Episode 137. Ed Hart – President & Partner, Kentucky Kingdom
Challenge motivates Ed Hart, and business turnarounds meet that need for him.
Ed has a long and distinguished history of entrepreneurial undertakings, with a particular focus on the successful turnaround of high profile, previously failed projects. He successfully rescued two real estate buildings in the historic Highlands neighborhood and two theme parks, both of which he and his team brought from bankruptcy and neglect back to vibrant success.
Ed is now, again, deeply engaged in the redevelopment and reopening of the Kentucky Kingdom amusement park, which has been dormant for years. The original Kentucky Kingdom, which had previously closed after only one season in 1987, developed into the number one paid tourist attraction in Kentucky during the years this team owned and operated the theme park.
Ed began at the NYC headquarters of J.C. Penney Company and developed a chain of hair styling salons in Puerto Rico before becoming involved in the amusement industry. He has also produced independent films and was instrumental in funding and establishing Louisville Public Media’s Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting. In 1995, Ed received Louisville’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
He and his wife reside in Louisville, Ky.