Past Properties
HFE built several water parks in the 1980s which have since sold to other companies such as Wet 'n Wild, Frontier City, and Six Flags. White Water Branson, built in 1980, was the forerunner and is still owned by HFE; while the White Waters in Oklahoma City (1981), Grand Prairie, Texas (1982), Garland, Texas (1982) and Atlanta (1983) have been sold.
The 4,000 seat Grand Palace Theatre opened in 1992 by the Herschends. The theatre was co-owned by singer Kenny Rogers. Along with Rogers headliners were Glen Campbell, Louise Mandrell and Barbara Mandrell. In 1994 HFE entered into a ten year contract with Radio City Entertainment. The Grand Palace Theatre would be the first to host the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the world famous Rockettes outside of New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. The shows were successful and led to Radio City Entertainment launching tours of their shows in other cities throughout the United States.
HFE built the $10 million Grand Village Shops with Kenny Rogers adjacent to The Grand Palace Theatre in 1993. Ozark wares and English China filled the twenty six New Orleans themed shops. HFE later bought out entertainer Kenny Rogers and sold The Grand Palace in 1996 and The Grand Village in 2005.
American Adventures, a children’s theme park opened alongside White Water Atlanta. The park was sold to Six Flags in 1999.
In 1994, The Dollywood Company constructed a large music theatre in Pigeon Forge called "Music Mansion". Headlined by James Rogers, the highly successful theatre was operated by HFE until 2001, when it was sold to Anita Bryant. In 2005 the theatre was sold again and converted to a WonderWorks location. A Music Mansion Theatre was planned for Myrtle Beach, but never materialized.
In 2003 the Dollywood Company opened a new Dixie Stampede location in Orlando, Florida along Interstate 4. The location operated until early 2008, when the property was sold to an adjacent outlet mall for an undisclosed amount. HFE has plans to build another Dixie Stampede in the region at some point, though specific plans have not been disclosed.
In 2004 HFE purchased the Hawaiian Falls water parks located in Dallas, Texas, Garland, Texas and The Colony, Texas. In 2006 all three parks were sold.
Due to unreliable peak season water access, Ride The Ducks in Memphis closed in 2007.
Celebration City in Branson closed on October 25, 2008. The company has plans to restructure the site.
Read more about this topic: Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation
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