6 flags may shut down Elitche's

[Roon]

DENVER -- Theme park owner Six Flags said it could sell or even close six of its 30 properties across North America, including the amusement park in downtown Denver, Six Flags Elitch Gardens.

The revelation is among several made overnight Thursday. The Oklahoma City-based company said it may fail to meet certain bank credit agreements, and that reaching its previous financial forecast will be extremely difficult.

Six Flags is saddled with $2.1 billion in debt.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9415831/detail.html

[donco6]

1. Whoa.

That's disturbing news.

[Roon]

3. I know!

Hopefully they will be able to figure something out.

[InternalDialogue]

2. I don't pretend to know business economics,

but that was a family-run amusement park for about 80 years. It moved, upgraded rides, got bought by Six Flags, and shares the merchandising of that whole Looney Tunes lineup -- and now it's in debt.

Hmm. Wonder which business model is sustainable.

The irony is that Lakeside, the still-family-owned park in Denver, while smaller and less shiny, continues to run strong.

[Roon]

4. A great point!! eom

[intheflow]

7. Six Flags bought up all the biggest family amusement parks in the US.

Then upgraded past the point of affordability for most US families. Duh! Of course it's going bankrupt!

They've also lost money with Hurricane Katrina--their New Orleans site was under a good 5-10 feet of water for a month or so.

[Hawkeye-X]

5. The original Elitches owners or their kids

should buy it back for a song.

Christ. I liked Elitches, and once had a season pass a couple of years ago.

[Ian David]

8. Maybe Eric Cartman will buy it? n/t

[The Brethren]

6. have never visited Elitche's

but hope they can find a solution. Altho. 2.1 billion is a lot cover.

[ForeverWinter]

9. Honestly... why do you guys care?

"Six Flags Elitch Gardens" is not Elitch's. It's some dumb, void of character, ugly, mass-produced amusement park that is overpriced and full of scary, surly teens who look like they're packing razor blades in their mouths. I made the mistake of taking an at-risk girl I was mentoring several years ago. I won't go back.
The only reason I can conjure for the concern about this place closing is our cow-town-insecurity: "If we don't have an amusement park, we're not a REEEEEEAL CITY."
Oh, god. Yes we are. Get over it.
The real Elitch's, on the other hand, was a fun, laid-back, tree-shaded and flower-adorned, totally cheeseball, totally great, local landmark. You could actually take your kids there (okay, I WAS a kid, before Elitch's closed, but still).
And what's with the Looney Tunes crap?
Good riddance. That real estate must be worth a fortune.

[ForeverWinter]

10. Must admit...

... The Sea Dragon was SWEEEEEET.

[Buddyblazon]

13. The Wild Chipmunk was better than that...

My great grandmother used to talk about going to Elitch Gardens when it was just the Merry-Go-Round and ACTUAL gardens.

She spent the last of her years across the street on 38th across from Carls (GREAT Italian food...GREAT prices) in a retirement home (very old place which has since been restored).

I was 15 when she passed (turned 34 yesterday) and she would have me wheel her out into the front commons of the home. She would look up and across the street and tell me about taking my Grandmother there.

I was really upset when they moved it. I've been once. It is completely devoid of any soul whatsoever.

Even so, the thought of no Elitch's in Denver makes me really sad. It has been a part of my family's memories for generations. I know it would make my Grandmother and Great Grandmother sad.

[fishwax]

11. Welcome to DU! I remember going to Elitch's as a kid

on trips down from fort collins with my grandparents. (Usually followed by a visit to Casa Bonita, which was huge as a kid :D).

Yeah, Elitch Gardens was pretty much gone when it became Six Flags. Screw That. I haven't been there in years (never since the 6 flags switch); But still, it's sad to know it won't be there at all anymore, because I have great memories of the place :)

Welcome to DU ForeverWinter :hi:

[ForeverWinter]

12. Casa Bonita!

Thank you, Fishwax.
My brother worked at Casa Bonita in high school! He was one of the guys who dressed you up like a bandito and took a black and white picture of you in the fake wild west jail. He also spun cotton candy, and came home with his clothes all full of sugar. Good times! We used to call it "Casa Purina".

[Hawkeye-X]

14. That right?

Casa Purina?

I drive by there every Wednesday.

[ForeverWinter]

18. Urban Legends

Yeah, Hawkeye,
Like Elitch's, Casa Bonita was fertile ground for urban legends, especially that they used dog food in the recipes, thus the "Casa Purina"... I'll be the first to admit the food was terrible, but now that I have my own dog and have to pay for her (fairly expensive, but then she's a veggie, too) food, I see how unlikely that would be as a cost-saving measure. There was another rumor about one of the cliff-divers botching the dive, hitting his or her head, and drowning. The primary one I recall of Elitch's was of course, someone riding on the Twister stood up and got decapitated by a tunnel. It seems highly unlikely, and still (the impressions of childhood) I sometimes wonder if any of these legends had a grain of truth.

[haydukelives]

15. LOL

casa purina, LOL that is true.
Have never been to Six Flags.
Use to hang at Elitche's in high school.
Haven't been to Casa Purina in years

[librechik]

16. I'm a Lakeside person

that's about my speed...I like the choo choo train.

[hasbro]

17. I loved the old park

All of the turn of the century goodness. The new one is just so plastic.

That was so great about the old one was all the history.

Well Cinderela City and Celbrity bit the dust too.