Dutch Wonderland acquired by Herschend Family Entertainment

• LNP|LancasterOnline Staff
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Dutch Wonderland will have a new owner and operator after Herschend Family Entertainment, a Georgia based themed-entertainment company, announced they have acquired the U.S. properties of the amusement park’s ownership group, Palace Entertainment.

The acquisition was announced in a joint statement released Tuesday by Herschend and Palace Entertainment’s parent company, Parques Reunidos, based in Spain. Terms of the sale have not been announced.

Herschend, which claims it is the world’s largest family-owned themed attractions company, is the owner and operator of Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, along with three other amusement parks in the U.S. The company also owns a number of water parks and aquariums.

Dutch Wonderland, located along Route 30 in East Lampeter Township, has been a mainstay of Lancaster County tourism since first opening in 1963.

The theme park, originally built by former potato farmer Earl Clark, was sold by the Clark Family to Hershey Entertainment and Resorts in 2001. Palace Entertainment acquired the park nine years later.

Besides Dutch Wonderland, Palace Entertainment operates 20 historic and entertainment venues across 10 U.S. states. In Pennsylvania, the company operates Kennywood near Pittsburgh, as well as Idlewild & SoakZone, in Westmoreland County.

“Being a family business for 75 years has given us a deep understanding of what makes properties like these special — not just the rides and attractions, but the people who pour their hearts into them every day,” said Herschend Board Chair Chris Herschend in the statement released Tuesday.

Herschend said the company is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for employees and guests to the parks. No immediate changes are planned for daily operations.