Operator Of Santa Monica Pier's Pacific Park Sells To Investment Firm

SANTA MONICA, CA — The company that runs Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday announced that it's been bought by a private equity firm that plans to invest $10 million in the park over the next five years.

SC Holdings bought Santa Monica Amusements LLC, which operates Pacific Park, for an undisclosed sum. As part of the announcement, the company said it plans to invest $10 million over the next five years in the park's "food and entertainment programs, supporting park operations and keeping it a fun and welcoming destination for tourists, families, and the community."

SC and the park will make more announcements in the comming months about growth and developments, including new food and entertainment, the company said.

SC Holdings' past investments include LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s studio The SpringHill Company, the multiple-Michelin star winning Saga Hospitality Group and the merger of Major League Pickleball and the Professional Pickleball Association, according to release.

Pacific Park’s Vice President and General Manager Jeff Klocke and his longtime management team will continue to lead the park's day-to-day operations, the company said.

"Having SC as owners and investors in Pacific Park is a milestone moment," Klocke said. "The Pier is a treasured part of Santa Monica, and a place where both tourists and Angelenos come for fun and relaxation. SC’s investment and resources will help us expand what makes Pacific Park great today and write its next exciting chapter."

SC also announced members of its Pacific Park Advisory Board: Lars Liebst, who served for 24 years as CEO of Copenhagen amusement park Tivoli Gardens, and David Swinghamer, the former CEO of Shake Shack.

"We’re honored to support the Park’s growth through investments into its programs and operations,” SC Partner Adrian Williams said. “The Pier and Park are such iconic parts of Southern California’s coastline, and we want to make sure they stay a welcoming place where visitors and locals can come have fun and relax.”