Great America Buys Its Land From Santa Clara, Gears Up For Season

SANTA CLARA, CA -- It's not your granddaddy's amusement park anymore. Smelling the sweet success of funnel cakes and Santa Clara land, California Great America's parent company is launching the season with new features and ownership of the land where the 112-acre park now sits.

There's a reason the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company's symbol on the New York Stock Exchange is labeled "FUN." The leader in regional amusement parks agreed to pay the city of Santa Clara $150 million for the property that's home to the speedy Gold Striker wooden roller coaster. The Sandusky, Ohio-based company has leased the land from the city since its inception in 1976. The lease was to expire in 56 years.

The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019 -- in time for the blockbuster summer season.

The city has made a concerted effort to sell off its real estate assets. Following a bidding and notification process, Cedar Fair exercised its right to buy the property last November as the right move for the company. Great America's purchase finalized on March 26 and includes the city easement on the park's billboard.

"The city is pleased that the sale of the property to Cedar Fair signals a long-term commitment to the continued operation of the Great America theme park for generations to come and moves the (city's former Redevelopment Agency) one step closer to dissolution as required by state law,” Assistant City Manager Ruth Shikada said.

The state dissolved city redevelopment agencies in 2012, requiring the local governments to sell off their remaining assets connected with the former ancillary agencies.

The Ohio-based company was paying $5.3 million for rent but believes owning the property is a better fit.

Cedar Fair President and CEO Richard A. Zimmerman called the purchase "a once-in-a- generation opportunity" to underscore its "long-term commitment to enhancing and expanding California’s Great America."

In an industry known to reinvent itself each year like Las Vegas, new features for the company that runs 11 amusement parks, three water-fun venues and four hotels will be added this summer -- including the Santa Clara's property set to open full time on Memorial Day weekend. The seasonal weaning began with a partial opening on Saturdays and Sundays last weekend.

California Great America hours of operation are featured here.

"This gives us control over our own destiny," Cedar Fair Entertainment Company spokeswoman Laurie Tardiff told Patch.

When the giant amusement park company wanted to make changes at Great America, it would have to meet up with the long arm of government in terms of processes and regulations.

This summer will represent a new day and age for Great America -- in other ways too.

For one little tease, a new French Quarter Funnel Cakes & Churros eatery will allow guests to customize their own funnel cakes. Bring on that iron stomach because these desserts will take a diner to "another level." The classic strawberry and powdered sugar combination will be joined by flavors such as blueberry, caramel, apple, cookies and cream as well as tropical coconut and pineapple.

"The minute you smell that fried dough and sugar, you gotta have it. There's no turning back," Tardiff said, shifting from a business transaction to fair whimsy.

Cedar Fair also operates Gilroy Gardens, which sent its management team out on Friday to do a thorough review of the park rides. Last year, the Gardens added a waterpark -- sure to be a hit when the hot summer sun hits the South Bay. It opened for operation almost two weeks ago.

"That's such a cupcake of a sweet, little park. It's such a nice place for children," Tardiff said.

Gilroy Gardens representatives were unavailable Friday.

Cedar Fair Entertainment operates the following North American parks:

• California’s Great America (Santa Clara, Calif.)
• Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughn (near Toronto), Ontario)
• Carowinds (Charlotte, NC)
• Cedar Point (Sandusky, OH)
• Dorney Park (Allentown, Penn.)
• Kings Dominion (Doswell, VA)
• Kings Island (Cincinnati, OH)
• Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park, Calif.)
• Michigan’s Adventure (Muskegon, Mich.)
• Valleyfair (Shakopee, Minn.)
• Worlds of Fun (Kansas City, MO)