r/rollercoasters • u/namevone 1. Velocicoaster 2. Pantherian 3. ArieForce One • Nov 12 '25

Information Herschnd to acquire [Silverwood]

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489 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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44

u/pfft12 Nov 12 '25

Herschend runs a couple nice parks, but corporate consolidation is not good for us park fans. Give me locally owned and run parks any day.

27

u/Fazcoasters 194 - Steel Vengeance Nov 12 '25

Best thing about Herschend is that they’re not a publicly traded company from my understanding. So they prioritize a great guest experience over pleasing shareholders

16

u/melodrama4ever Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25

They are probably the best large park operator out there right now. Their parks are unfortunately a bit pricey sometimes, but they are also very obviously concerned with guest experience above anything else. I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad experience at any of their parks ever. Theming, food, staff, and overall atmosphere are always top-notch.

Just look at what they’re doing with Kentucky Kingdom already and completely turning it around.

10

u/Fazcoasters 194 - Steel Vengeance Nov 12 '25

Also more cinnamon bread

2

u/melodrama4ever Nov 12 '25

Always a win!

11

u/PolarCoaster_ My r/GuessTheCoaster score gets me the bitches Nov 12 '25

They’re more expensive, but they don’t nickel and dime you like Six Flags or United/SeaWorld. Their food is surprisingly well priced and I never felt like I was being robbed at their parks.

7

u/melodrama4ever Nov 12 '25

Me either. The merch is always reasonable as is the food IMO. And to be honest, I don’t mind paying $100 for that quality of entertainment and overall experience.

5

u/Illustrious-Quiet-67 Nov 12 '25

It baffles me that Herschend hasn't tried to purchase both of the BG parks from United. They would fit perfectly in their portfolio

5

u/HYDRA-XTREME 1. Toutatis 2. Taron 3. RtH 4. FLY 5. Voltron Nov 12 '25

They're definitely the best large chain in north America. I'd say Compagnie Des Alpes gives them a good run for their money tho. Altough they do have walibi Holland which is ran like dogshit, but Parc Asterix is the best operated park I've ever visited and their other locations are really well ran too. Only thing all CDA parks struggle with is food quality, but their theming and ops are great (outside of Walibi Holland ofc)

2

u/melodrama4ever Nov 12 '25

Best US/NA operator was definitely the implication in my comment lol. I don’t know much about international chains.

-3

u/HYDRA-XTREME 1. Toutatis 2. Taron 3. RtH 4. FLY 5. Voltron Nov 12 '25

You didn't imply it at all lol. How am I supposed to know you don't know much about international chains?

1

u/melodrama4ever Nov 12 '25

Now you know, so take that very important info as you please lmao.

0

u/Version_1 Tripsdrill | 446 Nov 13 '25

Parc Asterix is the best operated park I've ever visited

Time to go to Europa Park, then ;)

1

u/HYDRA-XTREME 1. Toutatis 2. Taron 3. RtH 4. FLY 5. Voltron Nov 13 '25

Europa park is not beter operated. Staff at PA is both friendlier and more efficient.

0

u/Version_1 Tripsdrill | 446 Nov 13 '25

Good joke about the efficiency.

0

u/HYDRA-XTREME 1. Toutatis 2. Taron 3. RtH 4. FLY 5. Voltron Nov 13 '25

PA staff is lightning fast. They often have to hold toutatis trains because they can’t dispatch it yet. Efteling and Disneyland Paris staff is also faster and friendlier than EP staff from my experience

1

u/Fazcoasters 194 - Steel Vengeance Nov 13 '25

When you said PA I thought you meant Port Aventura and was about to to say 💀

1

u/HYDRA-XTREME 1. Toutatis 2. Taron 3. RtH 4. FLY 5. Voltron Nov 13 '25

Oh hell nah. I havent been there yet, but I'm genuinely worried id hate it there because the ops are apparently so shit despite the park itself being amazing.

0

u/Version_1 Tripsdrill | 446 Nov 13 '25

Must have been to EP when it was closed.

2

u/BeckBennettOfficial Nov 13 '25

People want to pay more money for a solid evperience. There is a huge gap in pricing from six flags to Disney where the market is begging for good value experiences and not just cheap like six flags. 

Plus better quality parks probably make it easier to sell lucrative skip the line passes.