Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: KEVIN W. LEMBKE
Lembke has spent his entire career in the amusement park industry, starting at SeaWorld Orlando in 2000, and he’s been president of Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA since 2018 (except for a brief break in 2019). In preparation for the park’s 2023 season, he oversaw the opening of two new rides: DarKoaster, an […]
Arts | Entertainment | Sports 2023: BRIDGETTE C. BYWATER
Coming out of pandemic-driven restrictions, “Kings Dominion will be the cure for cabin fever in 2023,” Bywater said in October 2022, announcing the 48-year-old amusement park’s intention to welcome guests year-round, adding weekends in January, February and March to its regular April to December season. Kings Dominion aimed to hire 2,500 employees this year; in […]
2023 Virginia 500: Arts | Entertainment | Sports
David Baldacci AUTHOR, FAIRFAX COUNTY Tony Bennett DEAN AND MARKEL FAMILIES MEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACH, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, CHARLOTTESVILLE Bridgette C. Bywater VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER, KINGS DOMINION/CEDAR FAIR ENTERTAINMENT, DOSWELL Clay Campbell PRESIDENT, MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY; PRESIDENT, MID-ATLANTIC REGION, NASCAR, MARTINSVILLE Coran Capsha[...]
Kings Dominion to remain open year-round
Kings Dominion will expand to year-round operations beginning in January, the Doswell theme park announced Tuesday. The park will now be open an additional nine weekends, or 18 more days, in January, February and early March. Historically, Kings Dominion opens for weekends in the spring and starts daily operations around Memorial Day, continuing through Labor […]
SeaWorld makes $3.4B offer for Kings Dominion parent company
A reported $3.4 billion acquisition bid from Orlando-based SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. could result in Virginia’s two major theme parks being under the same ownership. SeaWorld, parent company of Busch Gardens Williamsburg, has made an unsolicited offer to acquire Ohio-based Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., which owns the Kings Dominion theme park in Hanover County’s Doswell area. [&helli[...]
Northam: State to loosen more restrictions May 15
Beginning May 15, the state will loosen more restrictions, including allowing larger social gatherings and expanded audiences for entertainment venues and sporting events, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced in a video message released Thursday. Restaurants will also be allowed to resume serving alcohol after midnight. Northam’s amendments to his pandemic executive orders, which take effe[...]