I was surprised to find out that Herschned Family Entertainment had built several water parks but ended up selling them except for White Water Branson and Dollywood's Splash Country. I was just reading about Six Flags White Water in Atlanta and came across some info that Herschend had built it and sold it to Six Flags. I am surprised Six Flags didn't call it Hurricane Harbor Atlanta. Just curious if anyone knows why Herschend got out of the water park business, seems that most of them are profitable.

Probably the same reason they closed the Dixie Stampede in Orlando: they were offered a price they couldn't refuse. Premier Parks was building an empire and overpaid for just about every park they bought. Six Flags Inc. eventually owned three former Herschend waterparks: Atlanta, GA, Oklahoma City, OK, and Arlington, TX.

Now that would make sense. It sure doesn't seem like good business on the buyer's end though! Seems the smaller parks are more fiscally conservative!

At the time Hersheled was really centralized. Those parks were not in there bubble. White water and American Adventure(attached separate gate Family park) were huge competitors to SFOG. it's one of the highest attended Water parks in the US. Made sense for Premier to buy it while trying to buy SFI. Hershled likely saw it as a chance to Concentrate on the main parks and expanding them.

__________________
Michael C

Ironically, Herschend's headquarters are now in Atlanta.