Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom Closes

In a shocking bit of news today, Six Flags announced that, effective immediately, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom will operate no more.  Several of the rides will be relocated but the park will be closed, never to reopen. For awhile it looked like this park was slowly headed the Geauga Lake route but I was still shocked to hear the news. I thought it would squeak out a few more seasons. Here’s the full press release:

Kentucky Kingdom Rejects Lease
Park to Close

“Six Flags announced today that as it nears the scheduled end of its restructuring process, it has decided to reject its lease with the Kentucky State Fair Board relating to the Kentucky Kingdom park. In recent weeks, Six Flags had proposed a new lease arrangement to the fair board that would have enhanced the viability and future of the park. Unfortunately, those proposals were not accepted and the park will cease operations and the company will move expeditiously to re-locate employees and several of the more than 40 rides and attractions to one of its 13 other markets.

“We are deeply disappointed to be leaving such a great fan base in the greater metropolitan area of Louisville and we are grateful to the thousands of employees at Kentucky Kingdom and the millions of guests for their dedication, support and loyalty over the years,” said Mark Shapiro, Six Flags President and CEO.

“This action relates solely to Kentucky Kingdom,” Shapiro continued. “The substantial lease
payment has been a significant hurdle for this park in recent years. Our other parks, which reside
largely on company-owned land, will be completely unaffected and will open as scheduled for the full 2010 season.”

Were you as shocked as I, or did you see it coming?

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