KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City’s popular amusement park, Worlds of Fun, has a new owner.
According to Business Wire, EPR Properties, a Kansas City-based experiential real estate trust, entered an agreement with Six Flags Entertainment Corporation to acquire a portfolio of seven regional parks in the United States and Canada, which includes Worlds of Fun.
The total value of the parks is estimated to be about $342 million; however, EPR is contributing $315 million, with other operating partners providing the remaining $27 million.
Although Worlds of Fun will have a new owner, operations at the park are not expected to change immediately.
According to the announcement, each park will continue its regular operating schedules, and all season passes will be recognized through the 2026 operating season.
One of the only changes explicitly outlined in the agreement is the Six Flags branding, which the buyers will lose the rights to after 2026. This likely means the parks with the “Six Flags” in the name will be rebranded next year. Worlds of Fun is not expected to be impacted by this change.
The parks included in the transaction include:
United States-
- Worlds of Fun – Amusement & Waterpark – Kansas City, MO
- Valleyfair – Amusement & Waterpark – Minneapolis, MN
- Six Flags St. Louis – Amusement & Waterpark – St. Louis, MO
- Schlitterbahn Waterpark Galveston – Waterpark – Galveston TX
- Michigan’s Adventure – Amusement & Waterpark – Grand Rapids, MI
- Six Flags Great Escape – Amusement & Waterpark - Queensbury, NY
Canada-
- Six Flags La Ronde – Amusement Park – Montreal, QC
The acquisition of the seven parks drastically expands EPR’s real estate footprint, adding more than 1,600 acres across five states, 418 attractions and approximately 4.5 million visitors annually.
Although EPR acquired the land and the real estate, the parks will be run by another company, Enchanted Parks, which will take care of day-to-day operations, including staff and rides.
“This strategic acquisition represents a compelling opportunity to expand our attractions portfolio with high-quality experiential real estate assets in established regional markets,” said Chairman and CEO of EPR Properties Gregory K. Silvers.
“These properties embody the essential characteristics we seek: delivering stable, long-term cash flows, strong drive-to accessibility, multi-generational appeal, and significant underlying land value. This transaction aligns with our disciplined investment criteria and accelerates our strategic expansion into experiential properties that create enduring value for our shareholders.”
