La Ronde has a brand new proprietor and a brand new operator, and the Six Flags identify that has been connected to the park for almost twenty years might not survive the transition.
EPR Properties, an actual property funding belief, introduced Wednesday that it has acquired the Montreal amusement park as a part of a $342 million deal protecting seven parks beforehand owned by Six Flags Leisure Company. La Ronde is the one Canadian property within the package deal.
As soon as the deal closes — anticipated by the tip of March or early April — the park shall be operated by La Ronde Operations Inc., an organization owned by trade veteran Kieran Burke. If that identify would not ring a bell, his parks would possibly: Burke’s firms run Village Vacances Valcartier in Quebec Metropolis, Calypso Waterpark in Limoges, Ontario, and Moist’n’Wild, amongst 14 properties complete throughout the US and Canada.
Burke has an extended historical past with La Ronde than the announcement would possibly counsel. He beforehand served as chairman and CEO of Six Flags, throughout which era he negotiated the unique lease with the Metropolis of Montreal. “I’ve a particular affection for La Ronde, having attended Expo ’67 as a baby,” he mentioned in Wednesday’s launch.
As for the Six Flags branding, EPR Properties has solely acquired rights to the identify via 2026, that means La Ronde may very well be working below a unique identification as quickly as subsequent 12 months. Nonetheless, new possession guarantees to protect the spirit of the park shifting ahead.
“La Ronde holds an essential place in Quebec’s leisure panorama. Our precedence is to make sure a easy transition and to proceed creating the park whereas respecting its identification and native roots. I do know the amusement park trade nicely, and my expertise as an operator offers a long-term imaginative and prescient that can guarantee La Ronde’s sustainability, strengthen its market place, and protect its belongings,” added Burke.
The park opened on Île Sainte-Hélène for Expo ’67 and is at present the most important amusement park in japanese Canada, house to about 40 rides, together with Goliath, one of many tallest and quickest curler coasters in North America.
Season passes already bought, together with multi-park Six Flags privileges, shall be honoured for the 2026 season. Additional particulars are anticipated as soon as the transaction formally closes.