That dreaded day has arrived

As much as we all let out a collective "yippee!" on the first day of non-operation, it's also a day filled with dread.

Because some folks assume we're open and show up.

(No, we don't have a talking moose at the front gate.)

We really do try to communicate our calendar. We're open daily till August 20 and then selected weekends through October 8.

It's here on our website.

It's on the "ticker" and the messages from Will and Mrs. Koch on the homepage. It's on the ticket stock, our brochure, our phone system, and wherever else it fits.

But still, assumptions are made and beach bags are packed.

Sigh!

We feel awful when this happens and explain to the stunned visitors how school went back into session locally a week ago. We managed to struggle through one last week of "daily op" with just enough folks to staff the park.

A number of years ago, on that first day we weren't open a van pulled up in front of the marketing office.

We all saw it pull in a parking spot.

"Santa Claus Land," pronounced Dee Ann.

I gave her a questioning look.

"They'll expect us to be open and they'll call us Santa Claus Land," she said sadly. (We changed our name to Holiday World in 1984.)

When the dad entered the office, he asked,

"Isn't this Santy Claus Land?"

Oh, my. Not even "Santa" ... Santy.

We explained how sorry we were, but that we were now open weekends-only.

He was a nice guy and accepted the offered brochures of some year-round attractions in the area.

We sighed in relief as the door closed. But then the dad turned around to stick his head back through the door and ask one last question:

"You still got that dancing chicken?"