Worlds of Fun owner and Six Flags to merge into 'largest amusement park operator' in U.S.

Cedar Fair — the parent company of Worlds of Fun in Kansas City — and Six Flags plan a merger that will unite 27 amusement parks and 15 water parks across the United States.
Worlds of Fun and Cedar Point's parent company, Cedar Fair Entertainment, is merging with another major amusement park operator, Six Flags.

The announcement was made Thursday morning by executives from both organizations. It would make the combined company the largest regional amusement park operator in the country, valued at $8 billion, with 27 amusement parks and 15 water parks, according to statistics provided by Cedar Fair.

"Inside our parks, we expect to leverage the capabilities of both companies to create a more engaging and immersive experience so that guests choose us from amid the wide array of options they have to spend their leisure time and leisure money," said Cedar Fair Chief Executive Officer and President Richard Zimmerman in a public conference call Thursday morning. Zimmerman will lead the new combined company.

Cedar Fair laid out the financials for investors and the media in Thursday’s conference call, estimating the merger would generate $120 million in cost savings within two years and $826 million in free cash flow. The merger expects to create $3.4 billion in revenue.