SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Cedar Fair Entertainment Company CEO Matt Ouimet appeared before local media this morning to dispel persistent regional buzz that the company’s California’s Great America theme park, a fixture here since 1976, will be sold or closed.

Ouimet further conveyed that Cedar Fair will be seeking zoning adjustments from Santa Clara that will allow the company to exceed current height restrictions and bring larger and different types of attractions to the 116-acre property.

For example, the addition of a smaller-scale Downtown Disney-style entertainment district is one concept being considered.

That the Cedar Fair executive felt compelled to fly to the Bay Area from the company’s Sandusky, Ohio, headquarters to perform rumor control is telling. The park sits on increasingly valuable leased land adjacent to the two-year-old Levi’s Stadium (home of the San Francisco 49ers NFL football team and site of this year’s Super Bowl) — and developers have been circling for some time in the red-hot Silicon Valley real estate market.

The Great America parcel was formerly owned by the City of Santa Clara’s redevelopment agency, with which the park negotiated its long-term lease. The land is now held by the Successor Agency to the Santa Clara Redevelopment Agency, which — under a state mandate — will be putting it and other former redevelopment holdings up for sale later this year.

Amusement Today obtained the following statement from Cedar Fair clarifying its local business position:

“We believe that Great America has compelling potential for future development as an amusement park and entertainment venue. Consistent with our long-term vision for Great America, we have filed a rezoning application with the City of Santa Clara that would allow for the addition of new attractions, shows and events that will enhance the guest experience.

“In light of the fact that our ground lease runs through 2074, we have the necessary control of the property to pursue our long-term vision. In addition, we have created enough financial flexibility to exercise our right of first refusal for the purchase of the property and that option will be considered as the land sale process moves forward.”

Cedar Fair’s major investment in Great America’s new, soon-to-open Mass Effect: New Earth 4D Holographic Journey attraction and Winterfest, a new annual holiday celebration that will extend the park’s operating season for the first time this year, further appear to affirm the company’s commitment to remaining in Santa Clara. The park launched its 40th season March 25.

—Dean Lamanna

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