SANTA CLARA, CA

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (FUN), a leader in regional amusement parks, water parks and immersive entertainment, announced today it has completed the purchase of land upon which its California’s Great America amusement park is located, for approximately $150 million. Cedar Fair purchased the land, totaling 112 acres, from the City of Santa Clara, California, which has leased the land since the founding of the park in 1976.

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COPENHAGEN, DK

The owners of toy maker Lego are teaming up with a group of investors to buy Merlin Entertainment, a British company that operates theme parks like Legoland and the Madame Tussauds wax museums.
Kirkbi Invest said Friday it is joining forces with private equity firm Blackstone and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to offer 455 pence (60 cents) per share for Merlin, valuing it at 4.77 billion pounds ($6 billion).
Merlin runs eight Legoland parks, including the park in Carlsbad, and 20 Legoland Discovery Centers, as well as other sites like Madame Tussauds museums across the world. It estimates that about 67 million people visit its sites every year.

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It can be tricky, in a horror film scenario, deciding if you'd like to be first to enter a shadowy room, a crumbling castle, or a scary forest, as opposed to being the very last person inside. There are pros and cons to both choices, but, when it comes down to it, being first has its major pluses. After all, you'll get an early look at what monsters are lurking about, what ghosts you want to avoid, and anything eerie in your direct path. Being first is also rather a fabulous thing when it comes to the phantom-filled, fantasy-dark, super-spooky Halloween Horror Nights. The Universal Studios Hollywood falltime treat has long seen a bustling opening night come the middle of September, with throngs of returning fans in attendance, as well as curious and brave newcomers, but the theme park is changing it up this year with its "first-ever"...
Fan Preview Night: Nope, this isn't opening night, but you might think of it as Opening Night Eve, for the Fan Preview Night will on the day before the big kick-off. That official opening day? It's Friday, Sept. 13, which means that the Fan Preview Night will haunt the theme park on Thursday, Sept. 12. Should you buy a ticket to the Sept. 12 event, you'll be among the first people to enter "... this year's 10 terrifying mazes," giving you "bragging rights" should you want to spread the wicked word on all of your social pages. Adding to the fearsome flavor of the extra-special, eerie-as-all-get-out to-do? Prepare to encounter DJs pumping out the rock-on atmospheric sounds, photo opps that up the event's eek-filled spirit, and that all-important "special commemorative credential." And will there be stars out, not just in the sky but on the red carpet? For sure, so count on further luster on an already lustrous evening. Just keep your peepers peeled, and you might see a luminary or two from the pantheon of horror cinema.

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SeaWorld hasn’t been the same since the documentary Blackfish sent public opinion tumbling about the theme parks and their treatment of animals.
But there are glimmers of hope -- especially because of a Sesame Street partnership -- that could mean the worst is over for the amusement park.

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Thrilling Coasters, New Coca-Cola Cool Zones and Nightly Fireworks Highlight Annual Celebration
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:SIX), the world’s largest regional theme park company, and Coca-Cola are inviting guests to share the chill of an ice cold Coke and the thrill of record-breaking rides and attractions during the annual Coca-Cola July 4th Fest. The nation’s biggest Independence Day celebration takes place July 3-6 at 11 Six Flags theme parks with awe-inspiring fireworks each night, new Coca-Cola Cool Zones filled with Coca-Cola flavor samples, cooling misters and foam dance parties. This patriotic event with fun for the entire family also features early, Exclusive Ride Times (ERTs) all four days for guests who bring in a Coca-Cola can.

​“There is no better way to celebrate the holiday weekend than Coca-Cola July 4th Fest at Six Flags,” said Vice President of Marketing and Sales James Geiser. “Each year the event gets bigger and better and we are pulling out all of the stops to create an immersive experience that only Six Flags and Coca-Cola could deliver. We want guests of all ages to come out, enjoy the event and raise a Coca-Cola to salute America with family and friends.”
Six Flags and Coca-Cola are going BIGGER than ever for this year’s Coca-Cola July 4th Fest with park-wide activities each day including:

• Exclusive Ride Times on the most popular rides and attractions (with paid admission and a can of Coca-Cola at entry);
• New Coca-Cola Cool Zones filled with the chill of cool misters, ice-cold beverage samples, themed games and prizes, fun photo ops and more;
• Returning Coca-Cola foam dance parties; and
• A special Coca-Cola toast each night just before the start of the fireworks.

On July 3, Six Flags will host the Biggest July 4th Toast in the USA.Guests across 11 Six Flags theme parks throughout the country will lift an ice-cold Coca-Cola beverage in a coast-to-coast salute. Each subsequent night of the Coca-Cola July 4th Fest, guests will be encouraged to enjoy a refreshing Coca-Cola beverage and toast Independence Day.
“We are thrilled that our beverages can provide a break for Six Flags guests in Coca-Cola Cool Zones for some ice-cold refreshment and fun with friends between a day filled with thrills,” Krista Schulte, Coca-Cola Global VP Strategic Partnership Marketing.
About Six Flags Entertainment Corporation
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks in North America, with $1.5 billion in revenue and 26 parks across the United States, Mexico and Canada. For 58 years, Six Flags has entertained millions of families with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks and unique attractions. For more information, visit www.sixflags.com.
Follow us on Twitter @SixFlags 
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/sixflags


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190628005056/en/
Sandra Daniels 

Six Flags Entertainment Corporation 

972.595.5178 

[email protected]
Source: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation

ORLANDO, FL

​Universal Orlando’s newest original concept restaurant, Bigfire, is now officially open, adding a unique dining experience that draws modern inspiration from open-fire cooking and the nostalgia of long summer evenings at the lake to the incredible collection of restaurants at Universal CityWalk.
Bigfire’s unique theming is designed to make guests feel as though they have stepped into a lakeside summer house, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of relaxed evenings spent at the water’s edge, cooking and creating memories with friends and family. The two-story venue features natural design elements of mix and matched fabrics and seating, cast iron, twinkling lights, camp lanterns and more to complete the outdoor ambience inside the restaurant. And guests can enjoy one of the most popular fireside treats– s’mores – which they can prepare themselves right at their table.
Specially created by Universal Orlando’s award-winning culinary team, Bigfire’s menu takes open-fire cooking, one of the earliest styles of preparing food, to a whole new level. At the heart of the venue is a custom wood fire grill where chefs prepare signature dishes inspired by the style of open-fire cooking – but with a significant and modern twist. Chefs thoughtfully match each dish with wood species that have been chosen based on the flavor they exude, resulting in delectable entrees, sides, and even cocktails, that all infuse these smoky spirits. From Cherrywood to Pecanwood, the pairings add bold, delicious flavors to create elevated American fare, including a signature bison burger, New York sirloin strip, freshwater trout and more.

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SANDUSKY, OH

A crash between two roller coaster trains Wednesday at Cedar Point resulted in the grounding of the Valravn for a time, the amusement park confirmed.
On Wednesday afternoon, a statement from Cedar Point said, one train from the Valravn bumped into a parked train in the loading station.
There were guests on both trains, who were "evaluated by the park's first aid team and escorted safely off the ride," the statement said.

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GURNEE, IL

Are you ready for this? North America's fastest launch. The world's tallest double inversion. The world's fastest inversion. A triple record-breaking coaster. And it's finally your time to ride!
On Wednesday, July 3, our Gold Plus, Platinum, Diamond and Diamond Elite members will have the exclusive opportunity to ride Maxx Force before anyone else. Strap in for the ride of your life. 
When Can I Ride?This year, Members, Season Pass Holders, and exclusive clothing purchasers will have special time windows to ride our newest coaster. Throughout the day more guests are able to join the line. Check below to see when exclusive clothing purchasers can join the line. Guests can enter the line any time after that, as many times as they'd like for the rest of the evening. 
So when can you get on?
11:00 a.m.: Platinum, Diamond, and Diamond Elite Members can join the line
1:00 p.m.: Gold Plus Members can join the line
Simply flash your card at the entrance to the Maxx Force queue to be allowed in. One pass card is required per person. You may only enter the line if your specified pass time has begun. 

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SANDUSKY, OH

The Cleveland Browns may be on their summer break, but the 2019 rookie class is getting acclimated to the sights around Northeast Ohio.
On Wednesday, the journey continued for the newest Browns players with a “field trip” to “The Roller Coaster Capital of the World,” Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio.
The rookies rode several of the record-setting roller coasters that has made the amusement park a popular tourist destination throughout every summer, including The Millennium Force and Valravn, and members of the Browns’ front-office staff were along for the ride, metaphorically speaking.
The Browns documented the experience with short videos shared to their official Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat accounts showing players excitedly awaiting the start of the rides and taking off on their journeys around the tracks.

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TAMPA BAY, FL

A man accused of causing the death of Pinky, a beloved flamingo at Busch Gardens, was hit by a truck and died, two months before he was to go on trial.
The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that The Florida Highway Patrol says 48-year-old Joseph Corrao was killed June 5 as he crossed a busy road in Orlando.
Correa was accused of grabbing the Chilean flamingo from a pen and slamming it to the ground while visiting the Tampa theme park with his mother and daughters. The severely injured flamingo had to be euthanized.

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