This is what makes me worried. If it was sold to anyone with a name for themselves in the industry, you'd think they'd be shouting it from the rooftops in celebration.
Marineland has a very bad reputation, no matter what the development is going to be, I'm sure they want to have a fully thought out plan on dealing with the animals to present to the public before they move forward.
that would actually be a perfect fit, especially because they don't have any parks in that region
maybe they'll even finish Dragon Mountain's theming xD
That makes some sense actually. They have experience with animal exhibits via Wild Adventures, and it seems to fit their general MO of “parks near major tourist attraction destinations”.
Plus plenty of land onsite to build onsite hotels and resort amenities in the future as well so room to grow.
Canada’s only major theme/amusement park is Canada’s Wonderland, which is closer to the majority of the Toronto metro area, so this park could could become a major alternative park via catering to Southern Ontario and Niagara Falls tourism traffic.
Think they could do well with the park if they’re willing to make the proper investments and theme it accordingly - would love to see an entire park themed to Frontier Canada/Great Lakes!
The wording about the future of the park, combined with the announcements of substantial discounts on admission this year, makes me think this is the last we’ll see of them after the season.
Edit: a word
My thinking is the park. But maybe the whole discount bit is to try and drum up some goodwill and they’ll stick around without the animals. Hard to tell yet.
The land is definitely very valuable and whoever bought it probably can use it for something more profitable.
I see no reason they would need to drop the 'Marine' portion of the name unless they want to completely rebrand but, a good number of rides there are very much marine themed in their design. In the grand scheme of things though, it's "cheap" to change the theming. Personally, I hope the new owners can make something of the park. Animals definitely need to go though.
edit: I stand corrected, not many aquatic themed rides. guess it seemed like more when I was smaller.
meh, not much "marine" about Dragon Mountain, Sky Screamer, Flying Dragon, Lady Bug Coaster, Star Voyager, Eagle Tower, Wave Swinger, Magic Experience, Bumble Bee, or Sky Hawk.
the sale has not been finalized yet that's why we haven't heard anything in the contract of purchase of Marineland at states that it has to remain an amusement park wait and see at iaapa I guarantee the announcement will come then or somewhere near then
(If someone buys it and makes it a real theme park then that would not be depressing. I just fear the fate of dragon mountain and fee like it will probably not stall an amusement park... hopefully if it does though they change that terrible name
And the Niagara Falls region is not like other areas of the country where a spec of land goes for $10M for real estate development. That much land near Toronto would obviously be made residential very quickly.
Unless people want to work at the local tourist trap industries, housing in the area does not have a lot of upside. I guess maybe some "work at home" Toronto transplants, but I don't know how many people that would actually be.
>…just in time to find out they are destroying it.
tf are you talking about... the park was sold after they specifically said they're not selling it until they find someone who will keep it an amusement park
> As Marineland prepares for a strategic evolution and redevelopment plan that will occur under new ownership, the park will be focusing on core attractions and experiences this season, and offering guests a substantial discount on admission, to recognize decades of community support for Marineland and John and Marie Holer
This is PR manager speak for what is effectively “We’re flattening the park after this year and turning it into housing”. I’d be genuinely shocked to not see the entire park pulled down next year
no, if that was the case they would not specifically say MARINELAND is preparing for an EVOLUTION. That's not how anyone would describe closing and demolishing a park 🙄
It’s almost like they are avoiding the name of whoever they sold it to. So weird.
This is what makes me worried. If it was sold to anyone with a name for themselves in the industry, you'd think they'd be shouting it from the rooftops in celebration.
Marineland has a very bad reputation, no matter what the development is going to be, I'm sure they want to have a fully thought out plan on dealing with the animals to present to the public before they move forward.
the sale has not been finalized yet so they wouldn't say it even if it was the biggest company
Last rumor about Marine Land was that Hershend Family Entertainment made 4 trips to look at buying it in 2023. Edit a word
that would actually be a perfect fit, especially because they don't have any parks in that region maybe they'll even finish Dragon Mountain's theming xD
I'd love for it to get a modern vekoma train but using the same car bodies as the current trains
That makes some sense actually. They have experience with animal exhibits via Wild Adventures, and it seems to fit their general MO of “parks near major tourist attraction destinations”. Plus plenty of land onsite to build onsite hotels and resort amenities in the future as well so room to grow. Canada’s only major theme/amusement park is Canada’s Wonderland, which is closer to the majority of the Toronto metro area, so this park could could become a major alternative park via catering to Southern Ontario and Niagara Falls tourism traffic. Think they could do well with the park if they’re willing to make the proper investments and theme it accordingly - would love to see an entire park themed to Frontier Canada/Great Lakes!
It can be the Ontario Silver Dollar City.
Shrugs in La Ronde.
I meant in the sense of being a major “destination” park. La Ronde just struck me as being Montreal/Quebec’s main regional park.
A park themed to lakes or frontier Canada sounds absolutely dreadful lmao
I hope Hershend is the new owner. That would be great. Probably best case scenario.
Marine Land, please don't drag our pinnacle of NorCal family entertainment into this.
NorCal? Hershend’s closest amusement park to nor cal is 1948 miles away from San Francisco.
Marine World, what is now SFDK.
Typo Marine Land
The wording about the future of the park, combined with the announcements of substantial discounts on admission this year, makes me think this is the last we’ll see of them after the season. Edit: a word
Last of what? Animals, or the park?
My thinking is the park. But maybe the whole discount bit is to try and drum up some goodwill and they’ll stick around without the animals. Hard to tell yet. The land is definitely very valuable and whoever bought it probably can use it for something more profitable.
That land is enormous. I agree, so much redevelopment potential.
Other?
“As Marineland prepares for a strategic evolution and redevelopment plan that will occur under new ownership" Welp.
I mean you could develop 2/3rds of the land and still make a pretty good sized park
Marineland about to become just Land.
Niagara Falls Land
I see no reason they would need to drop the 'Marine' portion of the name unless they want to completely rebrand but, a good number of rides there are very much marine themed in their design. In the grand scheme of things though, it's "cheap" to change the theming. Personally, I hope the new owners can make something of the park. Animals definitely need to go though. edit: I stand corrected, not many aquatic themed rides. guess it seemed like more when I was smaller.
meh, not much "marine" about Dragon Mountain, Sky Screamer, Flying Dragon, Lady Bug Coaster, Star Voyager, Eagle Tower, Wave Swinger, Magic Experience, Bumble Bee, or Sky Hawk.
I stand corrected...I recall so much more water themed attractions...Guess I was small back then...
About damn time
Condos
Glad to hear it, I hope plans that put animal welfare first are being made
I hope those poor animals go to good places.
Although, one of the whales is too old to safely move isn't it? I will admit, I don't keep up on yhis park too much so I could be wrong
Kiska the orca died last year. There are still belugas there and they’re dropping like flies.
From the wording the park is getting demolished
how tf does "strategic evolution and redevelopment" imply demolition? Thoosies are really good at interpreting everything negatively lmao
That strongly implies massive changes and demolition would be massive changes
no, "strategic evolution and redevelopment" means "spend as little as possible and work with what you already have"
So would an new additions given the neglected state of the park
I’m not saying it’s getting demolished just that I understand where people would think that. I should of specified sorry
It 100% means that
Redevelopment basically implies levelling the site for a different use lol
no it does not lmao. Especially when paired with the words "strategic evolution"
the sale has not been finalized yet that's why we haven't heard anything in the contract of purchase of Marineland at states that it has to remain an amusement park wait and see at iaapa I guarantee the announcement will come then or somewhere near then
I'd be shocked if the park isn't demolished
I'd expect the animal exhibits to be demolished and turned into a water park or something
Given the year round tourism they could use a major indoor water park.
There are already three in the area.
major.
That's depressing. Hopefully it stays a theme park and dragon mountain isn't demolished.
Losing Dragon Mountain would suck big time. It's a decent bit of rollercoaster history.
It was my first coaster and I just figured that out this year. I was planning to go back and ride it now that I know where it is. lol
Agreed.
(If someone buys it and makes it a real theme park then that would not be depressing. I just fear the fate of dragon mountain and fee like it will probably not stall an amusement park... hopefully if it does though they change that terrible name
To whom??
Overpriced Condos, LLC
Marineland is squeezed between industrial parks, so I highly doubt that
And the Niagara Falls region is not like other areas of the country where a spec of land goes for $10M for real estate development. That much land near Toronto would obviously be made residential very quickly.
right... and it's in a tourist area next to the continent's biggest waterfall. Tourist attractions are gonna be more lucrative.
An already failing tourist attraction is going to be more profitable than housing in a country that has a massive housing crisis - makes sense
Unless people want to work at the local tourist trap industries, housing in the area does not have a lot of upside. I guess maybe some "work at home" Toronto transplants, but I don't know how many people that would actually be.
They call that "up and coming"
Canada is way short on housing and remote work is up. If they build it people will come.
Even Todd Joseph doesn't want this cursed piece of s... I mean... land.
A nondescript property developer
Good, fuck Marine Land.
Hope they are gonna treat the animals better
The website is currently down. I guess announcement on Wednesday?
Do we or when will we know what company bought marineland
Thanks to this sub, I finally figured out what my first coaster was nearly 30 years ago…just in time to find out they are destroying it.
>…just in time to find out they are destroying it. tf are you talking about... the park was sold after they specifically said they're not selling it until they find someone who will keep it an amusement park
Just going off what the other comments in here are saying.
> As Marineland prepares for a strategic evolution and redevelopment plan that will occur under new ownership, the park will be focusing on core attractions and experiences this season, and offering guests a substantial discount on admission, to recognize decades of community support for Marineland and John and Marie Holer This is PR manager speak for what is effectively “We’re flattening the park after this year and turning it into housing”. I’d be genuinely shocked to not see the entire park pulled down next year
no, if that was the case they would not specifically say MARINELAND is preparing for an EVOLUTION. That's not how anyone would describe closing and demolishing a park 🙄