Could Big Changes be Coming to Valleyfair after Merger with Six Flags?

Big news happened yesterday in the theme park world after the parent company of Minnesota's largest theme park, Valleyfair, merged with Six Flags, so that could mean some big changes are in store for the 47-year-old park.

Cedar Fair, which owns Valleyfair and 15 other theme parks and water parks, announced that it will be merging with Six Flags, which operates 27 parks, to create the largest regional amusement park company in the world with a total of 27 amusement parks, 15 water parks, and 9 resort properties.

The two companies will go forward with the Six Flags name, so expect Valleyfair to get some Six Flags branding in the future. Six Flags also brings some other exciting opportunities for Valleyfair including their partnerships with brands like Warner Bros.' DC Comics and Looney Tunes brands and a variety of food companies.

Richard Zimmerman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cedar Fair and the newly merged company says, "Our merger with Six Flags will bring together two of North America’s iconic amusement park companies to establish a highly diversified footprint and a more robust operating model to enhance park offerings and performance."

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Combined, the two companies are worth $3.5 billion and will have locations all across America, Canada, and Mexico. This isn't the first time Cedar Fair has considered offers, in 2019 Six Flags made an offer to buy Cedar Fair, and last year Sea World made an offer, but both were rejected.

Currently, Six Flags has its headquarters in Arlington, Texas, while Cedar Fair is based in Sandusky, Ohio, some finance and administrative operations will remain there and the new company will move its world headquarters to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Valleyfair is located in Shakopee and is where Midwestern thrill-seekers have flocked since 1976, looking for their next adrenaline fix. David Sherman and Gary Doffing, were probably thinking, "Why should Californians and Floridians have all the fun?" So, they rolled up their sleeves and turned a patch of Minnesota land into a roller coaster haven. Fast forward a few decades, and you've got everything from splashy water rides at Soak City to roller coasters that'll make you question your life choices. It's the go-to spot for Minnesotans (and their neighbors) to get a little dizzy, scream a bit, and munch on some overpriced cotton candy.