After decades of local ownership, Pittsburgh's favorite park will be sold to another company. Is it a big deal to you? E-mail comments to newsroom@thepittsburghchannel.com.
(Include first name and hometown. Your comments might be read on the air during a WTAE-TV Channel 4 newscast.)

Here are some of the emails we have received from WTAE viewers so far. What you see here was copied and pasted directly from your e-mails.

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Seriously, this is your TOP STORY?
Yes its an end of an era, but really, change is NOT a bad thing.
My family doesn't even go to Kennywood any longer. The cost is prohibitive, the park is too small, and the people of Pittsburgh are rude. For the same cost we instead travel to Cedar Point in Ohio. Shorter lines, better rides, and a much more family friendly atmosphere.
Sorry, but I can't get behind the "poor us" mentality of this sale. My sincere hope is that they keep enough of the old roller coasters, but get rid of the non esential rides and turn this park into the park that draws us back!
Susan L.

We have all heard the line "Nothing will change" when something is purchased. We all know that it will change, but the question is to "What degree?" As a former employee of Kennywood with fond memories of the park, I, along with countless Pittsburghers have had the unique privilege to pass on memories from generations of family members and friends going to the park. Other parks I have visited around the country do not have that Kennywood flair. Small but yet personal. The local ownership was the reason that was able to happen.
I grew up in North Huntingdon.
Michael J. Testa

Like most other Pittsburghers, I share the disappointment in the decision to sell Kennywood to a corporation. Things will change, albeit probably not at first. The lure of Kennywood to those of us born and raised in Pittsburgh were the memories. Whether it was our parents and grandparents telling us of travels to Kennywood on the trolley or the school picnics, marching bands, fright nights, our first kiss in the Old Mill. When any corporation buys a private business, their goal goes completely to profits. Kennywood had no debt; the new owner immediately has debt due to the purchase. They'll change pricing structure, they won't cater to the locals who are the visitors to the park, and mark my words, in the next decade, we'll hear of the closing of Kennywood due to the inability of the park to turn a profit. The corporation now owning Kennywood will not understand the culture of this region, we are unique. They will use the same marketing plan as they use in Europe, the park will eventually become 'unprofitable'. Sadly, we'll probably see the Kennywood land used for some sort of office complex by 2020. Corporations have never taken over a family run business without ruining it. This is a sad, sad day for Pittsburgh.
Mike B., Bethel Park

Two things struck me as I read this story. In no particular order, I think that the "Taco Stand" comment was a disgrace. It was unnecessary, and thoughtless, the sort of comment that creates problems where there are none. I wouldn't want anyone working for me that would embarrass my company this way. The other thing is that I really think it is a shame that American's seem to always be selling out to other countries. Our theme parks are a big part of our history, I just think it's a shame that a deal couldn't have been done with an American company.
Cindy in Indiana, Pa.

hi... the fact that kennywood was sold and this great state of pennsylvania wasn't given the chance for a hometown family to purchase this amazing historical is upsetting... my family has been going to kennywood for 4 generations and this upsets me... you know... the new kennywood outfit you carefully pick for yourself and your family, the excitement each year, the family feeling of knowing this is a homegrown area park.... someone from the area might have purchased this great park and kept it, as you would say, in our family a pennsylvania because we all basically own this park in our hearts and memories! i hope this wasn't a big mistake.. it really makes me sad... i am 50 and i still look forward like little kid, to go to kennywood every year... the memories i and my family has is priceless....
Kim Lecnar, Lower Burrell

Yes, it is a big deal! What has been a family tradition in Western PA ever since I was a child (and I'm now 60 years old) has been sold to an overseas company. At least if the owners had found it necessary to sell the amusement parks, they could have kept it a national treasure and found a buyer in the USA! Kennywood will now just be one more foreign-owned business! It is very sad.
Sandy from New Castle

I feel the sale of the Kennywood properties is a bad move. Anytime a big corporation swallows up the little guys, the only ones to gain are the CEOs. In time, the almighty dollar will win out, and all the history associated with the parks will be replaced with what will make the most money for the headquarters located in Spain. More American dollars going overseas.
Joyce Wilhelm, Overbrook

It's a sad day in Pittsburgh...Kennywood sold to a foreign company...nothing is sacred!
=, (
Ryan Gargan

The kennywood sale is honestly an absolute shame. They say they're not going to change it, but most likely, as with other sales to big companies, they will make gradual changes over the years and the park will eventually be nothing like it is now. The fact that kennywood was locally owned for over 100 years added to the pride that Western Pennsylvanians took in the park. Now its nothing more than a part of some big company's chain. In my opinion, some of the magic of kennywood has just disappeared.
D. Benson

Let me start by saying that this is a sad day for the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. Many family members, friends & acquaintances along with myself are very disappointed with the ownership and management of Kennywood Entertainment. I guess it must have been an offer with a lot of zeros at the end of it, because why else would you sell off everything that your ancestors have worked so hard to build and create over the past 100 years. I hope that ownership can sleep at night knowing that they are stripping away from their children and grandchildren every experience and opportunity that they were given at that park. Given the opportunity do you think Dan Rooney would sell the Steelers? Hell, if you were going to sell, you could have at least sold to an American based investment group. I would just like you to know that due to this sale not only will I never step foot in the any of the Kennywood family parks again but I will never look and feel the same way I did either. Just the mention of Kennywood's name would bring back hundred's of memories, from early childhood riding the Cadillac's all the way up to present day riding the Turtle with my niece and nephew. Now all the mention of Kennywood will bring to my mind is "corporation" and "greed".
Jason from Munhall

Is the sale of Kennywood a big deal to me? Of course it is. It means that every ignorant person in the region will automatically misidentify Parques Reunidos as a company in Mexico, rather than Spain. The general consensus will be that my favorite place to get funnel cakes will now be replaced with churros. The residents of Southwestern Pennsylvania have already voiced their misguided concern, wondering if we'll have to press 1 for English when we call the park and will the Thunderbolt be manned by a foreigner rather than an underpaid and undeclared nineteen year old Clarion University student.
What does the sale of Kennywood really mean? Really, nothing that drastic will change. The impact of changing ownership will be unseen, well maybe for awhile. Some year round staff may find themselves looking for another job. Unfortunately, one of them may be Mary Lou Rosemeyer, who attempted to make a witty comment addressing the concern by stating that Kennywood will not become a "Giant Taco Stand." Here's a little bit of advice. You can't make a witty comment like that in this region. People just don't get it, kind of like Geography.
I hate to admit it, but I made the jokes, too. My intention was not to make fun of Hispanic culture but to make light of the stereotype that assumes that instead of really cheesy musical acts we'll have a Mariachi band playing on the center stage with Menudo making its big comeback by Noah's Ark.
Signed, Michael
P.S. Maybe the Nachos will taste better......j/k

I grew up in Pittsburgh, its always been my home no matter what state I have resided. My heart belongs to Pittsburgh, and I was very saddened when West View Park was made into a shopping plaza, it made my childhood memories fade some what, and now, to my dismay, I am in total shock. I have very fond memories of Kennywood as a child,and now they too will be faded memories. I never would believe that Kennywood would be sold to a foreign company. Right now, they say all will remain in tact, with staff and looks and all, but what about a few years down the road? When things start to change, are the people of the Burgh going to happy with the owners decision then??? I'm sure the company that has purchased Kennywood, is a great company, but I must be a little bigot here with why is our nation so easy to forfeit to the foreign companies and nations, why are Americans giving up on America? America is just that, Not Foreign Nation......I don't understand, why do we have borders, why not just Open the Gates and let them all in from where ever??? For when the American companies sell or move their businesses to other countries for the sake of the Almighty Buck, we as Americans have no right to gripe, We as Americans let this happen with their Sweet Talk of the Buck. The money is everything. Well since the deal has been made already to sell Kennywood, what is the use in saying anything now, the dollar meant more to the owners than the company being owned by an American family or company that employs American people. Just like the steel mills my father sweated in, they were sold to foreign companies as well, putting Pittsburgh and other steel states in a mess with no jobs. Its unbelievable how many foreign people we have in this world. Now all the whites are the minorities. I personally hate the idea, I think it stinks, but who am I? I'm not someone that will ever be able to out bid a foreign country. I'm just a girl that grew up in a steel town that has no steel, and now the amusement parks have no amusement to me at all. I now live in Connecticut where there is a amusement park called Lake Compounce, which Kennywood did own, now it belongs to the Spanish company, not an Indian or an American, but a Spanish company, No wonder why we have to push ONE for English. America is starting to suck, with their no back bone, I need money, attitude.
Signed, Steeltowngirlpa
Now living in Ledyard Connecticut.
And I doubt you will read this one on the air!!!!
P.S. How is it, that forgeiners can own property, and businesses, and not pay taxes, and Americans can't get a home or open a business, and pay high taxes for all the labors and long over time that the government takes...... There is something wrong with this picture......don't you think????
vicki

It certainly is a big deal to me. The way things are going, in just a few short years, there will be no United States of America. It is time the USA takes back it's heritage. You go to Disney World and the primary language is Spanish, spoken by the rudist people of the world. they push, shove, get in front of the line. Now they are bringing that to Kennywood. Shame on the Kennywood Entertainment. I for one will make a trip to an amusement park which is owned by Americans in the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and run by the same. For the time being anyway.
Carolyn - Charleroi