Three theme parks in the Cedar Fair chain are retreating from year-round operations after just one season.
Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia, Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina, and California’s Great America in Santa Clara, California, all expanded their calendars in 2023 to stay open on weekends in January and February.
The move didn’t appear to help the company’s first quarter earnings, with a 10 percent jump in guest spending being wiped out by bad weather and the increased costs of the expanded operations.
All three parks announced their 2024 schedules on Tuesday, and all three are going back to a more traditional seasonal schedule. After their seasons end on Dec. 31, Carowinds will stay closed until March 9, while Kings Dominion and CGA will open for the season on March 23.
The change will leave Knott’s Berry Farm as the only Cedar Fair park to operate in January and February.
Kings Dominion’s regional rival, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, had expanded to being open every month of the year in 2021. The park will retain that kind of calendar in 2024, though it will have short closure between Jan. 8 and Jan. 25.