“His company’s inability to reach an accord with state officials on operating the closed Kentucky Kingdom amusement park is “puzzling,” according to Ed Hart, the lead investor in the venture. Hart outlined some of his concerns to The Courier-Journal on Monday in a letter to the editor. The letter came three days after Harold Workman, president of the Kentucky State Fair Board, said the board had ended more than a year’s worth of discussions with Hart on reopening the amusement park at the Kentucky Exposition Center. Six Flags abandoned the park after the 2009 season amid a bankruptcy filing….”

Courier Journal Article, published October 4, 2011

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“WDRB News has learned that negotiations between developer Ed Hart and the Kentucky State Fair Board over the re-opening of Kentucky Kingdom have broken down indefinitely…”

WDRB News, September 30, 2011

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“The front gates at Kentucky Kingdom may remain locked up until 2013 because of inaction to form a public-private partnership.

Ed Hart, CEO of the Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company, gave a presentation to the Fair Board’s financing committee Thursday morning. He said he is committing $1 million to maintain and upkeep the park….”

WAVE 3 news, aired September 22, 2011

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“The current developer says the park will not re-open as planned next summer. And that would be the third summer in a row that the park will remain closed after Six Flags pulled out. It is unfortunately no longer possible to open Kentucky Kingdom in 2012, Developer Ed Hart told the Budget and Finance Committee of the Kentucky State Fair Board on Thursday morning.

Hart says the inability of the parties involved to reach a lease agreement means the park cannot safely open in 2012. It’s those two forces that have come together, says Hart, not finalizing the private partnership and running out of time for ride deliveries causes us to delay the project until 2013…..”

Fox 41 news, aired September 22, 2011

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“Kentucky Kingdom amusement park will not reopen next year because there is not time to make needed improvements, said businessman Ed Hart. But Hart, a former operator of the Louisville venue, has pledged to commit $1 million to continue the effort to get the park open in 2013. Hart told members of the Kentucky State Fair Board’s finance and budget committee Thursday morning that there is not enough time to order new rides and equipment, install them and hire and train workers before a projected May 2012 opening date.”

Business First Article, published September 22, 2011

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“The Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company has not been able to negotiate a lease with the Kentucky State Fair Board and a public/private partnership has not been fully developed…..”

WHAS 11 news, aired September 22, 2011

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“Kingdom Redevelopment Company (KKRC) is close to an agreement on private sector funding of nearly $29 million to reopen the Kentucky Kingdom theme park.
However, it needs the Kentucky State Fair Board’s (KSFB) cooperation to finalize
the deal….According to Hart, The state and local governments must decide how to proceed. We have yet to reach a lease agreement with the Fair Board. We thought we had, but only recently did the Fair Board make it clear that they do not intend to
adjust the lease terms to reflect the influx of $28.6 million of private funding. We hope the Fair Board can work through this issue.”

The Lane Report Article, published September 14, 2011

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