Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild, Soak Zone: New Ownership Announced

WEST MIFFLIN, PA — The deal is done. Kenny the Kangaroo officially is under new ownership.

Atlanta-based Herschend Family Entertainment, the world’s largest family-held themed attractions company, has officially completed its Western Pennsylvania acquisitions of Kennywood, Sandcastle, Idlewild, Soak Zone and Palace Entertainment's remaining 21 attractions nationwide.

The completion of the deal, initially disclosed in March, was announced Tuesday.

“This is a landmark moment—not just for Herschend, but for every host, guest, and community we serve,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend.

“To us, this is so much bigger than adding attractions to our portfolio of family brands—growth is about people. It’s about creating a great place to work so our hosts love what they do and can create memories worth repeating for our guests for generations to come.”

According to Kennywood's website, Palace purchased it and its sister parks in 2007 from the local families that had operated Kennywood for more than 100 years. It is headquartered at The Waterfront in Homestead between Kennywood and Sandcastle.

“Our purpose has carried us through both bright seasons and challenging ones—and it will continue to guide us as we move into this next chapter,” said Chris Herschend, board chair and third generation owner .

“We are focused on doing what’s right for the business, our hosts, and the communities we’re honored to be part of. This process will take time, and we know we will not get everything perfect, but we are committed to listening, communicating and continuously improving.”

Herschend operates a portfolio of over two dozen family entertainment brands, including destinations such as Dollywood, Silver Dollar City, Callaway Resort & Gardens, and Adventure Aquarium.