For the full year, the owner of Cedar Point in Sandusy and Kings Island in Mason said it turned in record yearly revenues of approximately $1.1 billion in 2012, compared to 2011 total revenues of about $1 billion. Net income was $101.2 million, up from 2011 profits of $70.7 million, Cedar Fair said.
Attendance last year across Cedar Fair’s 11 amusement parks, four outdoor water parks and one indoor water park totaled 23.3 million people, close to 2011’s record attendance of 23.4 million.
The major contributor to increasing sales was higher guest spending of $41.95 on average in 2012, up almost 5 percent.
Cedar Point and Kings Island helped deliver strong performances, the company said.
Kings Island is the 15th top amusement park in North America based on 2011 attendance figures of 3,143,000 people, according to trade group Themed Entertainment Association. The group hasn’t yet given updated attendance numbers.
Cedar Fair last year introduced a strategy focused on family fun, highlighting efforts to make their guests’ visits a “best day of summer” experience. Cedar Fair unveiled an expanded water park, upgraded food options and new live shows for Kings Island’s 2012 season. Kings Island’s Soak City water park expansion was a $10 million investment.
GateKeeper, a new winged roller coaster, opens this year at Cedar Point.
Hiring has already begun for the next roller coaster season at Kings Island, a major driver of Warren County’s economy. The park has 4,000 seasonal jobs to fill.
It’s not too late to apply, but job seekers must apply online at www.visitkingsisland.com. Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview.
Kings Island visitors will notice this year that the park has dismantled the wooden roller coaster Son of Beast. Officials have not yet named a new attraction to replace it, but said the site is for “future park expansion.”
Kings Island opens the weekend of April 27, and opens for daily operations May 10. Soak City opens May 25.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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