What is the Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company?
The Kentucky Kingdom Redevelopment Company (KKRC) consists of a team of experienced theme park professionals who have successfully revitalized two previously failed theme parks: Magic Springs & Crystal Falls in Hot Springs, Arkansas and, before that, Kentucky Kingdom in Louisville, Kentucky. Both parks garnered numerous awards and distinctions thanks to the management team and seasonal staff members operating the facilities. Collectively, the members of KKRC have more than 200 years of experience in the theme park and water park industries.
KKRC is led by Edward J. Hart, who has a long and distinguished history of entrepreneurial undertakings, with a particular focus on the successful turnaround of high-profile, but failed, projects. Ed spearheaded the redevelopment of both:
Kentucky Kingdom, closed after only one season of operation in 1987, Ed and his team developed the theme park into the number one paid tourist attraction in Kentucky during the eight years they owned and operated it.
Magic Springs, Ed and his team redeveloped and operated this theme park from 2000 until 2008, where it enjoyed the position of Arkansas’ number one paid family attraction.
In addition, Ed successfully rescued two major real estate projects in Louisville:
1400 Willow, a luxury high-rise condominium building located in the heart of the city.
The Schuster Building, an historic commercial building located in the city’s highly regarded Highlands neighborhood.
Independent film production is another of Ed’s business interests. He and his business partner Bruce Lunsford launched Hart/Lunsford Pictures in 2004. Since then, the company has produced ten feature films, a number of which have premiered to critical acclaim and won various festival awards and distinctions.
In recognition of his success at turning failed local projects into success stories, Mr. Hart received Louisville’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award in 1995.
