Parques Reunidos (meaning "Reunited Parks") is an international entertainment operator based in Madrid, Spain. The group operates over 60 parks in nine countries. Parques Reunidos operates theme and amusement parks, zoos, water parks, family entertainment centers, and cable cars. These facilities are located in Spain, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. Annual visitors to the group's attractions exceed 22 million, with revenue exceeding $570 million (USD). In 2008, it had the fifth-highest attendance figures for worldwide chains with 24.9 million, ahead of United Parks & Resorts and Cedar Fair.
Palace Entertainment
Palace Entertainment was a subsidiary of Parques Reunidos, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and primarily operated attractions in the United States.
Palace Entertainment was established in 1998, after the acquisition of four independently owned family entertainment companies. These four companies consisted of five brands: Camelot Parks, Palace Park, Boomers!, Grand Prix Race-O-Rama and Family Fun Center. In the early 2000s the company purchased various Water Parks and Family Entertainment Centers.
On February 27, 2006, it was announced that MidOcean Partners was to acquire Palace Entertainment. This transaction occurred in the second quarter of 2006.
On August 24, 2007, MidOcean Partners sold Palace Entertainment to Parques Reunidos for $330 Million. This transaction took place in the third quarter of 2007.
Fernando Eiroa joined Palace Entertainment in 2007, serving as president and chief executive officer.
On December 11, 2007 Kennywood Entertainment Company entered an agreement to sell their Five Properties (Kennywood, Idlewild and Soak Zone, Sandcastle Waterpark, Lake Compounce and Story Land) to Palace Entertainment's parent company Parques Reunidos. By 2009 Palace had taken over operations of all five parks.
On November 12, 2010, Palace Entertainment announced the acquisition of Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, from Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company.
On March 2, 2012, Palace Entertainment announced the acquisition of Noah's Ark Water Park in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
In 2014, Palace Entertainment acquired Miami Seaquarium in Key Biscayne, Florida.
Later that year, Palace Entertainment sold 15 properties to the newly formed Apex Parks Group, including Big Kahuna's, 10 Boomers locations, as well as an additional Family 4 Entertainment Centers. This was in an effort to move away from Family Entertainment Center operations for Palace Entertainment.
In March 2020, it was announced that Palace Entertainment would open a new corporate facility near the Kennywood property. This new facility will house 25 executives as well as their East Coast team.
In December 2021, Palace Entertainment acquired Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa.
In March 2025, Herschend announced it had reached an agreement to acquire all of Palace Entertainment's United States parks.
Amusement parks
Parques Reunidos currently operates 8 amusement park properties across seven European countries. NameLocationYear openedYear acquiredNotesEuropeBobbejaanlandLichtaart, Belgium19612004BonBon-LandNæstved, Denmark19922007MirabilandiaRavenna, Italy19922006Movie Park GermanyBottrop-Kirchhellen, Germany19962010Parque de Atracciones de MadridMadrid, Spain1969Parque Warner MadridMadrid, Spain2002Attractiepark SlagharenHardenberg, Netherlands1963TusenfrydVinterbro, Norway1988
Zoos, aquariums and nature parks Parques Reunidos currently operates 10 zoos, aquariums and nature parks across three European countries. NameLocationYear openedYear acquiredNotesEuropeAtlantis AquariumMadrid, SpainBlackpool ZooLancashire, England1972Delfinario Costa DauradaCosta Daurada, SpainFauniaMadrid, SpainLakes AquariumLakeside, England1997OceanariumBournemouth, EnglandSelwo AventuraEstepona, Spain1999Selwo MarinaBenalmádena, Spain2002Weltvogelpark WalsrodeWalsrode, Germany19622019Zoo AquariumMadrid, Spain1770
Water parks Parques Reunidos currently operates 10 water parks across five European countries. NameLocationYear openedYear acquiredNotesEuropeAqua MexicanaHardenberg, NetherlandsPart of Attractiepark SlagharenAquopolis CartayaCartaya, SpainAquopolis Costa DauradaCosta Daurada, SpainAquopolis CulleraCullera, SpainAquopolis TorreviejaTorrevieja, SpainAquopolis Villanueva de la CañadaVillanueva de la Cañada, SpainAqualudLe Touquet, FranceMirabeachRavenna, Italy20032006Part of MirabilandiaTropical IslandsKrausnick, Germany20042018Warner BeachMadrid, Spain2014Part of Parque Warner Madrid
Family Entertainment Centers Parques Reunidos currently operates 1 family entertainment center in the United Kingdom. NameLocationYear openedYear acquiredNotesEuropeNickelodeon Adventure LakesideThurrock, England2020
Cable Cars Parques Reunidos currently operates 1 cable car in Spain. NameLocationYear openedYear acquiredNotesEuropeTeleférico de BenalmádenaBenalmádena, Spain1999
Former properties ParkLocationProperty Type Year acquired/openedYear sold/closedNotesAsiaMotiongate DubaiDubai, United Arab EmiratesAmusement Park2016Status UnknownOwned by Dubai Parks and Resorts; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2022Bollywood Parks DubaiDubai, United Arab EmiratesAmusement Park2016Status UnknownOwned by Dubai Parks and Resorts; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018. Now known as Real Madrid World.Dragon ParkHạ Long, VietnamAmusement Park2017Status UnknownOwned by Sun Group; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018Typhoon Water ParkHạ Long, VietnamWater Park2017Status UnknownOwned by Sun Group; Last appeared on the official Parques Reunidos website in 2018EuropeAquopolis SevilleSeville, SpainWater Park2021Rebranded back to Guadalpark; Now operated by WibitAquaopolis San Fernando de HenaresMadrid, SpainWater Park2018Did not reopen for 2019, Planned to become green spaceBelantisLeipzig, GermanyAmusement Park20032025Sold to Compagnie des AlpesEl Balcón de RosalesMadrid, SpainNight Club2008Closed after an 18-year-old was beaten to death.L'OceanogràficValencia, SpainAquarium 20032015Now operated by Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science CentreMarineland of AntibesAntibes, FranceAquarium, Water Park, Kid's Center19702025Nickelodeon Adventure MadridMadrid, SpainFamily Entertainment Center20182019Closed September 8, 2019Nickelodeon Adventure MurciaMurcia, SpainFamily Entertainment Center20172022Teleférico de MadridMadrid, SpainCable Car2017Operations were taken back over by the city of MadridValwoMatapozuelos, SpainZoo19822007Closed in 2007South AmericaAquarium de Mar del PlataMar del Plata, ArgentinaAquarium2018Sold to Dolphin DiscoveryNorth AmericaBig Kahuna'sDestin, FloridaWater Park, Family Entertainment Center19862014Part of the Palace Entertainment subsidiary Boomers! ParksVariousFamily Entertainment Center2014Anaheim, California2004Bakersfield, California2004Dania, Florida2015Escondido, California2004Medford, New York19992019JazzlandNew Orleans, LouisianaAmusement Park20002002Malibu Grand PrixRedwood City, CaliforniaFamily Entertainment Center19792013San Antonio, Texas19782014Miami SeaquariumMiami, FloridaMarine Animal Park19552014Mountain Creek Water ParkVernon Township, New JerseyWater Park19782011MountasiaHouston, TexasFamily Entertainment Center2014Kingwood, Texas2007Raging Waters SacramentoCal Expo, Sacramento, CaliforniaWater Park19862022Raging Waters San JoseEast San Jose, San Jose, CaliforniaWater Park19852023Silver SpringsSilver Springs, FloridaAttraction18782013SpeedZoneDallas, TexasFamily Entertainment Center19972014Los Angeles, CaliforniaWaterworld CaliforniaConcord, CaliforniaWater Park20112017Wet N' Wild Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada20022004Wild Waters Water ParkSilver Springs, Florida19782013AdventurelandAltoona, IowaAmusement Park19742025Sold to Herschend Family EntertainmentCastle ParkRiverside, California1976Dutch WonderlandLancaster, Pennsylvania1963Idlewild and Soak ZoneLigonier, Pennsylvania1887KennywoodWest Mifflin, Pennsylvania1899Lake CompounceBristol, Connecticut1846Story LandGlen, New Hampshire1954Living Shores AquariumGlen, New HampshireAquarium2019Sea Life Park HawaiiWaimanalo Beach, Hawaii1964Noah's Ark Water ParkWisconsin Dells, WisconsinWater Park1979Raging Waters Los AngelesSan Dimas, Los Angeles County, California1983Sandcastle WaterparkWest Homestead, Pennsylvania1989Splish SplashRiverhead, New York1989Water CountryPortsmouth, New Hampshire1984Wet'n Wild Emerald PointeGreensboro, North Carolina1984Boomers! Palm SpringsPalm Springs, CaliforniaFamily Entertainment Center1998Boomers! VistaVista, California1998Malibu Grand PrixNorcross, Georgia2002MountasiaMarietta, Georgia2002OceaniaRaging Waters SydneyProspect, New South WalesWater Park20132026Sold to Jamberoo Action Park
References
"Home". Candover. 2013-06-30. Retrieved 2013-10-23. "Info" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 11, 2009. Retrieved October 13, 2009
External links Official website Palace Entertainment Kennywood Connection MidOcean Partners website Oceanarium Lakes Aquarium Blackpool Zoo