Gates invests in theme park

For Microsoft shareholders who have suffered the recent roller coaster ride, and users who have their Windows 2000 house of horror stories, the news that Bill Gates has invested in a theme park company may not come as too much of a surprise.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Gates' investment trust, Cascade Investment LLC of Kirkland, reported holding 7.4 million common shares in theme park company Six Flags, plus securities convertible into 599,520 further shares, according to the Seattle Post Intelligencer.

About two years ago, Six Flags purchased the Enchanted Parks facility in Federal Way, Washington. The park is near Gates' hometown of Seattle, and close to Microsoft's headquarters.

The 70-acre park cost $19.3m. It is comparable to the Frontier City theme park in size, ride composition and lack of local competition, according to Reuters.