[Northern Light]

From Amusement Insiders (yes, the same YouTuber famous for filming Yukon Striker's construction in Canada's Wonderland using a drone):

There's speculation that 100 Kellogg's Lane (which owns an indoor entertainment complex at that address in London, ON) purchased Marineland. The video contains an error (he said Hamilton when 100 Kellogg's Lane is actually in the eastern part of downtown London).

Definitely one of the groups to have kicked the tires on this site.

To my understanding * not first hand knowledge; and also reported by A.I. ....... Hershey Park (as in the amusement park) also came by for a look-see.

I haven't heard of anyone else in the amusement field, having had a close look, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. There's no way Cedar Fair (owner of Canada's Wonderland) isn't aware this site is in play), I would assume the same of Six Flags, but as both have parks nearby (Wonderland and Darien Lake) they seem unlikely bidders.

I had heard rumours of the folks from Dollywood thinking about things here, but have been unable to obtain corroboration on that.

****

As to whether a sale has actually gone through at this point, enough UT members have access to the relevant info to let that be known should they choose.

 

[mburrrrr]

There is this “adjacent” residential proposal.

Two residential towers proposed along Portage Road at 35 & 25 storeys (115.8m & 83.7m) with 623 units, and a whopping 779 parking spaces (still below what the zoning allows).
Designed by Giannone Petricone for Rudanco Inc.
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[lenaitch]

Residential; a fine complement to amusement park or entertainment venue. Ask the folks around Burl's Creek how happy they are.

There are already three casinos in the NF area (incl. NY). I'm not sure there is a market for another or if the government would licence another.

 

[Northern Light]

Residential; a fine complement to amusement park or entertainment venue.

It does happen a fair bit, Canada's Wonderland being an obvious example in selling off the southerh portion of their property for a subdivision.

Ask the folks around Burl's Creek how happy they are.

You know you made me look this up, I'd never heard of it before.......

There are already three casinos in the NF area (incl. NY). I'm not sure there is a market for another or if the government would licence another.

There is no market for an additional casino.

*****

Marineland's site is 1,000 acres, well over double the size of Canada's Wonderland.

Assuming that an operating theme park was built on a portion of the lands, there is certainly no way I can envision it occupying the entire site or even 1/2.

I think residential is probably the logical candidate; though there is another possible option. They have a fair bit of forest/nature on their property and could sell it for flagship park/conservation area.

I think that would actually be quite nice; it wouldn't come cheap; but we're not making new forests of size in the midst of or adjacent to urban areas with any regularity.

 

[lenaitch]

It does happen a fair bit, Canada's Wonderland being an obvious example in selling off the southerh portion of their property for a subdivision.

And to the west as well. Across the 400 so I suppose it's an 'in for a penny' type of thing. At least they get to see cool fireworks.

You know you made me look this up, I'd never heard of it before.......

We have friends that live not too far away. It's mostly rural properties/farm land plus cottages along Lake Simcoe. When it changed hands back around 2014 it expanded into a full 'event centre' and there were many heated public meetings surrounding zoning changes. We dared not raise the topic with them (or purposely did, just to wind them up). The one saving grace is the big events are not particularly frequent, but they are big when they happen.

 

[Johnny Au]

American theme park YouTuber Theme Park Predictions even made a video about Marineland's sale:

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Never knew there was so many YouTube channels dedicated to theme parks. It must be a thing!

 

[gabe]

Whales are social mammals and Kiska has been living in solitary confinement for 11 years

RIP Kiska It's sad she didn't live her final years at a sanctuary with other orca's.

Kiska, known as the world’s loneliest orca, has died at Marineland

Kiska, the last captive orca in Canada and the focus of multiple animal activist protests at Marineland, has died.

www.thestar.com

 

[ShonTron]

No walruses, no orcas, no great rides, stick a fork in it, it’s (finally!) done.

 

[Northern Light]

FWIW, a tweet from from former Marineland staffer Phil Demers says it won't open for the '24 season:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1771614832900419880

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

...er..so what happens to the animals they have there now?

 

[Northern Light]

...er..so what happens to the animals they have there now?

Presumably sold off to others.

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Presumably sold off to others.

...it's pretty alarming that the peeps feeding and maintaining them have all been given the pink slips though. So it's something I had to ask for the said animals' well being. And to say, I'm not sure how that transition works under mass layoff conditions.

 

[Northern Light]

...it's pretty alarming that the peeps feeding and maintaining them have all been given the pink slips though. So it's something I had to ask for the said animals' well being. And to say, I'm not sure how that transition works under mass layoff conditions.

I don't know either. I assume essential staff will be retained until they are no longer required.

 

[G.L.17]

...er..so what happens to the animals they have there now?

I was thinking they would be set free in the Niagara River