CEO of park expects good summer

SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP) — Amusement parks and water parks aren’t likely to see a drop off in visitors this summer despite surging gas prices and the struggling economy, the head of North America’s third-largest park operator said Wednesday.

Families and teens still will come to ride roller coasters and gobble up funnel cakes and corn dogs, but they’ll probably spend less on games and souvenirs, said Richard Kinzel, chief executive of Cedar Fair Entertainment Co.

“It’s always been sort of recession resistant,” Kinzel said. “That’s what we’re hoping for and that’s what usually has happened in the past.”

Cedar Fair operates 11 U.S. amusement parks, including Cedar Point in Sandusky and Kings Island near Cincinnati, and six outdoor water parks, as well as Canada’s Wonderland amusement park near Toronto.

Nearly two years ago, it paid $1.24 billion to buy five parks from Paramount Parks Inc. The deal made Cedar Fair the third-largest in terms of attendance.

Most of its parks now are operating and its flagship, Cedar Point, opens Saturday.

New this year at its parks are 18 live shows, three thrill rides and five roller coasters, including Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland in Toronto, which will be Canada’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster.

Kinzel, who was set to retire before the deal with Paramount, is entering his 37th year in the amusement industry and has three more years left on his contract.

He got his start in 1972 at Cedar Point supervising food stands along the midway. Three years later, he became the park’s director of operations.

He’s been through tough economic times before and is confident the business will be fine.