Magic Mountain staying a theme park

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

Did you guys hear this news?

Magic Mountain to remain a theme park
BY ALEX DOBUZINSKIS LA DAILY NEWS
Article Last Updated:12/12/2006 11:02:03 AM PST

VALENCIA - Magic Mountain isn't going away anytime soon, but a sale of the park from Six Flags to another operator could be announced before the end of the year.

With attendance at the thrill park down 25 percent since the potential sale was announced in June, company CEO Mark Shapiro made it a point Tuesday during a conference call with investors to emphasize that the park will not be paved over.

"We had inquiries and bids for parties to come in and close down Magic Mountain and operate it as a real estate venture," Shapiro said in an interview after the conference call.

"But we are dismissing those and solidly staying on a track that has this park open for 2007 and beyond," he said.

Six Flags Inc. looked to sell Magic Mountain and adjacent Hurricane Harbor, and seven other theme parks across the country, to reduce some $2 billion in debt.

The New York-based corporation had hoped to sell all the theme parks together as a package. But Shapiro told investors that approach could change, with Six Flags keeping some parks and selling others.

The company dismissed bids for Magic Mountain because it's worth more as a theme park than what was offered to redevelop it, Shapiro said.

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It's just a matter of whether Six Flags or another company will run the park.
"I can't underscore this enough," Shapiro told investors, "Magic Mountain will be open for business in 2007 and will stay open for the foreseeable future, no matter who owns it."

In the company's mid-quarter report, Shapiro told investors to expect an announcement on what will happen with the nine parks for sale by the end of the year, or soon after.

Six Flags, which operates 30 amusement and water parks, is trying to attract more families, instead of the teen crowd that spends little on food and souvenirs.

The goal may fit awkwardly with the "thrill park" reputation of the 17-roller coaster Magic Mountain. But the property is still a big money generator for Six Flags, with about 3 million visitors last year.

"The housing slow-down has taken the steam out of the idea of selling it off and converting it to residential," said Jack Kyser, chief economist with the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.

"Because you have a situation now (elsewhere) where developers have put down non-refundable deposits and they're walking away," he said.

Shapiro blamed Magic Mountain's 25 percent drop in attendance since June on uncertainty about a possible sale. But analysts said it's been a competitive year for Southern California theme parks, with Disneyland celebrating its 50th anniversary and other parks slashing prices.

Magic Mountain will have its own discount. Every season pass sold through the end of February will come with a free children's season pass.

"They're clearly targeting the family market there by doing that, but it's a smart move," said Robert Niles, editor of ThemeParkInsider.com. "As any parent knows, the real expense in the theme park market is your kid. ... They want the food, they want the drinks, they want the souvenirs."

[GroveBoys]

Thats so good to hear. I remenber whe that park opened way back then...hehe. We just went back in April when they opened Tatsu. It was several years since I have been there. I believe when they opened The Riddlers Revenge, Anyways, Its was a disapoint to see so many Security and security equimpment. I found the park a bit un-safe. I only wish it was more like Disneyland. Family Place to go.

[sir clinksalot]

I just hope whoever owns it, Six Flags or somebody else brings the park back from the sad state it's in now.

[TacAlert]

Magic Mountain will have its own discount. Every season pass sold through the end of February will come with a free children's season pass.

I am assuming they are just giving you another season pass because there is no mention of a child's pass on the website, unless I missed it.

Maybe I will finally break down and go this year.

[kcnole]

I really wish more people understood the difference in a theme park and an amusement park.

[PirateMickey]

Or in the case of MM, 'lack of amusement' park...

[TacAlert]

SFMM definitely does have a theme......."no theme".

[CaliforniaAdventurer]

SFMM has themed areas. It's not totally a straight out carnival like "Dinoland USA" oh wait that's Disney.

[PirateMickey]

Well, they do have "lands"...

Wanna-be gang-banger land.

Filthy restrooms with no paper products land.

E-coli land.

And probably the most popular one...Parking lot assault land.


Those aren't official lands that you can find on their park map, but they were our personal observations from our last visit. And I do mean our LAST visit.

[Ride Warrior]

Originally Posted by PirateMickey

Well, they do have "lands"...

Wanna-be gang-banger land.

Filthy restrooms with no paper products land.

E-coli land.

And probably the most popular one...Parking lot assault land.


Those aren't official lands that you can find on their park map, but they were our personal observations from our last visit. And I do mean our LAST visit.

Wow! I'll remember to clean and disinfect anything that I come into contact with upon my next visit.

[PirateMickey]

Yeah, they should hand out those disinfectant wipes upon entry (and maybe a good dose of anti-biotics).

The most disgusting part of our "last" trip was when we had to use the mens room. Never mind the fact that there were puddles of urine and "other" matter over the entire floor, but there were no paper products (tissue or paper towels) to wipe or dry yourself off with.

The kicker was watching two employee's that were wearing those "chef" (for lack of a better term) uniforms, relieve themselves and then just walk out of the restroom w/o washing. Of course, there weren't any paper products to wipe themselves off with, so who could blame them!

When I complained to an employee that was walking by, I got the usual "thanks, I'll have someone take care of it" response.

We didn't stick around long enough to find out...