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Enchanted Parks

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This article is about the theme park company formed in 2025. For the amusement park formerly named Enchanted Parks in Federal Way, Washington, see Wild Waves Theme Park.
Enchanted Parks LLC
TypePrivate
IndustryAmusement parks
PredecessorInnovative Attractions Management
FoundedDecember 18, 2025; 6 months ago (2025-12-18)
FounderJames Harhi
HeadquartersWindermere, Florida, U.S.,
Number of locations
8 (2026)
Area served
United States
Key people
  • James Harhi (CEO)
  • Franceen Gonzales (COO)
Websiteenchantedparks.com Edit this at Wikidata
Footnotes
[1]

Enchanted Parks LLC is an American amusement park company headquartered in Windermere, Florida. The company operates eight properties in the United States, including amusement parks, water parks, and family entertainment centers, with on-site resorts. Founded by James Harhi in 2012 as Innovative Attractions Management, the company originally focused on developing and managing tourist attractions. After acquiring Enchanted Forest Water Safari in 2024 and Diggerland USA in 2025, Enchanted Parks was formed as a spin-off company of Innovative Attractions Management. In 2026, EPR Properties acquired six former Six Flags parks, selecting Enchanted Parks to operate the parks under long-term leases.

History

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Innovative Attractions Management

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Innovative Attractions Management acquired its first park, Enchanted Forest Water Safari, in 2024.

Innovative Attractions Management (IAM) was a hospitality company formed in 2012 in Windermere, Florida.[2] The company primarily focused on development, operating, and marketing tourist attractions.[3][4] The Daytona Lagoon water park was its first management client.[2] IAM began acquiring attraction properties in the years leading up to its rebranding to Enchanted Parks. On March 1, 2024, IAM acquired the independent park Enchanted Forest Water Safari from the Noonan family.[5] In January 2025, IAM acquired the United States location of Diggerland in West Berlin, New Jersey from the Girlya Family.[6][7]

Operations as Enchanted Parks

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On December 18, 2025, the Delaware Division of Corporations reported that a company named Enchanted Parks Holdings, LLC, was formed.[8]

Between January 8 and 9, 2026, Enchanted Parks filed multiple trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.[9] These trademarks included the names of parks owned by American amusement park operator Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, including Six Flags St. Louis, Michigan's Adventure, Oceans of Fun, and Six Flags Great Escape Lodge. This led to speculation that these parks would be sold.[10] During a February 2026 earnings call, Six Flags CEO John Reilly commented: "We don't have anything to share today on that front" when asked about the trademarks.[11]

Six Flags St. Louis has been described as a "crown-jewel" of the March 2026 deal by Enchanted Parks founder and CEO James Harhi.[12] The park is the most-attended Enchanted Parks property.[13]

On March 5, 2026, Six Flags announced the divestiture of seven of its park properties to EPR Properties. Following the sale's completion, all six of the United States-based parks would be operated on a 40-year lease by Enchanted Parks, the theme park operator spin-off of Innovation Attractions Management.[14][15] The six parks were Michigan's Adventure, Schlitterbahn Galveston, Six Flags Great Escape, Six Flags St. Louis, Valleyfair, and Worlds of Fun.[16] The sale was finalized on April 6, 2026, after which Enchanted Parks became the operator of the six parks.[17][18]

On March 11, 2026, Enchanted Parks announced it selected the Vantage system by WhiteWater West for point of sale and mobile app services. These services would go live by the opening day of each park.[19][20]

Properties

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As of April 6, 2026, Enchanted Parks operates eight properties.[21]

Parks

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Name Location Year opened Year acquired Notes
Enchanted Forest Water Safari Old Forge, New York 1956 2024 Owned by EPR Properties; operated by Enchanted Parks.[22] Acquired from the Noonan family. Includes the Calypso's Cove family entertainment center.
Diggerland USA West Berlin, New Jersey 2014 2025 Owned by EPR Properties; operated by Enchanted Parks.[22] Acquired in January 2025.
Michigan's Adventure Muskegon, Michigan 1956 2026 Acquired from Six Flags, under 40-year operating lease from EPR Properties. Includes the WildWater Adventure water park.
Schlitterbahn Galveston Galveston, Texas 2006 Acquired from Six Flags, under 40-year operating lease from EPR Properties.
Six Flags Great Escape Queensbury, New York 1954 Acquired from Six Flags, under 40-year operating lease from EPR Properties, with rights to the Six Flags name until December 31, 2026.[23] Includes the Hurricane Harbor water park.
Six Flags St. Louis Eureka, Missouri 1971 Acquired from Six Flags, under 40-year operating lease from EPR Properties, with rights to the Six Flags name until December 31, 2026.[23] Planned to be re-named Mid-America after the 2026 season.[24] Includes the Hurricane Harbor St. Louis water park.
Valleyfair Shakopee, Minnesota 1976 Acquired from Six Flags, under 40-year operating lease from EPR Properties. Includes the Superior Shores water park.
Worlds of Fun Kansas City, Missouri 1973 Acquired from Six Flags, under 40-year operating lease from EPR Properties. Includes the Oceans of Fun water park.

Lodging

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Name Location Year acquired Associated park Notes
Old Forge Camping Resort Old Forge, New York 2024 Enchanted Forest Water Safari Owned by EPR Properties; operated by Enchanted Parks. Acquired from the Noonan family.
Water Edge's Inn
Six Flags Great Escape Lodge Queensbury, New York 2026 Six Flags Great Escape Acquired from Six Flags, under 40-year operating lease from EPR Properties. Includes the White Water Bay water park.
Worlds of Fun Village Kansas City, Missouri Worlds of Fun Acquired from Six Flags, under 40-year operating lease from EPR Properties.

Leadership

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As of March 5, 2026, the executive team of Enchanted Parks consists of:[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Entity Details: OpenCorporates". OpenCorporates. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
  2. ^ a b What's Ahead for Enchanted Parks (Video). IAAPA. April 14, 2026 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ Stilwell, Andrew (January 12, 2026). "Everything We Know About "Enchanted Parks"". Coaster101. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  4. ^ Herbert, Geoff (March 5, 2024). "Enchanted Forest Water Safari gets new Florida-based owner". Syracuse.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  5. ^ "Water Safari changes hands". Adirondack Explorer. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  6. ^ Dooling, Emma (January 10, 2026). "South Jersey theme park Diggerland USA sold to Florida company". Philadelphia Business Journal. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  7. ^ "Innovative Attraction Management acquires Diggerland USA to expand its portfolio of family-oriented attractions". Amusement Today. January 9, 2025. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  8. ^ Thayer, Colson (January 12, 2026). "Six Flags May Undergo Major Changes to Multiple Parks, New Trademark Docs Reveal". People. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Bea (January 12, 2026). "New trademark applications suggest changes to Six Flags park portfolio". Blooloop. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  10. ^ Nolfi, Joey (January 10, 2026). "More shocking Six Flags park changes could be on the way, trademark docs reveal". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  11. ^ Taylor, Blake (February 19, 2026). "Investor asks Six Flags CEO about 'Enchanted Parks' rumor as park portfolio review continues". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  12. ^ Wyman, Hannah (March 5, 2026). "Six Flags St. Louis to be sold to Kansas City real estate firm that owns City Museum land". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  13. ^ Stetina, Abby (May 7, 2026). "Enchanted Parks CEO shares his vision of new Six Flags". Leader Publications. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  14. ^ Baldwin, Tim (March 31, 2026). "Enchanted Parks acquires multiple properties from Six Flags". Amusement Today. Vol. 30, no. 1 (April 2026 ed.). pp. 33–34. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  15. ^ "Water Safari owners rebrand; to buy six more amusement parks". Daily Sentinel. March 5, 2026. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  16. ^ Lewis, Zach (March 5, 2026). "From Old Forge and Beyond: 'Enchanted Parks' Grows Its Kingdom". WKTV. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  17. ^ "Six Flags Completes Sale of Six U.S. Parks to EPR Properties". Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (Press release). April 6, 2026. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  18. ^ Roseboom, Matt (April 6, 2026). "Six Flags completes sale of seven parks to EPR Properties". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved April 19, 2026.
  19. ^ Hardy, Rebecca (March 11, 2026). "WhiteWater's Vantage platform selected by Enchanted Parks". Blooloop. Retrieved March 24, 2026.
  20. ^ Gray, Chris (April 22, 2026). "Schlitterbahn Galveston hopes for a clean slate with new ownership". Chron.com. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  21. ^ "EPR Properties Closes on Six U.S. Parks in Regional Parks Portfolio". EPR Properties (Press release). April 6, 2026. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  22. ^ a b "Property Map". EPR Properties. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  23. ^ a b Mitchell, Bea (April 7, 2026). "Six Flags completes sale of six US parks to EPR Properties". Blooloop. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
  24. ^ Wyman, Hannah (March 6, 2026). "New Six Flags operator promises new rides, new name, more value". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  25. ^ "About Enchanted Parks". Enchanted Parks. Retrieved March 21, 2026.
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