Knott’s owner posts higher revenue

Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., the owner of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, reported a boost in revenue from visitors spending more at its parks through the Fourth of July holiday period.

Cedar Fair, one of the nation’s largest regional themepark operators, took in $456 million, a 5% increase over the same period last year, the company reported Tuesday.

The period through the Fourth of July holiday traditionally represents about one-third of the company’s full-year revenue.

Cedar Fair executives said the higher revenue came from a 2% increase in attendance and a 4% increase in per-capita spending in the parks.

Out-of-park revenue, including resort hotels, was also up about 2%.

The summer months historically have been the busiest for Cedar Fair’s two parks that are open year-round: Knott’s Berry Farm and Castaway Bay in Sandusky, Ohio, where Cedar Fair is based.

Knott’s Berry Farm’s newest attraction, WindSeeker, a swing ride that lifts passengers about 300 feet off the ground, opened last summer.

“Enhanced guest experiences, improved consumer messaging, dynamic pricing, advance purchase commitments and premium product offerings have all contributed to our strong early-season results,” Cedar Fair President and Chief Executive Matt Ouimet said in a statement.