The Light Park Acquires Rival, Igniting Holiday Entertainment Expansion

DALLAS, TX – February 06, 2026 – In a significant move set to reshape the seasonal entertainment landscape, The Light Park, a leading operator of drive-thru holiday light attractions, today announced its acquisition of Holiday Supply Shop. The deal brings the walk-thru holiday park specialist, founded by live-event veteran Matt Thompson, into The Light Park's expanding portfolio, signaling a major strategic pivot towards immersive, pedestrian-focused experiences.

The acquisition, backed by the investment firm Guideboat Capital, combines The Light Park's large-scale operational capacity with Holiday Supply Shop's niche expertise in creating captivating walk-thru events in complex venues like stadiums. This merger positions the consolidated company to become a dominant, multi-format force in the rapidly growing holiday entertainment industry, capable of delivering both popular drive-thru spectacles and interactive walk-thru wonderlands across the nation.

A Strategic Merger of Holiday Experiences

Until now, The Light Park has built its reputation on a highly successful drive-thru model, currently operating nine sprawling parks across Texas. These attractions have become a seasonal staple for hundreds of thousands of guests, offering families a convenient and festive way to celebrate the holidays from the comfort of their vehicles. The company has perfected a model that partners with municipalities and venue operators to manage high-capacity events with professional efficiency.

Holiday Supply Shop represents the other side of the holiday entertainment coin. Founded by Matt Thompson, the company carved out a distinct niche by focusing exclusively on walk-thru light parks. In 2025 alone, Thompson's team operated six such parks in various U.S. markets, attracting hundreds of thousands of guests to stadiums and other large outdoor venues. Their turnkey operating model—handling everything from custom design and creative concepts to logistics and on-site management—made them an attractive partner for venues looking to monetize their spaces during the off-season.

The synergy between the two models was a key driver of the acquisition. "This acquisition brings a proven walk-thru operating platform and deep stadium expertise into The Light Park organization," said Jasen Coots, Co-Founder of The Light Park. "Matt has built a disciplined, scalable model for walk-thru holiday experiences that complements our existing drive-thru operations and expands the range of venues we can support over time." The move allows the company to offer a comprehensive suite of holiday entertainment solutions, catering to different consumer preferences and venue types.

Tapping into the Experience Economy

This acquisition arrives as consumer demand increasingly shifts towards interactive and shareable live events. The modern guest seeks more than passive observation; they want to be immersed in an environment, creating memories they can capture and share. Walk-thru light parks, with their intricate pathways, photo opportunities, and multi-sensory displays, are perfectly aligned with this trend in the "experience economy."

Holiday Supply Shop's success is rooted in its ability to execute these complex productions flawlessly, a skill honed by its founder's extensive background. Matt Thompson brings over two decades of experience in live event operations, including significant leadership roles in minor league baseball and other venue-based entertainment sectors. His expertise in managing events within active sports facilities—navigating their unique operational, safety, and logistical challenges—is a critical asset. Transforming a baseball stadium into a winter wonderland while ensuring guest safety and a high-quality experience is a specialized skill that The Light Park has now internalized.

By integrating Thompson's team, The Light Park is not just adding a new product line; it is acquiring a deep well of institutional knowledge in a high-growth sector. This expertise will be crucial as the company looks to partner with major sports franchises and large-scale venues that demand a proven track record of operational excellence.

Fueling Growth with Strategic Capital

Driving this ambitious expansion is Guideboat Capital, the investment firm backing The Light Park. Guideboat's involvement suggests a long-term vision for building a category-defining company. The firm's philosophy centers on partnering with "high-quality businesses and high-integrity teams" to foster sustainable growth through strategic support and collaboration, rather than pursuing short-term gains.

This approach makes the acquisition a powerful strategic play. By providing the capital and operational support, Guideboat is enabling The Light Park to consolidate a fragmented market and build a national platform. The investment firm's focus on craftsmanship and stewardship aligns with the operational discipline demonstrated by both The Light Park and Holiday Supply Shop, creating a strong cultural and strategic fit.

The financial backing allows the combined entity to think bigger, accelerating its expansion plans and investing in the technology and creative talent needed to produce next-generation holiday attractions. It transforms The Light Park from a successful regional operator into a well-capitalized national contender with a diversified portfolio of entertainment products.

A Blueprint for Nationwide Expansion

With the acquisition complete, the path is now clear for a significant national rollout. While The Light Park's existing nine drive-thru locations in Texas remain a core part of the business, the immediate focus will be on leveraging Holiday Supply Shop's model to establish a coast-to-coast presence with walk-thru and stadium-based events.

Matt Thompson will be central to this effort, continuing to lead the walk-thru holiday park operations while taking on a key role in developing The Light Park's new stadium and venue-based offerings. His leadership ensures continuity and the successful integration of his proven methods into the larger corporate structure.

"Holiday Supply Shop was built around execution and doing things the right way inside complex venue environments," said Thompson. "By joining The Light Park, we're able to take that expertise and apply it at a larger scale, with the operational support and long-term vision to grow thoughtfully." This statement underscores the opportunity to scale a successful, specialized model with the resources of a larger parent company.

For consumers, this means more diverse and accessible high-quality holiday entertainment options in the years to come. For municipalities, sports teams, and venue operators, it means having a single, reliable partner capable of delivering a wide range of professionally managed seasonal attractions that can delight audiences and generate significant revenue.