Herschend Family Entertainment looks to acquire aquariums

The Silver Dollar City managing company is in talks with Columbus, Ohio-based Steiner & Associates to become the operational partner for Steiner’s Adventure Aquarium in Camden, N.J., and Newport Aquarium in Newport, Ky., according to a Herschend news release. Herschend would manage both attractions’ day-to-day business.

The agreement is contingent upon Herschend completing “normal due diligence” and Steiner receiving approval from various public agencies and owner partners, according to the release.

Steiner and Dudley Taft, based in Cincinnati, are majority owners of the aquariums; if the agreement goes through, Steiner will focus on new projects, and Dudley Taft will be a minority investor.

Herschend officials anticipate making more details public within the next several weeks. The aquariums, meanwhile, are operating as usual.

Herschend has 18 properties in seven states including Celebration City, Ride The Ducks and Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede in Branson; Dollywood in Tennessee; and Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta. The nearly 50-year-old company is in the process of moving its corporate headquarters from Branson to Atlanta, where President and CEO Joel Manby and other top executives work. Company founders Jack and Peter Herschend will remain in Branson.

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