The former Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky, is moving closer to reopening following a deal between Bluegrass Boardwalk Inc and the Kentucky State Fair Board.
Bluegrass Boardwalk is a partnership of four members of the Koch family from Santa Claus, Indiana, where they operate the successful Holiday World theme park.
The Fair Board has granted the Kochs lease approval on the 57-acre, amusement park and waterpark in Louisville. The family must now secure $15-$20 million of financing, including incentives from Kentucky’s tourism cabinet, if they are to reopen the park for May 2013.
“We can’t wait to get started,” says Dan Koch. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to get the park reopened in just 15 months, but we’ll get it done. We’d like to thank the Fair Board for putting their faith in us and the community at large for their tremendous cheers of support.”
Dan Koch is Holiday World president and forms Bluegrass Boardwalk together with his sister Natalie Koch, their cousin Kathy Kamp, and her husband, Michael Kamp, who is Holiday World’s general Manager. Dan, Natalie, and Kathy are grandchildren of Holiday World’s founder, Louis J Koch, who opened the Indiana park (originally called Santa Claus Land) in 1946.
“We’re bringing our business model of exceptional safety, cleanliness, friendliness and value for families,” says Natalie Koch. “That means free soft drinks, free sunscreen and free use of inner tubes.”
