crosscountry4891 Posted March 13, 2004 Share Posted March 13, 2004 KECO (Kings Entertainment Company) owned PKI before it was bought by Paramount. My question is; did Kings Island start KECO? Did Kings Island build PKD? And did KECO buy PGA and Carowinds or build them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanA Posted March 13, 2004 Share Posted March 13, 2004 It's my understanding that the owners of Coney Island at that time, Taft Broadcasting, wanted to build a park more inland and away from the Ohio River, which had caused severe damage to Coney Island. They built Kings Island, and quickly it became a success. Taft then began construction of PKD. Afterwards, KECO was formed, which then purchased other parks, PCW, PC, PGA, etc. Paramount bought the parks from KECO and thats where we're at now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterrz Posted March 13, 2004 Share Posted March 13, 2004 Ok, here is how I understand it. Based on the success of Kings Island, Taft executives set out to duplicate the success in Virginia. Kings Dominion opened in 1975. In addition to Kings Dominion, Taft entered into a partnership with Top Value Enterprises, a subsidiary of the Kroger Co. in early 1975 to purchase Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina for $16 million. In 1980, the partnership dissolved and Taft became the sole owner of Carowinds. Additionally, Taft built Wonderland outside of Toronto in 1981. In late 1983, a group of general managers at the Taft parks as well as several vice presidents at Taft Broadcasting, purchased two thirds of the parks. They then formed their own company, the Kings Entertainment Company. KECO would later enter into a management deal with Great America in Santa Clara California. Great America in California, along with the Great America in Chicago were both built by Marriot. However, the California one was sold to KECO and now Paramount while the Chicago one became a Six Flags park. In 1987, KECO was reorganized as Carl Lindner purchased the majority of the shares of Taft Broadcasting, and KECO now owned 100 percent of the parks, except for Great America. Carl Lindner continued to let KECO operate the parks. However, the parks were rapidly loosing steam and money under Lindner`s direction. So, on July 30, 1992 Paramount Communications purchased KECO as well as Great America. In 1993, all five parks were rebranded as Paramount Parks, and now sported the Paramount moniker in front of their names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crosscountry4891 Posted March 13, 2004 Author Share Posted March 13, 2004 Thanks a lot...I have been reading a lot about that lately and that tied of some loose ends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewbari Posted March 13, 2004 Share Posted March 13, 2004 Who now owns Coney Island ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FOF Posted March 13, 2004 Share Posted March 13, 2004 Who now owns Coney Island ? Don't know if its the owner but someone by the name of Brenda Walker is in charge of park operations as she inherited the company after her husband passed away in 1997. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterrz Posted March 13, 2004 Share Posted March 13, 2004 Brenda Walker is the wife of the late Ron Walker, who was the owner of Park River Corporation, which is the company that owns Coney Island. Essentially, Park River Corporation consists of only Coney Island since they sold Americana a few years back. To the best of my knowledge, Brenda is not in charge of park operations. Vic Nolting has been the President of Coney Island since 1984 I believe. I have seen, and met him before while running rides. He, like the folks at Holiday World, could often be seen walking around sweeping up trash. I recall one night when i was cleaning up trash at 9:15 and he was walking around picking up trash from around the LaRosa`s by the Dodgems. As far as the director of operations for the park, that role belongs to Mike Howard, who also assists in the training of the rides employees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephenmayes Posted March 13, 2004 Share Posted March 13, 2004 It is always nice to see "Higher Ups" help with some of the menail work. Those people are always the people you want to work for/with. From what I have heard and seen in photo's PKI's Jeff Seibert is the same exact way. Always willing to help out anyone who needs it. This is how things have to be. I can't stand boss's who think they are "too sophisticated" to do the job that has to be done. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adbort Posted March 15, 2004 Share Posted March 15, 2004 In 1993, all five parks were rebranded as Paramount Parks, and now sported the Paramount moniker in front of their names. Actually in 1993 they were only 4 Paramount Parks. Kings Island, Kings Dominion, Great Amercia, and Carowinds. As with the promotion for season passes that year "free admission to all US Paramount Parks" 1994 Canada's Wonderland became a Paramount Park, was with the 5th in the chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euclid Beast Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Anyone know what the relationship between Gov. Taft and Taft Broadcasting is/was... I know during his most recent campaign, he was asked what his favorite coaster was - he answered The Racer... E. Beast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithandmissy Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 I'm pretty sure Canada's Wonderland became a Paramount Park the same time as Kings Island. I lived in Canada at the time and it was a big deal because prior to the sale Canada's Wonderland was 50% Canadian owned and 50% KECO... after the sale it became 100% American owned by Viacom. If someone has sources to the contrary please post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithandmissy Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 Just a side note, Canada's Wonderland just posted construction photos of their new Tomb Raider the Ride (flyer) in the media section of their website. https://www.canadas-wonderland.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adbort Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 I'm pretty sure Canada's Wonderland became a Paramount Park the same time as Kings Island. I lived in Canada at the time and it was a big deal because prior to the sale Canada's Wonderland was 50% Canadian owned and 50% KECO... after the sale it became 100% American owned by Viacom. If someone has sources to the contrary please post. Nope i'm not sure where I could find information to back it up. But Canada's Wonderland was not a Paramount park until 1994. In 1993 they were only the 4 US parks. Paramount did not purchase the other 50 percent of Canada's Wonderland at the time they branded the other 4 parks as Paramount parks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adbort Posted March 25, 2004 Share Posted March 25, 2004 I'm pretty sure Canada's Wonderland became a Paramount Park the same time as Kings Island. I lived in Canada at the time and it was a big deal because prior to the sale Canada's Wonderland was 50% Canadian owned and 50% KECO... after the sale it became 100% American owned by Viacom. If someone has sources to the contrary please post. Nope i'm not sure where I could find information to back it up. But Canada's Wonderland was not a Paramount park until 1994. In 1993 they were only the 4 US parks. Paramount did not purchase the other 50 percent of Canada's Wonderland at the time they branded the other 4 parks as Paramount parks. Well I have not found any offical information. But here is a link from a 1994 park map. Read the capition. Paramount Canada's Wonderland 1994 Map Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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