Calypso Waterpark is changing hands as part of a deal that will see a U.S. real estate investment trust acquire the Eastern Ontario tourist attraction along with a resort near Quebec City for nearly $180 million.
The Calypso-Valcartier Group said Thursday it’s agreed to sell the water park as well as the four-season Village Vacances Valcartier resort to Kansas City-based EPR Properties for US$142 million, or about $179 million in Canadian funds.
Calypso-Valcartier president and chief operating officer Sylvain Lauzon will continue to lead operations at the two properties, which will now be managed by Oklahoma-based Premier Parks.
“There is simply no other group in our industry that has more experience designing, building and operating visitor attractions,” Lauzon said of Premier Parks, which operates more than a dozen amusement and water parks in the United States and Canada.
“We look forward to working together to grow our parks and continue to offer unforgettable memories for our visitors.”
Opened in 2010, Calypso is Canada’s largest water park, featuring 35 waterslides, the country’s largest wave pool and two lazy rivers. Located in Limoges, about 35 kilometres east of Ottawa, the facility can accommodate up to 12,000 visitors a day and typically draws more than 400,000 customers each year.