pdf |title=Cedar Fair, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Dec 7, 2011 |website=SECDatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/12/06/jma-cancels-70m-california-great.html|title=JMA cancels $70M California Great America purchase|date=December 6, 2011|publisher=Business Journal|access-date=December 7, 2011}}

On June 20, 2011, Cedar Fair announced that long term CEO Dick Kinzel would retire on January 3, 2012, and that Matt Ouimet would take his spot as the CEO of Cedar Fair.{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2319/0001193125-11-172896.pdf |title=Cedar Fair, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Jun 24, 2011 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 21, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm?current_root=15&mode=story&story_id=310 |title=Press Releases :: Cedar Fair Entertainment Company |publisher=Cedarfair.com |access-date=February 24, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314132730/http://www.cedarfair.com/ir/press_releases/index.cfm?current_root=15&mode=story&story_id=310 |archive-date=March 14, 2012 }} Ouimet had been employed by The Walt Disney Company for 17 years, including serving as president of Disney Cruise Line and president of the Disneyland Resort. He officially became CEO on January 3. Cedar Fair launched new websites for their parks in 2012 as well as a new marketing campaign, Thrills Connect.

On November 20, 2012, Cedar Fair announced it had sold its Knott's Soak City: San Diego location to SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment.{{cite web|last=Weisberg|first=Lori|title=Soak City to become a SeaWorld water park|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/20/soak-city-to-become-a-seaworld-water-park/|access-date=November 20, 2012|date=November 20, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726224508/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/20/soak-city-to-become-a-seaworld-water-park/|archive-date=July 26, 2014}} About nine months later, Cedar Fair announced it had sold its Knott's Soak City: Palm Springs location to CNL Lifestyle Properties.{{cite web|title=CNL Lifestyle Properties Acquires Southern California Water Park|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/cnl_lifestyle_properties_acquires_southern_california_water_park/prweb11023510.htm|publisher=PRWeb|date=August 13, 2013|access-date=August 13, 2013}} Cedar Fair's portfolio, according to an SEC report filed in 2013, contained eleven amusement parks, four outdoor water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels.{{cite web |title=Security and Exchange Commission Form 8-K: Cedar Fair |url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/20/0001193125-13-098954.pdf |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=March 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240318165444/http://pdf.secdatabase.com/20/0001193125-13-098954.pdf |archive-date=March 18, 2024 |url-status=live}}

On September 5, 2016, Cedar Fair closed Wildwater Kingdom, the last operating part of the former Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom. A portion of the land that once contained both properties has since been redeveloped.

On October 4, 2017, Cedar Fair announced that Ouimet would step down as CEO and be succeeded by COO Richard Zimmerman on January 1, 2018. Ouimet would remain with the company, taking the newly created position of executive chairman of the board of directors.{{Cite web |url=http://ir.cedarfair.com/newsroom/press-releases/news-release-details/2017/Cedar-Fair-Announces-Planned-Leadership-Succession/default.aspx |title=Cedar Fair Announces Planned Leadership Succession|access-date=November 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107020403/http://ir.cedarfair.com/newsroom/press-releases/news-release-details/2017/Cedar-Fair-Announces-Planned-Leadership-Succession/default.aspx |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |url-status=dead }}

On March 27, 2019, Cedar Fair announced it was purchasing the land occupied by California's Great America from the City of Santa Clara.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cedarfair.com/news/article/2019-327-acquiring-land|title=Cedar Fair Press Releases {{!}} CedarFair.com|website=www.cedarfair.com|access-date=October 4, 2019}} The 112 acres beneath the park cost $150 million. Cedar Fair had been previously leasing the land from the County of Santa Clara for 6 to 7 million per year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/cedar-fair-completes-150-million-purchase-land-under-californias-great-america|title=Cedar Fair completes $150 million purchase of the land under California's Great America|date=July 1, 2019|website=Crain's Cleveland Business|language=en|access-date=October 4, 2019}}

In April 2019, Cedar Fair announced a partnership with Feld Entertainment to bring a Monster Jam Thunder Alley Area to select Cedar Fair parks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2019/04/11/feld-entertainment-will-build-monster-jam.html|title=Feld Entertainment will build Monster Jam attraction at Ohio's Cedar Point (Rendering)|last=Brezina-Smith|first=Veronica|date=April 11, 2019|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=April 12, 2019}}

On June 13, 2019, it was announced that Cedar Fair had signed a $261 million deal with Schlitterbahn Waterparks and Resorts to buy their Galveston and New Braunfels locations, with the option to buy Schlitterbahn Kansas City for an additional $6 million,{{Cite web|url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/arts-entertainment/cedar-fair-entertainment-co-plans-enter-texas-market-261-million-acquisition|title=Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. plans to enter Texas market with $261 million acquisition|last=Brezina-Suttell|first=Scott|date=June 13, 2019|work=Crains Cleveland Business|access-date=June 13, 2019}} and the rights to the Schlitterbahn name.{{cite web|url=http://herald-zeitung.com/community_alert/article_d5078164-8e0f-11e9-a2ad-4358d2e2d22a.html|last=Carnett |first=Lindsey |date=June 15, 2019|title=New Braunfels' Schlitterbahn sold to Ohio companyCompany also buying park in Galveston and has option to buy Kansas City site|work=New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung|access-date=June 15, 2019}}

On July 2, 2019, it was announced that Cedar Fair had acquired the Sawmill Creek Resort in Huron, Ohio.{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cedar-fair-acquires-sawmill-creek-100000441.html|title=Cedar Fair Acquires Sawmill Creek Resort Located Within Minutes of Its Flagship Amusement Park Cedar Point|date=July 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703113633/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cedar-fair-acquires-sawmill-creek-100000441.html |archive-date=July 3, 2019 }} The property cost $13.5 million.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201907080015|title=Sandusky Register|website=www.sanduskyregister.com|access-date=October 4, 2019}}

In October 2019, Six Flags offered to buy Cedar Fair for $4 billion, however the offer was turned down.{{Cite news |last=Roumeliotis |first=Greg |date=October 2, 2019 |title=Exclusive: Six Flags in bid to merge with Cedar Fair – sources |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cedar-fair-m-a-sixflags-exclusive-idUSKBN1WH1ZA |access-date=April 3, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Roumeliotis |first=Greg |date=October 4, 2019 |title=Exclusive: Cedar Fair rebuffs $4 billion offer from Six Flags – sources |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cedar-fair-m-a-six-flags-entmt-exclus-idUSKBN1WJ1Z3 |access-date=April 3, 2023}}

On July 29, 2021, Cedar Fair announced the submission of plans to the City of Sandusky to build a $28 million esports arena expansion of the Cedar Fair Sports Center. Targeted opening in the first half of 2023 {{Cite web|title=Cedar Fair Exploring Development of Esports Arena in Sandusky – Cedar Fair|url=https://www.cedarfair.com/blog/2021/cedar-fair-exploring-development-of-esports-arena-in-sandusky|access-date=September 19, 2021|website=www.cedarfair.com|language=en}}{{cite news|title=Esports arena in the works near Ohio amusement park|url=https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-sports-business-travel-ohio-f458b71da23514cdf0e0b5647f6f178f|work=Associated Press|date=July 28, 2021|access-date=July 29, 2021}}

On December 31, 2021, the contract to manage Gilroy Gardens expired. Both Gilroy Gardens Inc., the nonprofit that owns the park, and Cedar Fair agreed not to renew the contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2022/06/28/gilroy-gardens-is-no-longer-managed-by-cedar-fair.html|title=Gilroy Gardens is no longer being managed by Great America's parent company|last=Wolverton|first=Troy|publisher=Silicon Valley Business Journal|location=San Jose, California|date=June 28, 2022|access-date=July 1, 2022}}

On February 1, 2022, news broke that SeaWorld Entertainment made an unsolicited all-cash bid to buy Cedar Fair for $3.4 billion.{{cite web|title=SeaWorld Makes $3.4 Billion Takeover Bid for Cedar Fair|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-01/seaworld-said-to-make-3-4-billion-takeover-bid-for-cedar-fair|last=Hammond|first=Ed|date=February 1, 2022|website=Bloomberg |publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=February 15, 2022}} Exactly two weeks later, on February 15, 2022, United Parks & Resorts issued a statement that the offer had been rejected.{{cite press release |title=SEAWORLD ENTERTAINMENT, INC. MAKES STATEMENT CONCERNING CEDAR FAIR |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/seaworld-entertainment-inc-makes-statement-concerning-cedar-fair-301483201.html|website=Cision PR Newswire|publisher=PR Newswire Association LLC|access-date=February 15, 2022}}

In June 2022, the company announced that it was selling the land occupied by California's Great America to Prologis, a real estate development company, for $310 million.{{cite news |last1=Davis-Friedman |first1=Samantha |title=Cedar Fair sells its land at California's Great America |url=https://attractionsmagazine.com/cedar-fair-sells-its-land-at-californias-great-america/ |access-date=June 27, 2022 |work=Attractions Magazine |date=June 22, 2022}} Cedar Fair signed an 11-year lease from the buyer and intends to close the park at the conclusion of the lease.

On November 2, 2023, Cedar Fair announced plans to merge with Six Flags, forming a new company and retaining the Six Flags name. Described as a "merger of equals", former Cedar Fair management will remain in control of the new company, which will be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, a site once occupied by Paramount Parks before being acquired by Cedar Fair in 2006. Some financial and administrative operations will continue to reside in Sandusky, Ohio.{{cite web |title=Cedar Fair and Six Flags to Combine in Merger of Equals, Creating a Leading Amusement Park Operator |url=https://ir.cedarfair.com/news/news-details/2023/Cedar-Fair-and-Six-Flags-to-Combine-in-Merger-of-Equals-Creating-a-Leading-Amusement-Park-Operator/default.aspx |publisher=Cedar Fair |access-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102135416/https://ir.cedarfair.com/news/news-details/2023/Cedar-Fair-and-Six-Flags-to-Combine-in-Merger-of-Equals-Creating-a-Leading-Amusement-Park-Operator/default.aspx |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |date=November 2, 2023 |url-status=live}} The combined company was projected to have 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and 9 resort properties in its portfolio and would operate under the Six Flags name with plans to use Cedar Fair's stock exchange ticker symbol, FUN. President and CEO of Cedar Fair, Richard Zimmerman, will serve as President and CEO of the new combined company, while Selim Bassoul, President and CEO of Six Flags, would become the executive chairman of the company's board of directors.{{cite news |last1=Glaser |first1=Susan |title=Cedar Fair, Six Flags agree to merge; new company will be headquartered in North Carolina |url=https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/11/cedar-fair-six-flags-agree-to-merge-new-company-will-be-headquartered-in-north-carolina.html |access-date=November 2, 2023 |work=Cleveland.com |date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102160818/https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/11/cedar-fair-six-flags-agree-to-merge-new-company-will-be-headquartered-in-north-carolina.html |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |url-status=live}} On July 1, 2024, the merger was successfully completed.{{cite web |title=Cedar Fair L.P. (FUN), Six Flags (SIX) Announce Merger of Equals is Successfully Completed |url=https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Cedar+Fair+L.P.+%28FUN%29%2C+Six+Flags+%28SIX%29+Announce+Merger+of+Equals+is+Successfully+Completed/23421543.html |website=StreetInsider.com |access-date=July 1, 2024 |date=July 1, 2024}}

File:Kings Island International Street.jpg's original fountains with the Eiffel Tower]]

File:Corkscrew (Cedar Point) 01.jpg coaster at Cedar Point]]

File:Dorney Park entrance.jpg]]

File:Carowinds aerial view, September 2017.JPG]]

File:California's Great America 3.JPG waterpark]]