I've been meaning to write an email to all of you nice people at Holiday World to say thanks for the great time we had at Play Day this year.

I am the father of two boys who both have autism (older son is very autistic, the younger has a lesser case) and once again we attended Play Day.

It is hard to say how nice of a thing it is that Holiday World does by closing the park to allow kids that might not otherwise get to enjoy the park to have a good time.

We look forward to it every year.

My youngest son asks daily to go to "Holiday World and Splashin" because he loved the fountains in Holidog Town (he was one of the kids in blog picture).

We are going to try and go this coming week and take in the water park.

Anyway, it is a great thing that you guys do and I just wanted to let you know that we appreciate that special day every year.

It speaks volumes about the people of Holiday World for this to be your favorite day because it's also our favorite day. We look forward to it every year. The fact that you guys donate so much money, time and effort to the community of the disabled shows what kind of people are involved in your great park. I am sure that you guys will keep up the great work!

By the way, my youngest son and I check out the Holiblog almost daily, as he wants to see the pictures and I want to read the latest hint on the future park addition! Can't wait to see what it is!

Please send our thanks to all of the Holiday World staff and also thanks to the Koch family for opening their hearts along with their park to these great kids.

Thanks,
Derek
Boonville, Indiana

Thanks for such a great time!

Our family just visited Holiday World and Splashin' Safari, and we will be talking about it for quite a while.

It is so refreshing to find a family-oriented place that we can take our children to have so much fun!

The prices are right and the fun is unlimited!

We can't wait to come back next year!

Amy A. & Family
Mattoon, Illinois

I am a newcomer to Holiday World, but I just have to tell you thank you once again!

Last year I was cooking dinner when I heard something on the TV that was "Too Much." I don't remember if it was too scary, too gory, too realistic, etc, but it was too much for our Kindergarten son to watch. I quickly entered the room and flipped the channel to the Travel Channel, looking for something more mild for him to watch and I
went back to cooking.

I was busy with my own thoughts and didn't listen to the TV much except to know that it was a show on parks. Holiday World was featured and I still didn't listen. I assumed it was too far away to be appropriate for my family.

Then I heard it was an hour outside Louisville. My ears perked up and I heard the name of your park. A quick internet search landed me at your website. I spent a lot of time reading everything and planned a weekend trip.

I'm not gifted with words and I'm afraid I won't be able to express this clearly, but that weekend was the highlight of our summer.

Your park is truly a mom's getaway! The prices are reasonable, I don't have to carry
pounds and pounds of stuff throughout the day (you provide practically everything we need) and the park was truly relaxing.

My husband has special needs which limit his mobility, our children are of different
ages and ability levels and this makes for difficult, frantic outings as I try to be all places at once, helping everyone.

You have designed your park in such a way that parents have good visibility between
rides, you have enough friendly staff that I felt the kids would be safe if I
had to look away to tend to someone's needs for a moment, and in general you just made me feel right at home.

Your new HoliBlog continues that welcoming feeling into a new year. I have given your website to every mother I contact because when families visit your park, EVERYONE has a good time!

You take the term 'guest' seriously and I genuinely appreciate the effort behind the scenes and the smiles on your faces.

Every staff member we came in contact with was helpful, as concerned as I was with my family's safety and enjoyment, and a joy to talk with throughout the weekend.

The weather and illness canceled our trip for this month and we are working to arrange another trip this summer.

I don't know what the future holds, but I did not want to let another day go by without telling you once again how much I appreciate the friendliness, the
caring, the cleanliness, the value, the website, the behind-the-scenes efforts, and the planning and vision you have for Holiday World. It is a true holiday!

I can't think of many other things that leave that lasting of an impression a year later.

Thank you for all of your extensive efforts!

Karen T.
Charleston, West Virginia

PS, Please send a special thanks to those who work on the website.
Without the site, I would never have had the information or desire to
visit your park. Thank you!

My family and I visited your park this past Thursday while on vacation in Indiana.

We have been to numerous amusement parks but we all agree that the day we had last week was the best time we have had yet.

From the free Pepsi products, suntan lotion, free parking, smoke free/alcohol free environment to the extremely courteous staff and the military discount, it was definitely worth the trip.

Other theme parks should definitely take notice as you are THE family amusement park and an example all others should follow.

We also enjoyed the Total Praise show. Are there any other parks that have shows that perform music that praises our Lord and Savior? I haven't seen any. It was a nice break in the day to sit down and worship Him in song. Thank you!

By the way, is there any chance you'll be getting any more roller coasters, particularly metal coasters? I find them to be much smoother than wooden coasters.

Thank you for an absolutely wonderful time!

Darrell E. & Family
Wilson, North Carolina

First, we are from the St. Louis area, we are accustomed to a Six Flags/Branson experience.

This was nothing like any of those.

We LOVED camping at Lake Rudolph and have already signed up for the Halloweekend.

The shuttle ride to the park was very handy.

Upon entering the park, we already knew our layout thanks to the website and the park maps explaining where to go to avoid the crowds, it worked like a charm.

We had sat through a show at a different park with Looney Tunes characters in a Chevy Asto van. It was like a commercial that we gave up precious park time to sit through.

It was great to receive FREE refreshments instead. (We've bought Pepsi products all weekend long in appreciation.)

Second, We were at another location where the teens were there only for a paycheck, not because they wanted to be....we tried to understand, thinking that we were probably like that when we were young...

Instead at Holiday World every park attendant told us to have a great day when the ride was over....What a pleasant suprise.

The cleanliness was amazing. We never found a full trash can, or saw flies or even caught an odd whiff.

Another nice suprise was how well manned everything was, even in Holidog, we were suprised to find attendants up in the towers. It was nice to find someone looking after the children to see they were safe.

This doesn't even begin to touch on how amazing the water park was and how exciting the rides were.

Thank you for a wonderful vacation.

Dena W. and Family
St. Louis, Missouri

My name is Ronalli, and I am 13 years old.

I, along with my church choir, went to Holiday World two weeks ago.

I just wanted to say that I had a blast at Holiday World and Splashin' Safari!

I have to say you have the best service by far.

I don't think any park can match your cleaness and service.

The waterpark was really fun.

I'm really glad I got to go there! I'm sure all of my other friends feel the same.

Thanks for a great time!

-Ronalli
Springfield, Illinois

My family and I visited Holiday World and Splashin' Safari on Thursday, June 16.

Yes, Mrs. Koch was out greeting guests as we arrived, as always.

The best part of our day was while standing in line at the Zoombabwe Grill, the guest in line ahead of us yelled to his family, "Grab that table over there."

Upon getting a blank stare from his wife, he yelled again, "The one that Pat Koch just cleaned." We all shared a good laugh, yes, she does go out into the park and clean, just like her commercials.

We had a great time, Bahari is beautiful.

Thanks to all, keep up the good work,

Rick S.
Franklin, Indiana

I just wanted to comment on the fantastic way your park is ran. It was our first visit on Friday June 17th. We were there all day and stayed at Lake Rudolph Campground.

The employees all around the park, Splashin' Safari and the campground were so friendly and watched over the water park with great pride.

Not often in today's world do young adults treat others with kindness and respect.

But Holiday World is an exception.

Everyone is always willing to complain but a good comment sometimes goes untold.

I will definitely recommend Holiday World for a fun-filled weekend.

Thanks Again!

Donna K.
Louisville, Kentucky

My name is Nicole and we visited your park for the first time June 13 & 14.

We came with my sister-in-law and her family which had been there before. All I kept hearing was how fun it was.

I kept thinking... yeah, just like Kings Island, Cedar Point and every other amusement park out there, right?

I was so impressed with your park. The admission prices are great - bought tickets through my credit union here in Muncie, Indiana...and I think the unlimited soft drinks are the best idea ever.

I was really surprised at how neat and clean your park really is.

Compared to other parks I had been to I saw more employees at your park then any other combined that I had ever been to. Working hard with a smile on their faces and each one always took the time to say hi and chat for a moment.

I felt like we were the only 8 people in the park.

I am really surprised at the great time we had. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought the park to be so family-oriented.

I loved the fact that there were a lot of things my two-year-old son could do. He had the time of his life.

Splashin' Safari was great also. I rode almost everything there and was very impressed with each and every one of them. My two-year-old also had a great time in the water.

I just wanted to say thank you to all your staff and for making our first experience at the park fun and enjoyable and one we will never forget.

Looks like for the next 16 years we will be visiting Holiday World for our vacations. I prefer it over any other park and look forward to coming in the future.

To the Holiday World and Splashin' Safari employees, thank you. You are what makes the parks special and fun every day!

Nicole G.
Muncie, Indiana

My family recently visited your facility on June 16th and 17th.

We had never been to Holiday World prior to our visit and I must tell you we were extremely satisfied with not only the rides but more importantly with the staff.

It seems we were always greeted with a smile and told to have a great day upon ending each and every encounter.

I have to say the other amazement was the average age of the staff and the constant professionalism that was displayed.

The obvious other amenities, free drinks and sunscreen in my opinion would not matter to families if not for your above average staff.

We have voted and Holiday World has become our new summer stop. We have expressed our outstanding service and satisfaction to our many friends and may even join them in a trip later this summer.

Thank you and your wonderful staff;

The O'C. Family