La Ronde Sold to New Owners

Six Flags Entertainment has sold La Ronde, a popular amusement park in Montreal, as part of a major transaction valued at $331 million USD (approximately $452 million CAD). This sale is part of a larger deal that includes seven amusement parks across Canada and the United States.

Details of the Transaction

The buyer is EPR Properties, a publicly traded real estate investment trust listed on the New York Stock Exchange. EPR specializes in owning “experiential assets” and has a portfolio worth $5.7 billion across 43 states in the U.S. and Canada. This acquisition marks EPR’s largest transaction since 2017.

CEO Comments

Gregory K. Silvers, CEO of EPR Properties, stated in a press release, “These properties embody the essential characteristics we seek: stable, long-term cash flow generation, drive-to accessibility, multigenerational appeal, and significant underlying real estate value.”

Future Operations of La Ronde

Following the acquisition, La Ronde will be leased and managed by La Ronde Operations, a newly formed company. Kieran Burke, the owner of this entity, is a former executive of Six Flags and currently manages EPR’s other attractions, including Village Vacances Valcartier in Quebec and Calypso Waterpark in Limoges, Ontario.

Background on Previous Transactions

It’s noteworthy that the Calypso-Valcartier group, previously owned by the Drouin family, sold all its assets to EPR Properties in 2022 for $179 million. This previous deal included Calypso Park and the entire Valcartier Park, along with Bora Parc, Hôtel Valcartier, camping facilities, and the Ice Hotel.

Further details about the La Ronde acquisition and its implications for the amusement park industry will be shared in the future.