Herschend sells three parks to bowling alley company following Palace acquisition
Lucky Strike Entertainment—with 360 bowling, amusement, water parks, and family entertainment centers in North America—has added three properties to its portfolio that were part of the March 2025 acquisition of Palace Entertainment’s U.S. parks and attractions by Herschend Family Entertainment.
What’s notable about the additions to the Lucky Strike collection of family entertainment properties is that Raging Waters Los Angeles in San Dimas, Calif., Castle Park in Riverside, Calif., and Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, North Carolina, were only under the Dollywood owners’ control for a few months before they were sold.
Lucky Strike has also acquired the Boomers entertainment centers in Vista, Calif., and Palm Springs, Calif.
“This acquisition accelerates our vision to build the leading platform of location-based entertainment destinations in North America,” said Thomas Shannon, founder, chairman, and CEO of Lucky Strike Entertainment. “Each of these properties has deep roots and established guest loyalty in their communities. We see tremendous opportunity to elevate the guest experience and continue our playbook of strategic investment in high-return opportunities to expand our portfolio, create network economies between the assets, and reshape the future of entertainment.”
Lucky Strike Acquisitions from Herschend
The approximately 60-acre Raging Waters Los Angeles is the largest water park in California, with more than 50 attractions, including 14 water slides, wave pools, lazy rivers, and splash zones.
Similarly, the 40-acre Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe, one of the largest and most recognizable water parks in the Southeast, features over 40 attractions, including high-thrill slides, a massive wave pool, and family-friendly splash zones.
Initially developed in 1976, Castle Park in Riverside, Calif., is a 24-acre regional amusement park with more than 20 rides, four themed miniature golf courses, midway games, and a two-story arcade.
Also New to the Lucky Strike Portfolio
Boomers Vista, in North San Diego County, features go-karts, laser tag, batting cages, two 18-hole mini golf courses, and a 99-game arcade; Boomers Palm Springs offers go-karts, bumper boats, a rock wall, batting cages, three mini-golf courses, and over 85 arcade games.
“This is a major step in our long-term strategy,” Shannon says. “Each of these properties complements our portfolio, adds […] the network effects of having a nationwide, rain-or-shine offering for our valued guests.”
The Herschend portfolio includes four water parks, four theme parks, three aquariums, and other experiences across North America.
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