Latest news with #Herschend
Bloomberg
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
Billions of Fans Anticipate Netflix's New Adventure
As the $76 billion industry evolves, everyone is racing to capture attention and market share through immersive experiences in a space dominated by traditional media players, Disney and NBCUniversal. While legacy parks rely on decades-old IP and massive capital investments, Netflix is tapping into fan obsession with shows like Stranger Things and Squid Game to launch live experiences in malls and cities worldwide. At the same time, family-owned Herschend is betting that old is gold to keep visitors coming back to parks like Silver Dollar City. (Source: Bloomberg)
CBS News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Kennywood's new sister park Dollywood shares vision after acquisition
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That's what the vice president of marketing for Dollywood said after its parent company acquired Kennywood. Dollywood is gearing up for its 40th anniversary. What began as a small roadside attraction in 1961 has grown into a world-class theme park nestled on 165 acres in the Great Smoky Mountains. Herschend, which co-owns Dollywood with Dolly Parton, recently acquired Palace Entertainment's 24 U.S. parks, including Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild & SoakZone. At Kennywood, Herschend said this season will be business as usual as the new ownership focuses on employees first. Pete Owens, Dollywood's vice president of marketing, said Herschend is focused on both guests and employees, which the company calls "hosts." "I think the things that folks in Pittsburgh and around western Pennsylvania should understand is that this is a storytelling company. This is a company that is really focused on not only the guests but the hosts, so the folks that are part now of the Herschend family," Owens said. Kennywood was a family business for more than 100 years until Palace Entertainment bought it in 2007. It will return to family ownership under Herschend, which is the world's largest family-held themed attractions company. "If there are things that aren't broke, you don't fix them," Owens said. "And Kennywood is one of my favorite parks in the world. I've been to Idlewild many times, I've been to Sandcastle, I'm kind of a theme park geek, and those are great parks." While Dollywood celebrates 40 years, Kennywood is in the midst of its 127th season. Kennywood may have new owners, but Owens says the park's history isn't going anywhere. "Certainly, the history in Pittsburgh with Kennywood is something that we as Herschend Family are going to want to continue to celebrate as the new stewards of that park," Owens said.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Adventureland's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning
DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa amusement park's former operator has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old boy who drowned on a water ride in 2021. A company that previously owned Adventureland park in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona, along with its former CEO and three managers, reached a settlement with the family of Michael Jaramillo on Sunday. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday for a trial over the lawsuit brought by the family. The settlement terms are confidential. Michael Jaramillo, his parents, two brothers and another family member were strapped into a 1,700-pound (770-kilogram) raft on the Raging River ride on July 3, 2021, when it flipped over. All six hit their heads on the surface under the water, but Michael Jaramillo and one of his brothers could not get out of their seatbelts and were trapped, head-down, underwater for about 10 minutes, according to the family. Julie Stauch announces run for Iowa governor The lawsuit alleged that for years, Adventureland failed to properly maintain and repair its rides, including the Raging River. It also said the park continued to operate the water ride on the day of the accident despite reports of serious problems. The park's former owner, Adventure Lands of America, former CEO Michael Krantz, and the three managers, denied that the ride had been operated improperly or insufficiently supervised. But Fred Dorr, an attorney for the family, said Tuesday that their lawyers believe they built a strong case that the park and its employees were responsible. 'Imagine the terror going on in those kids' minds,' Dorr said. 'And then you turn to the jury and say, 'What's that worth, to watch your child die like that?' An attorney for Adventure Lands of America did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Tuesday. However, in answering the lawsuit, the defendants said the accident resulted from 'a series of unexpected and intended factors' and that, in the 38 years the ride operated before the accident, no raft had overturned. Krantz is a member of a Des Moines-area family that began operating Adventureland in the 1970s and sold it and other affiliated assets months after the accident to the subsidiary of an international amusement park company based in Spain. In March, Herschend, a company based in the Atlanta area, purchased the Spanish company's U.S. properties, including Adventureland. Herschend operates the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri. Iowa News: Adventureland's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning WHO 13 Farm Report: Tuesday, June 3 Julie Stauch announces run for Iowa governor Iowa veteran passes halfway point on Appalachian Trail Newton nonprofit holds fundraiser to install safe haven baby box Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
San Francisco Chronicle
03-06-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Iowa amusement park's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning
An Iowa amusement park's former operator has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old boy who drowned on a water ride in 2021. A company that previously owned Adventureland park in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona, along with its former CEO and three managers, reached a settlement with the family of Michael Jaramillo on Sunday. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday for a trial over the lawsuit brought by the family. The settlement terms are confidential. Michael Jaramillo, his parents, two brothers and another family member were strapped into a 1,700-pound (770-kilogram) raft on the Raging River ride on July 3, 2021, when it flipped over. All six hit their heads on the surface under the water, but Michael Jaramillo and one of his brothers could not get out of their seatbelts and were trapped, head-down, underwater for about 10 minutes, according to the family. The lawsuit alleged that for years, Adventureland failed to properly maintain and repair its rides, including the Raging River. It also said the park continued to operate the water ride on the day of the accident despite reports of serious problems. The park's former owner, Adventure Lands of America, former CEO Michael Krantz, and the three managers, denied that the ride had been operated improperly or insufficiently supervised. But Fred Dorr, an attorney for the family, said Tuesday that their lawyers believe they built a strong case that the park and its employees were responsible. 'Imagine the terror going on in those kids' minds,' Dorr said. 'And then you turn to the jury and say, 'What's that worth, to watch your child die like that?' An attorney for Adventure Lands of America did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Tuesday. However, in answering the lawsuit, the defendants said the accident resulted from 'a series of unexpected and intended factors' and that, in the 38 years the ride operated before the accident, no raft had overturned. Krantz is a member of a Des Moines-area family that began operating Adventureland in the 1970s and sold it and other affiliated assets months after the accident to the subsidiary of an international amusement park company based in Spain. In March, Herschend, a company based in the Atlanta area, purchased the Spanish company's U.S. properties, including Adventureland. Herschend operates the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri.
03-06-2025
- Business
Iowa amusement park's former owner settles lawsuit over 11-year-old's drowning
An Iowa amusement park's former operator has agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of an 11-year-old boy who drowned on a water ride in 2021. A company that previously owned Adventureland park in the Des Moines suburb of Altoona, along with its former CEO and three managers, reached a settlement with the family of Michael Jaramillo on Sunday. Jury selection had been scheduled to start Monday for a trial over the lawsuit brought by the family. The settlement terms are confidential. Michael Jaramillo, his parents, two brothers and another family member were strapped into a 1,700-pound (770-kilogram) raft on the Raging River ride on July 3, 2021, when it flipped over. All six hit their heads on the surface under the water, but Michael Jaramillo and one of his brothers could not get out of their seatbelts and were trapped, head-down, underwater for about 10 minutes, according to the family. The lawsuit alleged that for years, Adventureland failed to properly maintain and repair its rides, including the Raging River. It also said the park continued to operate the water ride on the day of the accident despite reports of serious problems. The park's former owner, Adventure Lands of America, former CEO Michael Krantz, and the three managers, denied that the ride had been operated improperly or insufficiently supervised. But Fred Dorr, an attorney for the family, said Tuesday that their lawyers believe they built a strong case that the park and its employees were responsible. 'Imagine the terror going on in those kids' minds,' Dorr said. 'And then you turn to the jury and say, 'What's that worth, to watch your child die like that?' An attorney for Adventure Lands of America did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Tuesday. However, in answering the lawsuit, the defendants said the accident resulted from 'a series of unexpected and intended factors' and that, in the 38 years the ride operated before the accident, no raft had overturned. Krantz is a member of a Des Moines-area family that began operating Adventureland in the 1970s and sold it and other affiliated assets months after the accident to the subsidiary of an international amusement park company based in Spain. In March, Herschend, a company based in the Atlanta area, purchased the Spanish company's U.S. properties, including Adventureland. Herschend operates the Dollywood theme park in Tennessee and Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri.
