Canobie Lake Park

What Canobie Lake Park does

Canobie Lake Park is a privately held, family-owned seasonal amusement park founded in 1902 and headquartered in Salem, New Hampshire. The park operates 85+ rides, games, and attractions centered on a New England family-entertainment positioning, anchored by headline assets such as the Untamed roller coaster (97-degree drop), the 1903 Antique Carousel, the Yankee Cannonball wooden coaster, the Castaway Island water park, and the Screeemfest fall event with five haunted houses. The park is recognized by Time Magazine/Money Magazine as a Top 10 Amusement Park in America and draws from a five-state New England catchment anchored 35 minutes from Boston.

The business is built on a direct-to-consumer admissions model: all tickets (date-specific, Good Any Day, Night Tickets) must be purchased online in advance through the company's webstore, with no walk-up sales. Revenue is diversified across seven streams: admissions, subscription-style Season Passes (Basic and Platinum tiers), food and beverage (30+ venues), equipment rentals (lockers, strollers, wheelchairs, ECVs, cabanas), games and midway attractions, retail/gift shops (8 locations), and corporate group bookings. Pricing is dynamic by date based on expected attendance, with a $7 military discount, group rates for 25+ weekday and 100+ weekend visitors, and educational field-trip programs for schools, camps, and youth groups.

Commercially, the park combines self-serve online ticketing with two dedicated B2B sales motions: corporate group sales (CTix discount program, catering for 100+, gift cards) and educational/field-trip group sales. Hotel partnerships with national brands (Holiday Inn, DoubleTree, Courtyard by Marriott) extend the distribution footprint into stay-and-play packages. Marketing runs through the company website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and the Canobie Club email newsletter. The current ownership group has operated the park continuously since 1958, with no institutional, private equity, or public market involvement disclosed.

Name

Canobie Lake Park

Legal name

Canobie Lake Park

Website

https://canobie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Canobie Lake Park is a privately held, family-owned seasonal amusement park in Salem, New Hampshire, founded in 1902, operating 85+ rides and attractions across a five-state New England draw, with revenue from admissions, season passes, dining, games, retail, and corporate and school group bookings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amusement Park Services

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (71311), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Parks (THAAAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Water Park Concessions & Guest Services (Food, Retail, Lockers, Cabanas) (THAAABAH)

Keywords

• Family amusement park
• Theme park admission
• Water park attractions
• Seasonal entertainment venue
• Group outing experiences

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: One-time admission tickets sold for specific dates or as Good Any Day passes valid for any operating day during the season. Prices vary by date based on expected attendance.
2. Season Passes: Annual season passes (Basic and Platinum tiers) providing unlimited admission throughout the operating season including Screeemfest. Basic passes exclude Saturdays/Sundays in July and August.
3. Food and Beverage: Over 30 dining venues throughout the park including restaurants, food stands, and mobile concessions. Accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express at most locations.
4. Equipment Rentals: Lockers ($10-$20), strollers ($10-$14), wheelchairs ($12), ECVs ($40), wagons ($14), and private cabana/family hut rentals at Castaway Island water park.
5. Corporate Group Sales: Discounted admission tickets for corporate groups, catered BBQ events for 100+ attendees, and gift card programs for employee perks.
6. Retail/Gift Shops: Multiple gift shops throughout the park selling apparel, souvenirs, toys, and park photos. Tax-free shopping available.
7. Games and Midway Attractions: Carnival-style midway games where guests can win prizes. Multiple arcade locations including Boathouse Arcade, Palace Arcade, and Pinball Parlor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Canobie Lake Park operates a seasonal family amusement park in Salem, New Hampshire, selling one-day admission tickets and annual season passes that grant access to 85+ rides, games, attractions, the Castaway Island water park, live entertainment, and seasonal events such as Screeemfest. The park also generates revenue from in-park spending on dining, gift shop merchandise, midway games, equipment rentals (lockers, strollers, wheelchairs, ECVs), premium add-ons (cabana and family hut rentals, Swim with a Mermaid experience), and catered group events for corporate and educational clients.

Product overview

Canobie Lake Park is a New England family amusement park offering over 85 rides, games, and attractions. The core product is park admission through Season Passes and One-Day Tickets. Major attractions include the Untamed roller coaster (with 97-degree drop), Castaway Island waterpark, historic Antique Carousel (1903), and various thrill and family rides. The park operates seasonal entertainment including Screeemfest (fall haunted event) and live shows. Additional revenue streams include dining (25+ venues), midway games, gift shops, equipment rentals (lockers, strollers, wheelchairs, ECVs), and premium experiences (cabana rentals, Swim with a Mermaid). Group services include corporate outing packages, field trip programs with educational components, and CTix corporate discount ticketing. The park is located in Salem, New Hampshire and has been operating since 1902.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Screeemfest: Canobie Lake Park's seasonal Halloween event featuring haunted houses, rides, and family-friendly fun by day and a healthy dose of fear by night. Features 5 terrifying haunted houses and runs in the fall.
• Castaway Island

Products and services

• One-Day Park Admission Tickets Date-specific single-visit admission tickets granting access to all rides, Castaway Island water park, live entertainment, and attractions for the chosen operating day. Available in Date-Specific, Good Any Day, and Night Ticket (after 5pm) variants. Sold online only in advance; no walk-up sales.
• Season Passes (Basic and Platinum) Annual subscription-style passes granting unlimited admission throughout the 2026 operating season. Basic pass excludes Saturdays/Sundays in July and August and Screeemfest Saturdays. Platinum pass provides unrestricted access to all operating days including Screeemfest.
• Screeemfest Seasonal Halloween Event Fall seasonal event featuring five haunted houses, rides operating in Halloween mode, live shows, roving monsters, and family-friendly daytime activities transitioning to fear-inducing nighttime experiences. Included with Platinum Season Passes or available via separate ticket purchase.
• Swim with a Mermaid Experience Premium after-hours experience at Castaway Island water park where children ages 4-12 can swim with a live mermaid on select Saturday nights. Limited to 14 spots per session with separate paid ticket required in addition to park admission where applicable.
• Cabana Rentals at Castaway Island Private cabana rentals at Castaway Island water park including a dedicated Food & Beverage Attendant, TV, personal safe, seating, and lounge chairs for groups up to 8 guests. Park admission is required separately.
• Family Hut Rentals 10' by 10' private shaded spots in a gated grassy area near the Rain Fortress water structure, equipped with seating, lounge chairs, and lockable chest. Accommodates up to 8 guests.
• In-Park Dining Venues Over 25 dining venues throughout the park including Be Bop Diner, Chicken Coop, Dancing Bear Canteen, Gables Grill, Petey's Island Pizza, Smokin' BBQ, and numerous food stands and mobile concessions offering varied cuisine such as BBQ, burgers, pizza, ice cream, fried dough, and international options. Accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express at most locations.
• BBQ Catering for Corporate Groups Catered all-you-can-eat BBQ events for groups of 100+ attendees served in the North Grove Catering Area. Designed as a turnkey option bundled with corporate group outings.
• Midway Games and Arcades Carnival-style midway games where guests can win prizes, including 3-Point Challenge, Balloon Bust, Can Alley, Duck Pond, Skeeball, and Whac-A-Mole, alongside multiple dedicated arcade locations such as Boathouse Arcade, Palace Arcade, and Pinball Parlor.
• In-Park Gift Shops Eight gift shops located throughout the park, including Fife & Drum Gift Shop, Heritage Gift Shop, Lucky Miner Gift Shop, Island Trader, Cannonball Photo, and specialty shops selling apparel, souvenirs, toys, and park photos. Tax-free shopping available on qualifying items.
• Equipment Rentals All-day equipment rentals including standard lockers ($10), large lockers ($15), jumbo lockers ($20), single strollers ($10), double strollers ($14), wheelchairs ($12), electric convenience vehicles ($40), and wagons ($14). First-come, first-served availability.
• Corporate Group Outing Program B2B group sales package including discounted admission tickets for groups of 25+ on weekdays or 100+ on weekends, Ctix corporate discount ticket program with company-specific codes (up to $15 off general admission), catered BBQ event options for 100+ attendees, gift card bulk orders for employee perks, and dedicated corporate sales support.
• Educational Field Trip Programs Structured educational outings for schools, camps, churches, and recreation groups with group rates, bag lunch options, and the Canobie Institute Education Program featuring downloadable workbooks for physics, science, and elementary education aligned to curriculum goals. Booking requires at least two weeks advance notice.
• Canobie Gift Cards Stored-value gift cards valid at all food stands, restaurants, carts, concessions, retail gift shop locations, and select games throughout the park. Never expire and commonly available in $10 and $20 denominations.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Lake Compounce: New England's oldest continuously operating theme park (1846), located in Bristol, CT — same regional family amusement park category as Canobie. Closest comparable in size, mix of classic and modern rides, integrated water park (Crocodile Cove), and New England draw area.
• Six Flags New England: Regional chain theme park in Agawam, MA serving the same New England family demographic as Canobie, including thrill coasters, water park (Hurricane Harbor), and seasonal Halloween events (Fright Fest). Directly competes for Boston and Hartford-area family visits.
• Quassy Amusement Park: Family-owned regional amusement park in Middlebury, CT operating since 1908 with a similar mix of classic rides, water attractions, and midway games. Closely comparable business model and target customer to Canobie Lake Park.
• Story Land: Family theme park in Glen, NH (same state as Canobie) focused on young children and families with storybook-themed rides and attractions. Direct competitor for New Hampshire family day-trip spend.
• Santa's Village: Family-owned theme park in Jefferson, NH focused on young families with Christmas-themed rides, water park, and seasonal events. Comparable operating model and New Hampshire family demographic.
• Edaville Family Theme Park: Family amusement park in Carver, MA with a heritage train, family rides, and seasonal events (Christmas, Halloween). Competes for the same southern New England family leisure market as Canobie.

Broad incumbents

• Palace Entertainment: Operator of a portfolio of regional family amusement parks and water parks across the U.S. (including Storybook Island, Castle Park, WaterWorks). Comparable park format and family demographic, with the advantage of multi-site scale.
• Cedar Fair / Cedar Point: Owner-operator of large regional amusement parks (Cedar Point, Knott's Berry Farm, Dorney Park, etc.). Overlaps with Canobie in the family thrill-ride + water park + seasonal events format but at significantly larger scale and capex capacity.
• Hersheypark: Large regional amusement park in Hershey, PA with integrated water park, thrill rides, and seasonal events (Halloween Hersheypark in the Dark). Comparable mix of attractions and family demographic, with brand tie-in advantage.

Emerging players

• Fun Spot America: Family-owned chain of regional amusement parks (Orlando, Atlanta, Kissimmee) with a similar go-kart, thrill ride, water park, and family entertainment mix. Comparable family-owned positioning but operating in warmer climates that permit longer operating seasons.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/clpvids
• Facebookfacebook.com/pg/Canobie-Lake-Park-18373183826/posts/?ref=page_internal
• Instagraminstagram.com/canobielakepark_official
• Xx.com/CanobieLakePark
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/canobie-lake-park

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canobie Lake Park