The Recession Question

Warren Buffett says we are in a recession. The financial media will not say so as they do not want your dollars to stop flowing in to the markets. The question may be better put: Is there are recession in your area?

A drive out to Kings Island Amusement Park just north of Cincinnati, Ohio would indicate a big NO! But there could be other factors involved. We went to the park just last Saturday to find that no matter what vehicle entrance you entered, the park was wall-to-wall cars. You would have been directed to the far end of the property which is a green zone of grass just before the property ends. One reason may have been that part of the truck/bus parking lot was closed for the Robbie Knievel event (see below). But this lot is seldom seen by most park goers. Still, maybe this was the reason.

Then as we approached the park entrance we saw a continuous line of people that stretched 1,068 feet. I say

continuous because this line existed for no less than four hours! It could have been longer but we did not arrive before then. This line was for season ticket holders to get their picture taken. It ended inside a building that is only used for taking season pass holder pictures. Many of us were in awe. There did not seem to be a recession in the greater Cincinnati area. Adults gold passes for instance cost almost $100 each.

The park is owned by Cedar Fair (FUN) and is only one of eleven parks across the U.S. and Canada. Its chart looks like one of its famed roller coasters but if we are in a recession, then maybe this is the answer. With fuel prices going up steadily, people may be choosing to stay close to home and give the family season passes to amusement parks like those owned by Cedar Fair instead.

If you have not been to an amusement park in several years, you'll should not be surprised at the cost of games and souvenirs. Most carnie type games cost $5 a pop. Course any parent would let their children know ahead of arrival that games and souvenirs are off limits if they want to reap the value of a close to home family outing. Parks easily recoup any special discounts to draw them to the park when these same people start playing games.

If amusement parks are the answer to recession, perhaps FUN would be a stock to trade for the summer season. Not only does it operate the mass of roller coasters and stage shows but it also has six water parks.