Theme parks throughout the nation have endured an onslaught of untamed climate this yr starting from unprecedented rainfall and extreme warmth warnings to Canadian wildfires and California hurricanes which have led to decrease attendance and lowered income.
The homeowners of Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain and SeaWorld San Diego are blaming “excessive,” “difficult” and “opposed” climate for his or her most up-to-date attendance and income woes.
Cedar Truthful, the father or mother firm of Knott’s Berry Farm, blamed unprecedented rainfall in California, wildfires in Canada and excessive temperatures on the East Coast for a decline in attendance and season cross gross sales in the latest quarter.
Park closures and lowered crowds attributable to the California rains contributed to a 17% drop in attendance at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park and California’s Nice America in Santa Clara throughout Cedar Truthful’s second quarter.
California’s heavy rains had been additionally blamed for a 9% lower in 2023 season cross gross sales — largely at Knott’s and Nice America. California’s “monsoon-like situations” within the firm’s first quarter resulted in decrease season cross gross sales within the second quarter that impacted general attendance.
Impacts from North America’s disruptive climate patterns weren’t remoted to Cedar Truthful’s California parks.
Air high quality points attributable to Canadian wildfire smoke harm attendance at Canada’s Wonderland within the Toronto space. Unprecedented rainfall and excessive temperatures plagued Cedar Truthful parks on the East Coast.
Cedar Truthful estimates that prime temperatures, heavy rains and wildfire smoke accounted for 300,000 fewer guests within the quarter.
Attendance and income progress at Six Flags parks had been tamped down by difficult climate within the first half of the yr, in response to the corporate’s most up-to-date quarterly report.
Very like Knott’s, Magic Mountain was closed continuously by rain in January, February and March. Like Cedar Truthful, Six Flags parks had been impacted by the Canadian wildfires and East Coast warmth wave.
Earlier this week, Magic Mountain was closed for 2 days because of the impacts of Hurricane Hilary that pressured many Southern California theme parks to close their gates or shut early.
Knott’s Berry Farm, SeaWorld San Diego and Legoland California had been additionally pressured to shut on Aug. 20 because the downgraded storm swept throughout Southern California. Disneyland and Disney California Journey closed early on the identical day. Common Studios Hollywood remained open all through the storm and undaunted by the rain.
The remnants of the one-time class 4 Hurricane Hilary turned the primary tropical storm to hit Southern California since 1939.
SeaWorld attributed a drop in attendance and income throughout the latest quarter to opposed climate and extreme warmth warnings.
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks at the moment are providing an excessive climate assure of a free return go to if wind, snow, hail, rain, lightning or a warmth index of 110 levels ruins your day or wild climate impacts your flight plans.