EPR Properties

EPR Properties, formerly Entertainment Properties Trust, is a real estate investment trust based in Kansas City, Missouri, that invests in amusement parks, movie theaters, ski resorts, and other entertainment properties. It owns 353 properties as of 2022.

History

Entertainment Properties Trust was created by AMC Entertainment executive Peter Brown and financial analyst David Brain. They decided to establish a REIT focused on megaplex movie theaters after failing to find an existing REIT to help finance AMC's development of theaters.[3][4] The company was incorporated on August 22, 1997.[5] It held its initial public offering in November 1997, raising $278 million.[6] By March 1998, Entertainment Properties had purchased 13 AMC theaters in sale-and-leaseback transactions.[7]

In 2005, the company established VinREIT, a subsidiary focused on vineyard properties.[8][9] It purchased a portfolio of six vineyards and wineries from Constellation Brands in 2008 for $115 million.[10][11] By 2010, the company was "evaluating" VinREIT after a downturn in the wine industry,[12] and in 2011, all of the wine properties were put up for sale.[13] The sales were completed by 2014.[14]

Entertainment Properties Trust began investing in charter school properties in 2007, primarily through a deal with Imagine Schools.[15][16] By 2012, the company owned 41 schools.[17]

The company changed its name to EPR Properties in 2012 to reflect its diversification into recreation and education properties.[18][19]

In 2015, Brain retired as chief executive officer.[20]

In 2017, EPR bought a portfolio of properties from CNL Financial Group for $456 million, comprising the Northstar California ski resort, 15 waterparks and amusement parks, and 5 small family entertainment centers.[21]

In November 2019, the company sold its portfolio of charter schools for $454 million.[22]

In March 2026, it was announced EPR Properties would acquire seven properties from Six Flags, consisting of six amusement parks and a water park, for $331 million.[23] As of April 6, 2026, the sale of the United States parks were completed, while La Ronde in Canada is pending completion.[24]

Properties

As of 2022, the company owns 353 properties, including 175 movie theaters, 74 education properties, 56 eat-and-play properties, 18 amusement parks and water parks, 11 ski resorts, and 8 hotels.[25]

Notable properties are listed below.[26]

Amusement parks and water parks

  • Calypso ParkLimoges, Ontario
  • Camelbeach WaterparkTannersville, Pennsylvania
  • Frontier CityOklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Hawaiian Falls GarlandGarland, Texas
  • Hawaiian Falls The ColonyThe Colony, Texas
  • Magic SpringsHot Springs, Arkansas
  • Michigan's Adventure and WildWater AdventureMuskegon, Michigan
  • Pacific ParkSanta Monica, California
  • Rapids Water ParkRiviera Beach, Florida
  • Six Flags Darien LakeDarien, New York
  • Schlitterbahn GalvestonGalveston, Texas
  • Six Flags Great Escape and Hurricane HarborQueensbury, New York
  • Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark — Queensbury, New York
  • Six Flags St. Louis and Hurricane Harbor St. LouisEureka, Missouri
  • Six Flags Hurricane Harbor ConcordConcord, California
  • Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma CityOklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • Six Flags Hurricane Harbor PhoenixGlendale, Arizona
  • Six Flags Hurricane Harbor SplashTownSpring, Texas
  • Valleyfair and Soak CityShakopee, Minnesota
  • Village vacances Valcartier — Québec City, Québec
  • Valcartier Indoor Bora Parc — Québec City, Québec
  • Wet'n'Wild HawaiiKapolei, Hawaii
  • Wild Waves Theme ParkFederal Way, Washington
  • Worlds of Fun and Oceans of FunKansas City, Missouri

Pending properties

  • La RondeMontreal, Québec

Pending properties

  • La RondeMontreal, Québec

Eat-and-play properties

  • Entertainment Centrum — 4 locations in Ontario
  • New Roc CityNew Rochelle, New York
  • Ninkasi Brewing Tasting Room — Eugene, Oregon
  • Topgolf — 36 locations

Ski resorts

  • Alpine Valley Ski Area
  • Alyeska Resort
  • Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort
  • Camelback Mountain Resort
  • Hunter Mountain
  • Jack Frost Ski Resort / Big Boulder Mountain
  • Mad River Mountain
  • Mount Snow
  • Northstar California
  • Village Vacances Valcartier (sliding only)

Museums

  • City MuseumSt. Louis, Missouri
  • Titanic MuseumBranson, Missouri
  • Titanic MuseumPigeon Forge, Tennessee

References

  1. Form 10-K: Annual Report EPR Properties, February 23, 2022^
  2. Form 10-K: Annual Report EPR Properties, February 23, 2022^
  3. Rob Roberts. One REIT's loss may be another REIT's Brain Kansas City Business Journal, April 21, 2015, retrieved 2021-08-07^
  4. Suzanna Stagemeyer. Brain is the mind behind Entertainment Properties Trust Kansas City Business Journal, October 7, 2007, retrieved 2021-08-07^
  5. EPR Properties 2019 Form 10-K Annual Report U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission^
  6. Inflation looks lowest in 11 years The Charlotte Observer, November 19, 1997^
  7. Joe Gose. Big theaters, big money The Kansas City Star, March 17, 1998^
  8. Vineyard REITs gain foothold Euromoney, November 28, 2005, retrieved 2022-04-09^
  9. Jim Welte. Hunting for liquid assets Marin Independent Journal^
  10. Entertainment Properties buys vineyards, wineries for $115M Kansas City Business Journal, June 12, 2008, retrieved 2022-04-09^
  11. Jon Bonné. VinREIT funds big part of $209 million deal San Francisco Chronicle, June 14, 2008, retrieved 2022-04-09^
  12. A. D. Pruitt. Moviegoers keep a cinema REIT rolling The Wall Street Journal, February 24, 2010, retrieved 2022-04-09^
  13. Form 10-K: Annual Report Entertainment Properties Trust, February 24, 2012^
  14. Form 10-K: Annual Report EPR Properties, February 25, 2015^
  15. Form 10-Q: Quarterly Report Entertainment Properties Trust, October 31, 2007^
  16. Elisa Crouch. Schools thrive on real estate deals St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 30, 2011^
  17. Entertainment Properties Trust changes its name to EPR Properties The Kansas City Star, November 12, 2012^
  18. Steve Vockrodt. Entertainment Properties Trust debuts a new name Kansas City Business Journal, October 30, 2012, retrieved 2021-08-07^
  19. Entertainment Properties Trust announces name change to EPR Properties EPR Properties, November 12, 2012, retrieved 2021-08-07^
  20. EPR Properties Chief Executive Officer to Retire Business Wire, February 24, 2015^
  21. EPR Properties and CNL Lifestyle Properties Announce Closing of Transaction Business Wire, April 6, 2017^
  22. Brian Kaberline. EPR sells school portfolio for $450M American City Business Journals, November 25, 2019^
  23. Six Flags Further Streamlines Its Portfolio With Agreements to Divest Seven Parks investors.sixflags.com, retrieved 2026-03-05^
  24. Six Flags Completes Sale of Six U.S. Parks to EPR Properties Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, April 6, 2026, retrieved April 6, 2026^
  25. Portfolio Overview EPR Properties, retrieved 2022-04-23^
  26. Property Map^