Apparently the contract between Palace Entertainment and Cartoon Network has ended and isn't being renewed, so they're retheming the hotel to Dutch Wonderland Inn instead: https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/the-cartoon-network-hotel-to-become-dutch-wonderland-inn/article_547e3068-f210-4aaa-bfda-f9a2f76e4304.html

Something tells me that Herschend doesn't like to deal with too many external IPs in their properties... This might've been the plan from the point when the Palace acquisition was completed.

I wonder how long Herschend is planning to keep the Palace Entertainment brand around now that they've acquired it. It'll also be interesting to see what's still under the HFE/Palace banner after a few years and how it'll compare to the parks that have been with HFE for a while.

On 9/30/2025 at 4:42 PM, Losantiville Mining Co. said:

Something tells me that Herschend doesn't like to deal with too many external IPs in their properties... This might've been the plan from the point when the Palace acquisition was completed.

I wonder how long Herschend is planning to keep the Palace Entertainment brand around now that they've acquired it. It'll also be interesting to see what's still under the HFE/Palace banner after a few years and how it'll compare to the parks that have been with HFE for a while.

Agree. I feel like they can do a lot with these properties, but a lot of the DNA is just “different” than HERSCHEND. Like, will they continue alcohol sales and Halloween events or will those be softened to be more in line with Dollywood and SDC. Will be interesting to see what they keep, what they spin off and what they reposition. 

Kentucky Kingdom might get one of the biggest glow-ups out of the newer HFE parks going from a Six Flags park to independent ownership to being an HFE park. I think next year will be a good indicator as to whether or not any scary Halloween events stick around. It feels like Kennywood might get to keep their Phantom Fall Fest since it's successful enough. Plentiful opportunities for alcohol sales might not stick around though. I guess it'll also depend on if the Palace name gets turned into a division of HFE in the same way Dollywood and Silver Dollar City are.