Ohio amusement parks open for second season under recession

SANDUSKY, Ohio (AP) — Amusement park operators preparing for their annual Memorial Day weekend rush are wondering how many customers will show up at their gates this summer — the second straight season under a recession.

Cedar Point spokesman Robin Innes says the amusement park here is again offering special online deals to make it more affordable.

Richard Kinzel, the chief executive of the amusement park’s parent company, warned shareholders last week that park attendance and revenues would likely drop this year at Cedar Fair’s 11 amusement parks and six water parks in the United States and Canada.

But Innes says the park in Sandusky is expecting more than 3 million guests this year — about the same number that visited last year.