A great loss: the upcoming closure of Great America

BY MATTHEW CAESAR Staff Reporter

California’s Great America has about a decade left of lifespan after its operator, Cedar Fair, sold for roughly $310 million. The deal, officially made public in summer 2022, promised up to 11 years of continuous operation on the park before a full closure.

Since its opening in 1976, the park has been under the ownership of Marriott, Paramount and, as of 2006, Cedar Fair.The sale was meant to lower Cedar Fair’s company debt. Cedar Fair made a press statement on their decision June 27th, 2022.

“For our investors, the sale and lease agreements allow us to monetize a highvalue asset in the heart of Silicon Valley at a very attractive multiple. The transaction also provides us with a substantial sum of incremental capital which we intend to use to further advance our strategic priorities and generate enhanced returns for our unitholders,” Cedar Fair CEO Richard Zimmerman said.

The buyer was San-Francisco-based real estate developer Prologis, who is leasing the land for six years with the option to renew for an additional five. Their plans for the land are currently unknown.

Santa Clara mayor Lisa Gilmor stated that the land is zoned for theme park use only. She also clarified that the city found this information at the same time as the public, and that she wants Great America to continue operation. Gilmore made a press statement on June 29th, 2022.

“My hope and goal is to keep California’s Great America there as long as possible in the long term,” Gilmore said.

It is currently unknown where the attractions will go, however, they will be sold when the time comes to close the park.

One Fresno resident, Chris Smith, has started a petition to move those attractions to a new park in Fresno, making it a great tourist spot. Though the petition has nearly 2000 signatures, updates have been scarce.

For Sequoia theme park goers, losing Great America is also losing convenience.

“It’s unfortunate, once it closes there’s not going to be any parks close anymore,” junior Cameron Abrams said. “There’s [Great

Knowing that there is a theme park in the Bay Area, it’s kind of cool,

Percentage of students surveyed who hadn’t heard about the closure (dark) and those who had (light)