Kennwyood, Sandcastle, Idlewild Getting Surprising New Owner

WEST MIFFLIN, PA — Three of the Pittsburgh area's major amusement and entertainment spots - Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild - are changing ownership hands.

Herschend and Parques Reunidos on Tuesday announced that Atlanta-based Herschend is acquiring all of the entertainment properties of Palace Entertainment's U.S. entertainment holdings. Palace is a Parquese Reunidos subsidiary. A purchase price was not disclosed.

Palace owns more than 20 entertainment venues in 10 states across the country.

Herschend owns venues such as Dollywood Parks & Resorts in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and also owns and operates the Harlem Globetrotters, among other holdings.

“This year, we’re celebrating 75 years of bringing families closer together—and looking ahead to the next 75,” Herschend CEO Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend said in a statement.

“Today’s announcement marks a natural expansion and continuation of that vision. By growing wisely and staying true to our purpose, we are building a future where we can continue creating memories worth repeating for generations to come.”

Herschend said there will be a smooth transition for employees, guests, and communities. No immediate changes are planned. In the coming months, Herschend said it will support new employees with training, resources, and opportunities

“We look forward to building upon the strong foundation that Palace Entertainment has created and welcoming these properties and hosts into the Herschend family of brands,” Wexler said. “The teams at these parks have done an incredible job building beloved destinations in their communities, and we look forward to learning from them, growing together, and building on their success. This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to continue creating exceptional experiences for guests and meaningful opportunities for our teams.”