Mt. Olympus Owner Buying Hotels Left and Right

[The Interpreter]

http://host.madison....1cc4c03286.html

[CoastersRZ]

Wow. They have been spending a LOT of money on lodging. Especially in this down economy. Here is another example of a family run amusement park business that seems to be doing alright.

On a slightly different subject, when was the last time that Cedar Fair added additional guest rooms to their portfolio? I know they have mentioned potentially adding lodging facilities to some of the former Paramount Parks. Wouldn`t this be a way for them to develop additional out of park revenue (particularly if they developed an indoor water park property like Castaway Bay at some of their other properties). Yes, upfront capital costs can be more, but it seems to me like it would make sense to own hotels near the parks. I realize that CF had the chance to buy a steak in the GWL at KI, but opted not to, in part because they compete with them up in Sandusky. Recently, Cedar Fair has been preoccupied with a proposed sale, and a unit holder vote proposed by Q, and not focused (at least to my knowledge) on developing their lodging business. Just some things to ponder.

[The Interpreter]

Just as at Wisconsin Dells, the Mt. Olympus owner had to buy existing facilities due to credit problems in building new ones...I think you will find that Cedar Fair's lenders have not been enthusiastic about lending them monies to construct additional lodging. Quite frankly, the lodging industry has been suffering of late...and many room rates had been trending downward until very recently.