It might be hard to believe -- considering the price of admission, parking, a hot dog and Sno cone -- but amusement parks nationwide are reporting revenues that are more than 2 percent less than last year's season.
A press release that came across my desk said the bad economy and deferred investment in new rides and facilities are mostly to blame. To help combat the effects of fewer American visitors, parks such as Walt Disney World and Disneyland are making a big push into foreign markets.
Are you still heading to amusement parks? Are you cutting back on the number of visits or how much you spend when you're there?
Check out this photo of Hersheypark at night, taken from the hill across Hersheypark Drive. Had I brought my real camera and a tripod, you can imagine the results would have been even better! For more cool photos, check out YDR photographer Bil Bowden's blog.
I went to Hersheypark once this summer, but only because I found deeply discounted tickets on Craigslist. We ate before we went and only got snacks there because the food is so expensive!
I'm just surprised it's only 2%.
I love amusement parks, but you're very right, so expensive. I went to Six Flags once this summer. The service was so bad, I complained and they gave me tickets to come back.