The day the Super Bowl trophy came for a visit

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Eric with Vince Lombardi Trophy

This can be a lonely place.

Not usually, but when it’s a week away from the Super Bowl and yours truly is the only one who isn’t losing sleep over the excitement of an Indiana team heading to … Miami is it? … one can definitely feel like a square peg.

And so I turn to our admissions director, Eric, for help.

Eric digs the Colts.

For the uninitiated, Eric is … um…smooching the Vince Lombardi Trophy. That’s the sterling silver award the Colts took back home to Indiana after winning the Super Bowl in 2007.

Then there’s the bling.

Marketing intern Amanda feels lucky wearing the horseshoe ring. Apparently the winning team gets to design its own ring each year.

She really got a kick out of trying it on. (And yes, she did give it back. Eventually.)

Another intern, Brittany, looks like she’s planning to run off with the trophy!

Eric tells me our old pal Gary Brackett has been having a good season. (As you may remember, in 2008 he spent the day here with children from his IMPACT Foundation‘s “Field of Dreams” program.)

That’s Brandon Phillips from Bowling Green, who won a charity eBay auction we held to help support Gary’s foundation.

Lots of friends were made that day. That’s the Colts’ mascot, Blue, horsing around with Holidog.

Go Colts! Go to Miami and win that game.

…and don’t forget your friends back home when asked, “Hey Colts! You just won the Super Bowl! What are you going to do next?”

Color me blue

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Just got a copy of a graphic of the new Voyage trains.

As you may recall, we’re getting a set of Timberliner trains, designed by the same engineers who came up with Voyage in the first place. 

Just a few minor changes from the original graphic. Can you find them?

Timberliner train for The Voyage

Sweets for the sweet tooth

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January’s nearly over. February is … for lovers. Fudge lovers, that is.

With each new month comes the decision: which flavor of fudge to offer as our "Fudge of the Month" at the HoliShop. With Valentine’s Day looming, that choice is extra important.

And so, for February, foods director Jason says, "Let them decide!" Hence, another poll.

Please take a look at the yummy options and vote for your favorite. At the end of this week, the flavor with the most votes wins. The two traditionally favorite flavors at our Mrs. Klaus’s Kitchen–chocolate and peanut butter–will continue be offered each month, so they’re not part of the poll.

poll by twiigs.com

As you can see below, marketing director John is not fussy in his choice of fudge flavors.

He wants it all.

John wants every flavor available.

Does this remind anyone else of the old Dagwood comic strip? And Dagwood sandwiches? Leave it to John to create one out of fudge. (Our web designer didn’t select this photo to feature on the HoliShop, so I saved it for the HoliBlog. John’s a good sport. Plus I bribed him. With fudge.)

Rainbow over the ‘World

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It's been a crummy couple of weather days.

We keep saying, "Well, at least it isn't ice" and "Look on the bright side — if this was snow, we'd be buried!"

But still, all this gloomy, drizzly rain has been a bummer.

Until this, just a few minutes ago…

Beautiful rainbow over Holiday World (in January!)

Normally, I'd give Marketing Intern Ryan a hard time for gazing out the window when he had ticket orders to fill.

But I think in this case, considering he captured this magical moment, we can let it go.

Take our poll: Your favorite “B”?

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Wouldn’t it be nice … to have a live band in Splashin’ Safari?

Yes, it would be fun, fun, fun!

It would help make your visit even better than before, with some changes in attitude the second you hear the tunes.

That’s right, The Beachcombers will be a cover band, covering the 3B’s: Beatles, Beach Boys and Jimmy Buffett.

The Beachcombers at Splashin' Safair

So…which group’s music are you looking forward to the most? Please vote in our poll!

poll by twiigs.com

Thump, thump, clap! Thump, thump, clap!

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We've talked about the coaster crazies before. They're those park enthusiasts who love all-things-coasters to the point that they join a club.

…to the point that they go to meetings (and we're not talking about the 12-step type).

…to the point that they'll even wear silly clothes.

Enter Marty Moltz. He's one of our favorites.

Marty is a member of the American Coaster Enthusiasts. He's also an attorney and, more recently, a judge.

He's also a snappy dresser. (If you like bright, clashing colors, that is.)

The year we opened The Legend, Marty arrived at the park delighted that he "matched" the flags (pink, purple and gold). And he did.

Marty has long been one of the coordinators of an ACE event called "No Coaster Con." That's right; no coasters. Just enthusiasts. And park reps who travel to Chicago on a cold, snowy day in January to talk about … their coasters.

I noticed on this year's flyer that No Coaster Con 2010 was declared "Dress Like Marty Day."

Although I didn't have a Hawaiian shirt to wear, our department thought maybe we could find one for Holidog. Thanks to Sylvia in our office, Holidog was soon dressed for the trip.

And Marty was so pleased:

Marty and Holidog

Okay, so it's more like a muumuu…but Holidog was a good sport.

…as were the enthusiasts, who were putty in my hands singing along with "We Will Ride The Voyage!" to the tune of Queen's "We Will Rock You." (During lunch, a section of the ballroom spontaneously burst into an encore as they pounded the table and clapped to the beat.)

A communications snafu prevented The Gravity Group fellows from joining us in Chicago to talk about our new TimberLiner trains for Voyage.

So they stayed in Cincinnati, but Chad and Mike joined us via Skype:

Mike and Chad and the TimberLiner

There they were, sitting proudly in a TimberLiner car. Mike did most of the talking and at one point grabbed the camera to give us a close-up look at the underside of the train.

They even put up with my request to "go bouncy, bouncy" on the seats, to demonstrate the comfort-enhancing suspension.

It was a fun event with loads of enthusiasts and other park folks (including Jeffrey from Schlitterbahn, who snapped the above photo).

A question, though, for the attendees. Do you still have an earworm from our little ditty?

   Ride it in the nighttime — for Voyage that is flight-time
   Hands up in the air (yeah, I will someday)
   You'll have fear on your face (it's no disgrace)
   Flying through the tunnels at incredible pace, singing…
   We will ride The Voyage! We will ride The Voyage!

Beestly weather

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When the deep-freeze opened (and stayed open!) at the end of the year, dreams of a white Christmas quickly turned to thoughts of spring.

Warmth.

Sunshine.

Wildebeest.

The seasonal management team for Splashin' Safari is already getting together with Director Lori (front, right) and Manager Jennifer (front, left) to plan the hiring a gaggle of slide attendents and a covey of lifeguards.

Wildebeest and the Splashin' Safari seasonal management.

Ever wanted to stick your toe in the water and try for a position on our seasonal staff? We've got about 2,100 job openings to fill for the upcoming season in order to fully staff all the departments at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari.

The first step is to head over here and apply online. Then come to one of the four Job Fairs we will host here at Holiday World in February. (Follow that link for the details.)

Hint: Don't forget your smile.