A Republican-backed bill that would let Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom sell alcohol throughout its South Whitehall Township property advanced in the state House after the Liquor Control Board rejected a park request to expand alcohol sales.

Millennium Operations, which runs Dorney, currently has a “restaurant” class liquor license issued by the LCB. That single license - according to LCB meeting minutes - allows for alcohol sales at nine approved locations in the park.

The legislative bill came about after the LCB in 2020 rejected a Millennium request to expand the license.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, was approved by the House Liquor Control Committee last week in a 14-10 vote.

“They are interested in licensing the whole amusement park,” Michael Biacchi, executive director of the committee, told lawmakers at the meeting.

Attempts on Wednesday and Thursday to contact officials at Dorney and Millennium were not successful.

The vote split on party lines, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed. It now will go to the full House for consideration.

The bill does not mention Dorney by name, but expands the statutory definition of a “public venue” that can get a liquor license to include an amusement park “situated on at least 40 acres.”

Committee member Rep. Mary Isaacson of Philadelphia, a Democrat, was disturbed by the proposal and its potential effect on Sesame Place, a child-oriented amusement park in Bucks County.

“I just have concerns on blanketly allowing for the sale and consumption of alcohol without restrictions on such a large piece of property with machineries, children, water rides and for such hours and with no restrictions,” Isaacson said. “Perhaps we should vet something like this a little more in-depth so that we are making sure that some places still can remain very family-friendly in this commonwealth.”

Two Republicans, committee Chairman Rep. Carl Metzgar of Somerset County and Rep. Jesse Topper of Bedford County, told Isaacson her concerns were misplaced.

They said the park could control when and where alcohol sales occurred within its property.

“As a matter of fact, any restaurant with a license can be child-friendly and they can serve alcohol and move it anywhere in that facility as well, some of which do have specific amusements for children,” Metzgar said.

Topper said, “They could confine it to a certain part, just like some ballparks do, other amusement parks do, for various things, such as smoking.”

LCB denied request

Millennium’s original request to the LCB to extend its license was rejected by the agency’s board in a 2-1 vote on Jan. 29, 2020.

Millennium filed an appeal with Lehigh County Court. On Feb. 9, 2020, the court affirmed the LCB decision.

LCB spokesman Shawn Kelly said the agency would not comment on the case.

Last week, Biacchi told lawmakers that he and Mackenzie - who was not present at the meeting - worked with the LCB and the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association to find a scenario that would allow all of Dorney to be licensed.

Mackenzie, Biacchi said, decided “to simply add them to the definition of ‘public venue’?” in the state liquor code that is administered by the LCB.

A key provision in the bill says that any amusement park that seeks a “public venue” license from the LCB and already has a “restaurant” license must surrender the restaurant license to the agency, which would auction it.

“They can’t just sit on that license and sell it for profit,” Biacchi told lawmakers. “So it might actually free up some liquor licenses, which as we know is an issue in some parts of our commonwealth.”

The restaurant association supports the bill.