GAcoaster Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 From the Courier Post: Quote Clementon Park sold to investors Clementon Park and Splash World, one of the nation's oldest amusement parks, has been sold to an entertainment group led by former Six Flags executives. They plan to improve the venue, which debuted in 1907 on the banks of Clementon Lake, but revealed no specifics in an announcement made Monday. The buyers are Kiernan Burke, former Six Flags CEO, and Gary Story, the company's former chief operating officer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. "We are excited about the opportunity to enhance the entertainment value of this historic park that has always enjoyed a strong group-outing business and local market visitation," Burke said in a statement. The buyers said South Jersey's dense population and the park's repeat customers attracted them to the property. Clementon Park was founded as a swim club 104 years ago by Theodore Gibbs, a state assemblyman. Over the years, rides and a water park were added to the venue. Recent features include Ring of Fire, a 60-foot, looping roller coaster, and Laguna Kahuna, a five-story, one-acre water playland with a Polynesian theme. Torpedo Rush is the world's tallest dueling trap door speed slide. Burke and Story have been buying parks since 2009, when they acquired Nashville Shores, a water park and RV resort in Tennessee. Their portfoliio also includes Ocean Breeze Water Park in Virginia Beach. Both those properties were upgraded by the new owners. At Clementon, the current general manager and group sales manager will lead the transition, the partners said. Plans for improvements will be announced before the 2012 season, Burke and Story said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted November 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 This should be interesting...especially to see if they step up a battle against GA with thrill rides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterPrince Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Kiernan Burke just won't quit will he. The park has added some great thrill rides like Thunder Drop, Torpedo Rush, and Ring of Fire. I'm excited to see what a former SFI person will do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RideOfSteel Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Looping roller coaster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted November 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 I wouldn't be surprised to see them purchase an older coaster or two. That's how they built up parks like Frontier City, Riverside, Wild World, etc. Buy old coasters, make money, buy new coasters. I expect them to do one of those "what the hell is this amazing coaster doing in this crappy park" purchases at one of their properties in the next few years, just like Chang at Kentucky Kingdom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 Maybe the Chiller will find a new home here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafreak Posted November 22, 2011 Report Share Posted November 22, 2011 if chiller shows up, ui will def make a special trip there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbolt Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 (edited) Actually, Ed Hart is solely responsible for "Chang" at Kentucky Kingdom. Premier Parks acquired the Louisville based park the following year. Kieran Burke and Gary Story are not so coincidentally implementing the same playbook used to build Premier Parks. It would be interesting to see them make another move on Six Flags if the credit market recovers. Edited November 23, 2011 by Thunderbolt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted November 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 I thought the same thing. I'm doubting the current owners are in for the long haul, and will jump at the chance to sell at the right price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medusa42 Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 From Screamscape: Quote Park News - (9/20/19) Something’s apparently not right with Clementon Park. Currently the park’s website says that they are closed for the season, where the park’s last day of operations was on Sept. 8th, 2019. However an odd new story surfaced the other day about a family who had bought tickets online weeks ago for a special priced last-day of the season “Appreciation Day” event set for Sunday, Sept. 15th. Guests who bought tickets and traveled to the park were met with a closed sign and security guards telling them that the park was closed for the season. While I’m unable to pull up any kind of previous operational calendar that may have been posted earlier this year, I’ve heard elsewhere that the park normally used to run their season into late September or even October in years past, so this early closing is already a bit strange. Today I received a report from an anonymous source that telling us that on Monday park owner Kieran Burke arrived on site and gathered all of the park’s year-round Full-Time staff and informed everyone that they were being let go, and final checks were handed out. According to this source, at the start of the season the park’s schedule had them open as late as October 19th, but that date was suddenly pushed up just a few weeks ago. And while the Clementon Park website is still up and running, the park’s Twitter account has suddenly been changed to a “protected” status, where only those approved can see their tweets. The park’s Instagram account has officially been closed/removed, and even the park’s Facebook page appears to have been deleted. For all intents and purposes, Clementon Park appears to be NO MORE. But is it closed for good? Or perhaps we have to ask if the park in the middle of being sold to a new owner… or even a land developer? The fact that the website isn’t even trying to sell 2020 Season Passes really is telling. If anyone knows more about what is going on, please let us know. http://screamscape.com/html/smaller_parks.htm#Clementon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medusa42 Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 I am guessing this is going to be redeveloped as a residential project. Firing all of the full time employees indicates that this will not continue to operate as an amusement park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoshi Posted September 20, 2019 Report Share Posted September 20, 2019 I feel bad for the employees losing their jobs and for anyone who liked the park/visited frequently. I visited the park once when I was a kid and remember it being horrible. I never had any interest in returning even though I had not ridden any coasters there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GASM Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 I couldn’t be less surprised about this. The park was awful and run down as hell. If it doesn’t continue as a park, then good riddance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynn41103 Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 At this point, this is more valuable as nearly anything OTHER than an amusement park. I would not be surprised to see residential development spring up here. It's a shame to lose all the history of this place, but it's not even as if management had cared one bit about that kind of stuff (or anything, really). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper26 Posted September 30, 2019 Report Share Posted September 30, 2019 It would be nice if Clementon Park becomes bought by someone that wants to reopen the park even though it's a run down glorified carnival. The park has a lot of history and a lot of memories among several generations. While residential development may look like a nice replacement considering it's right next to a lake, Clementon and its surrounding towns that all share the 08021 zipcode aren't very nice areas to live in especially for families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted October 2, 2019 Report Share Posted October 2, 2019 Its sad to see it close, but not surprising. I have not been there in about 20 years. Last time I was there it was pretty worn down then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ericthewanderer Posted October 3, 2019 Report Share Posted October 3, 2019 Has any other parks shown interest in buying the rides? It would be a shame for Hellcat to be destroyed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medusa42 Posted February 16, 2021 Report Share Posted February 16, 2021 The park will be auctioned off on March 23rd, 2021. https://crgllc.com/auctions/clementon-park-splash-world/ Quote All Rides and Water Slides Easily Dis-Assembled and Containerized! Sale by order of Howard Samuels - Receiver Real Estate Highlights 52+ combined acres 23 acres spring fed lake with new dam ½ acre corner building lot – perfect pad lease opportunity 4,000 Ft² 6 Br. 3 Bath historic house on the property Currently Sub-divided into several lots for easy development Mixed use commercial-residential redevelopment opportunity Coming Soon - Real Estate Bidders Package Full Alcohol Beverage License - Bidders Package Coming Soon Amusement Rides & Water Park Highlights Thrill Rides Thunder Drop T/A trailer mounted drop tower with elevated steel fold away entrance and exit platform and skirting Ring of Fire 360° loop ride, T/A trailer mounted with extended outriggers Sea Dragon arc swing ride, 40 person capacity 65° swing from center, 43’ maximum height Flying Pharaoh 360° swing ride with vertical lift S & S Technologies with Philadelphia Togoggan Cars - Hellcat all galvanized structural steel frame – wood deck roller coaster, New in 2005, including access and egress stairs, spiral stairs to operator booth, 2,600+ Ft total running length with 105’ vertical drop, out and back helix and twister layout, 2,560 riders per hour, all supports with bolt on flanges to footings Family Rides Chance Ride Company 36’ Classic carousel Chance Ride Company Giant Wheel Ferris wheel Tilt – a -Whirl and Scrambler circular rides Dragon Coaster steel track mini-roller coaster Samba Tower 360° spin tower P. Huntington 24” track gauge “around the park” train system with LP powered water cooled engine, (3) 18’ coaches, railroad crossing with lights and gate Kiddie Rides 2019 Mini Pirate Ship arch swing ride Flying Elephants, Cars & Trucks, and Future Space Ship circular rides Formula 3000 Race Car ride with custom backdrop Safari Train narrow gauge electric train ride Water Park Torpedo Rush vertical drop straight tubes with all galvanized steel access tower and substructure, bolt together tubes and landing area Viper bobsled style twisting tube water slide with all galvanized steel supports and substructure, bolt together tubes and landing area Sky River Rapids 4- person raft ride with raft and tube conveyor to top, all galvanized frame and supports, completely bolt together Pirate’s Landing kiddie slides, splash area, and Pirate Ship All park furnishings and support equipment including over 300 assorted configuration picnic tables with attached benches in steel frame and wood, food prep and concession equipment, maintenance equipment, and much more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted February 17, 2021 Report Share Posted February 17, 2021 Seems like they are still interested in selling the park whole to someone who might reopen it. Through it is doubtful they will find any buyers who will want to reopen the park, most likey the equipment and rides will be sold off and the land redeveloped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29yrswithaGApass Posted February 17, 2021 Report Share Posted February 17, 2021 Clementon was one of the few parks that I ever left thinking “wow I didn’t like that place”. In fact I can’t think of another. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Master Posted February 18, 2021 Report Share Posted February 18, 2021 4 hours ago, 29yrswithaGApass said: Clementon was one of the few parks that I ever left thinking “wow I didn’t like that place”. In fact I can’t think of another. I have only been there a few times, the last time being in the late 90's. Still its sad to see a old park close down even if it has many problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GAcoaster Posted March 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2021 Investors looking to purchase Clementon and keep it open: https://www.inquirer.com/business/clementon-park-splash-rides-roller-coasters-auction-norfolk-state-20210312.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medusa42 Posted March 12, 2021 Report Share Posted March 12, 2021 It's not a good sign that they need to raise $7 million and there are at least six other potential bidders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastercouple Posted March 12, 2021 Report Share Posted March 12, 2021 Hope he gets it, but I very much doubt they could be ready to go this summer after being closed since 2019. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medusa42 Posted March 23, 2021 Report Share Posted March 23, 2021 The park was sold to a single bidder for $2.37 million and it wasn't Fresh Development from the article above. https://twitter.com/InParkMagazine/status/1374442675877814282 "InPark has learned that Fresh Development was NOT the successful bidder for #ClementonPark. We still are trying to find out who made the winning $2m+ bid for the park." https://twitter.com/InParkMagazine/status/1374427297973903368 "BREAKING: #ClementonPark will be sold to the single bidder who bid $2.37 million for the park." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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