The Lancaster County amusement park was one of 20 properties purchased from Palace Entertainment by the entertainment company Herschand.

LANCASTER, Pa. — Dutch Wonderland is getting a new owner.

The Lancaster County amusement park’s ownership group, Palace Entertainment, was acquired by Herschend, which signed a definitive agreement under which Herschend will acquire all of Palace Entertainment’s U.S. entertainment properties.

The deal was announced Tuesday.

In addition to Dutch Wonderland, Palace Entertainment owned more than 20 historic amusement parks, water parks, family entertainment centers and campgrounds, including Kennywood in Pittsburgh and Lake Compounce in Connecticut, which holds the title of America’s First Amusement Park and features the renowned Boulder Dash wooden roller coaster.

The acquisition strengthens Herschend’s position as the world’s largest family-held themed entertainment company, with a broad portfolio of brands spanning theme parks, aquariums, resorts and immersive attractions that collectively entertain more than 20 million annual guests.

“We look forward to building upon the strong foundation that Palace Entertainment has created and welcoming these properties and hosts into the Herschend family of brands,” said Andrew Wexler, CEO of Herschend. “The teams at these parks have done an incredible job building beloved destinations in their communities, and we look forward to learning from them, growing together and building on their success. This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to continue creating exceptional experiences for guests and meaningful opportunities for our teams.”

The transition will not involve any immediate changes in the daily operations at any of the newly acquired properties, including Dutch Wonderland, the company said. 

In the coming months, Herschend said it will prioritize:

Supporting its new employees with training, resources and opportunities aligned with Herschend’s people-first culture.Maintaining continuity in guest experiences while exploring enhancements that align with Herschend’s commitment to high-quality entertainment.Proactively communicating with employees, guests and local communities as the transition progresses.

Dutch Wonderland, located off Route 30 in East Lampeter Township, has been a Lancaster County staple since its opening in 1963. 

Farmer Earl Clark and his family founded and owned the park until 2001, when it was sold to Hershey Entertainment, which in turn sold the park to Palace Entertainment in 2010.