November 2012
Looking Back... November 2012
6 November 2012 - 6:08pm
As the leaves fall ...
... new cabanas for 2013 are sprouting up by Mammoth.
We'll keep you updated all winter long as we add all sorts of special touches for the 2013 season.
2 November 2012 - 5:36pm
Applause for Nick
We just got word that our Nick Burroughs has been named one of only three finalists world-wide for Best Male Performer!
The honor comes from the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA), the huge trade organization we've belonged to for decades.
Nick spent the summer wow-ing audiences in our high-energy Vinyl Daze show, produced by Matt Davenport Productions.
Our Director of Entertainment, Sandi Fortune, is a big fan, "Nick Burroughs is one of the most genuine and real people I have ever met. He is one of those people whom you really want to be a star. He is so worthy of this honor. I cannot even explain how talented he is."
Here's just a moment of Nick's award-winning talent:
The winner will be chosen from the three finalists (Michael Stiggers from Hersheypark and Peter Vawter from Universal Studios Japan are the other two) on November 14. Good luck, Nick!
2 November 2012 - 2:42pm
Halloween may be over ...
... but we've just heard The Voyage was named one of the 10 Scariest Rides in America by HauntWorld.com.
Here's what they had to say: This is a wooden roller coaster that I truly believe … if it were 10 feet longer it would kill you! This thrill coaster is without competition in a league of its own, because nothing prepares you for this screaming ride!
Meanwhile, here's this year's awesome pumpkin carving from Bryan B. in Strongville, Ohio. (Last year, he carved an equally magnificent Raven pumpkin.)
He popped this photo up on our Facebook page yesterday, where it was quickly declared a masterpiece.
Hope you don't mind one more reminder about our online survey regarding Happy Halloween Weekends. We plan to gather feedback for one more week and would be so glad to receive yours as we look ahead to 2013.
1 November 2012 - 4:13pm
Cancer survivor's ride of a lifetime
This email choked me up - thanks to Chris for letting us post it:
Dear Holiday World and Splashin' Safari,
Like most people who grew up in Southern Indiana, I grew up visiting "Santa Claus Land." My family visited very rarely back then, as I had a very modest upbringing. In my adult years, I have enjoyed coming back to HW/SS year after year with my family. I've never been much of a "rider," but I thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere and some of the calmer, gentler rides - and watching my niceces and nephews enjoy the park. In all those years of visiting, I would ride the Raven several times and the Legend once (I really am a big chicken), but never the Voyage - despite the urging of my family and friends.
In late 2010, I began chemotherapy and radiation therapy treatments - so I missed the 2011 season at Holiday World and Spashin' Safari. I am please to report, however, that I'm nearly my old self again - and a few weeks ago I finally conquered The Voyage. I figured if I could survive cancer treatment, I could certainly survive whatever a top-class wooden roller coaster could dish out. It was the most liberating, exhilerating, fantastic experience of my life! A couple years ago I would not have even considered riding, but this year I knew I had to. It was significant for me to step out of my comfort zone and face what I feared. I felt compelled to write and say thank you for this emotional experience ... and for all you do for our region.
I can't wait to see you again in 2013!
Thank you so much!!
Chris C.
Jeffersonville, Indiana
P.S. Here's my photo from the Voyage (that's me in the back holding on with all my might).
