Wood is good

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Rachel donned her hard hat and headed down to The Voyage’s construction site this morning. Because wood is good.

Here’s what she found:

Voyage construction

Ah…wood!

Those are ledgers.

What’s a ledger?

According to Chad at The Gravity Group: A ledger is the wood cross-beam at the top of each bent that supports the track. The ledger is installed at the appropriate bank angle for the track at that particular part of the ride.

And those ledgers are in place from Bent #814 to Bent #849.

(You do remember what a bent is, don’t you?)

Here’s another angle:

Voyage construction

More explanation from Chad: There are 1062 ledgers on this ride. Sometimes there is just one ledger per bent. Other times there are two ledgers per bent. As it stands right now, there are going to be 907 bents.

As you may have figured out from the bent numbers, these photos are of the end of the ride, as the train is approaching its return to the coaster station.

I must admit… looking at the angle of the ledgers, I got a bit dizzy.

Voyage construction

Of course, there are still plenty of footers to pour and bents to go up.

According to Chad: It’s difficult to quantify the number of footers because, while some footers provide foundation for a single post, another footer may serve 4 or 5 or more posts. The better question might be how many anchor straps (or points where a post meets a footer). Our most recent estimate indicates that there may be as many as 2,400 anchor straps.

As The Voyage progresses, we’ll bring you more photos, facts, and musings.

And in case you’re wondering, Rachel did not spend the rest of the day suffering from hard-hat-hair; her copper locks flipped right back into place.

You see, miracles do happen.
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Was it this hot?

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Santa on ice

Was it this hot back before we had Splashin’ Safari?

It’s just hard to believe, isn’t it?

What did people do before water parks?

Before wave pools and fountains?

Before air conditioning?

How did they keep cool?

Santa had the right idea

Santa on ice

Was it this hot back then? Best I can tell, Santa is sitting on a thin pillow to keep from sticking to his ice-block throne.

I’m guessing the photo was taken in the ’50s, as it’s in black and white.

Even back then, Santa was one cool fellow.
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Overheard in a queue

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Let’s make one thing perfectly clear: I really don’t try to listen in to other people’s conversations. Especially when I’m at work, but not working. (You know what I mean!) Some things are just meant to be overheard. 

Youngest son James and I were in line yesterday, waiting to take a spin in one of the Lewis & Clark cars. (I love yelling, “You’re a maniac!” while he’s driving. He howls with laughter. And I comfort myself in the knowledge that we have more than a decade to improve his skills.)

While in the queue, a gentleman was regaling his party with his story:

Well, I just told my boss, “It’s Holiday World and my family that come first with me!”

When a friend asked him how his boss reacted to that declaration, I must admit I did have to lean in to hear the rest.

He told me it was okay just this once. But next time I call in sick, I’d better really be sick!
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Lawdy, Miss Scarlett!

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… we’ve been asked to add a “birthing room” to our park.

Could you imagine? (All I can think about is that scene from Gone With the Wind.)

Free unlimited boiling water?

Holidog to pant along as your breathing coach?

A miniature height-measurement stick to get the official length of your tiny bundle?

Would it be in the Labor Day section?

We’ve come to the conclusion that the intended suggestion was a “nursing room,” which, by the way, we have. 

Our nursing room is right next to First Aid.

When I was pregnant back in the summer of 1999, I alerted the EMTs to that fact. Jeanne, in particular, seemed all too eager to host my baby’s birth in First Aid.

“We’ll be ready for you,” she cheerily informed me. “Stop by anytime!” Much to Jeanie’s dismay, I opted to give birth in a hospital.

And sweet baby James turns six on Friday. Can you guess where the little redhead wants to spend his birthday?

Of course you can.
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Attention all Holiday World Hostesses!

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Getting tired of wearing those khaki shorts day after day?

Don’t quite like the fashion statement those white tennies make?

And that blue shirt — not a good color on you?

Well, get a load of these Santa Claus Land uniforms for park hostesses from long ago:

Santa Claus Land uniform

Thanks to Christina from Texas who sent this photo, taken about 30 years ago.
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The apple doesn’t fall far … and is well fertilized

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You never forget your child’s first job. Or his first day of work. (Right, John?)

Especially when he works where you work.

When my John filled out his Holiday World job application, there was a place to list past employment.

The instructions even encouraged writing down such career accelerators as mowing lawns and babysitting.

So John listed his other job: Werne Dairy Farm.

Truth be told, John’s been a tremendous help to his dad this summer. And his position at this job? Assistant Manager.

Me: John!

John: Well, Dad’s the Manager. It’s just the two of us, so I’m the Assistant Manager.

The next line asked for Reason For Leaving. John quickly scribbled: I didn’t want to smell like Cow Poo anymore.

So when he decided to apply for a position in Games, it seemed like a good fit. John’s never met a stranger and he’s good with children.

Sunday was Orientation. So Sunday evening was a home-schooled pop quiz.

Me: So John, where are the ATM machines? The pay phones? What number do you call in an emergency?

John: Leave me alone.

Me: I can give you demerits, you know.

My son: Go away.

Me: So what did you learn today?

John: We learned The Four Cobblestones.

Me: Cobblestones?

John: Sure…The Four Cobblestones: Safety, Service, Cleanliness, Friendliness.

Me: Cornerstones, dear.

Middle son: Whatever.

Me: Hey!

John: Cornerstones, cobblestones … same thing.

Me: Not really … the four cornerstones hold up a building; they’re part of the foundation.

John: Yes, but cobblestones all fit together to create a path. They create the path to righteousness.

(Maybe I should see if we have an opening in PR … all that shoveling manure rubbed off on him in more ways than one!)

John in GamesAt this very moment, John is working his second shift down in Merlin’s Castle. If you happen to stop by Merlin’s and see my middle child, be sure to ask him to recite The Four Cobblestones. And be sure to tell him — he’s been HoliBlogged! 
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Happy birthday to … us!

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Happy birthday! It was 59 years ago today that Louis J. Koch opened the world’s first theme park, Santa Claus Land.

Fifty-nine years later, LJK’s grandson Will keeps up the family tradition along with his mom and two of his daughters. Plus, there are hundreds of us who feel as if we’re part of the family.

Often, August 3 is such a busy day that we don’t take a moment to celebrate. (Where’s the cake?)

Happy Birthday to us!

Here’s the one ride that’s been here all these years:

A while back, we received a lovely email from a gentleman who wanted to tell us how he remembered riding The Freedom Train with his grandfather many years ago. And the day before he sent us that email, he’d ridden that little train with his granddaughter.

It may be 95 degrees outside, but that thought always gives me a happy chill.
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Tunnel vision

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You may have noticed that Will loves a tunnel.

Frightful Falls has one. So does Raging Rapids.

The Raven has one. And The Legend has four.

There’s something about a tunnel that adds to the ride experience. Not just going from light to dark and then back out in the sunshine.

It’s the sound

That roar. That rumble.

The Voyage will have all kinds of tunnels.

Hard to count, actually.

Several are “double-wides” so you’ll speed through them a-comin’ and a-goin’.

It’s no surprise that we’ve received several emails asking for more details about the tunnels planned for The Voyage.

Once again, our buddy Chad at The Gravity Group comes up with the numbers:

Here are some numbers on each Voyage tunnel. The first number is the total enclosed length (some of which may be above grade). The number in parentheses is the portion of the tunnel that resides underground.

#1 1st pass: 150′ (95′)
#2 1st pass: 108′ (53′)
#3 1st pass: 108′ (53′)
#3 2nd pass: 108′ (53′)
#2 and #1 (combined) 2nd pass: 335′ (148′)
#4: 82′ (49′)
#5: 87′ (60′)

Total: 978′ (511′)

All of these numbers are subject to change (especially #4 and #5).
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Vertical Voyage

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Voyage's first bent

It’s a great sign when roller-coaster construction gets vertical.

One Voyage “bent” down (or, actually, up) …

Voyage construction bent

… and that means there are just 899 to go!

A bent, by the way

… is a civil engineering term for a horizontal cross section of a structure.

And isn’t there a famous saying that goes something like: Each great Voyage begins with a single bent.

Something like that.
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