Who turned down the heat?
Mammoth water coaster is a snow coaster after today’s flurries!
Mammoth returns to the Ice Age
Monthly Archives: January 2014
A Mammoth #FlashbackFriday
Were snowflakes flying in your neighborhood today? They were swirling wildly for a while here in Santa Claus.
Two years ago this week, it was Mammoth fiberglass that was flying. We thought this would make a fun #FlashbackFriday photo.
Best staff meeting ever!
Don’t get me wrong, we’ve had some great staff meetings over the years. That’s when we all learn about “what’s new” for the next season and get updates about staff promotions and such.
But it will be mighty hard to top today’s meeting.
We gathered in the HR Lobby at 9:30 this morning and were invited to board this bus:
It was snowing quite enthusiastically at the time, which added to the festive nature of this surprise mystery trip.
We headed north on Highway 162 through Ferdinand to Jasper.
To the movie theater in Jasper.
To see …
For some reason, there weren’t any movie posters on the inside of the theater, so I dragged those who were last in line for popcorn and sodas outside in the snow and wind for a quick photo.
Then we hurried back inside to join the rest of our already-seated staff.
Saving Mr. Banks? A wonderful movie – and a heartfelt reminder that you never know how a person’s childhood has impacted that person’s view of the world.
And that our world is a sweeter, kinder place thanks to Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, and Walt Disney.
Happy National Hat Day!
Since we’re a park named Holiday World, it stands to reason that we like holidays.
Our holidays of choice for the park are, of course, Christmas, Halloween, 4th of July, and Thanksgiving.
But that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate – and even celebrate – some of the more obscure holidays.
Happy National Hat Day!
And who could forget this Vine video from last summer – hats off to these fun girls:
As chilly as it is today, we hope everyone has a nice warm hat to wear.
Do you have a favorite hat?
This guy sure does:
New year, new website
As you’ve probably noticed, we launched our new website yesterday. (The “giving birth” metaphor was bandied about quite a bit; I do admit to using the Lamaze breathing method a few times. It helped.)
In celebration of our new site, Lauren put this graphic together for our #TransformationTuesday:
So what do you think? Please post your feedback!
An elf named … Chucky?
Just sayin’ …
This summer, when you drop by Kringle’s Kafé for a pizza, glance up to see this fine fellow in the overhead decor.
I promise, he’s darn cute from afar.
But when the uninformed happens upon him during the off-season, perched on a table near our free Pepsi fountain, it’s more than a little startling!
Job search – in the Nick of time
Making one’s career in a town named Santa Claus, it may well be impossible to avoid getting like this.
It’s that uber focus on all things Christmas and Santa Claus. Year-round, that is.
Our tweets, for example, celebrate the 25th of the month each year.
Some #ChristmasInJuly tweeps to follow: @SantaClausInd, @SantaMuseum, @SantaClausLand, @LakeRudolph, @SantaClausStore, @HollyTreeShop #HWSS
— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) July 25, 2013
— Holiday World (@HolidayWorld) July 25, 2013
We also get a charge out of each Nicholas, Holly, and Noel we meet.
There’s a senior producer at WHAS-TV in Louisville whose name is Holly Rudolph. Next to Mary Christmas (really!), she takes the perfect-name cake in our book.
So when Nick from WFIE-TV in Evansville called Friday morning, we made sure he knew we appreciated the appropriateness of his name.
(Yes, we’re a little extreme.)
We toured Nick around the park, chilly temps and grey skies notwithstanding. He met up with Matt and they talked about the start of our hiring season.
Here’s the link to Nick’s story.
Are you interested in learning more about seasonal job opportunities here at the park? Please take a look here on our website for more hiring information.
Have you ever been Rickrolled?
Okay, up until about three years ago, I’d never heard of this phenomenon.
Rickrolling.
Wikipedia explains it at great length, if you’d like the whole story. In brief, it’s faking someone out by sending them a link to a great video. But no matter what you promised, you’re sending them this:
Guess I should have warned you, this song will give you an earworm like none other!
Sorry.
Anyway, about three years ago, Eric sent me a link to a video he thought I would really enjoy.
At first, I thought he’d sent me the wrong link. “Never gonna give you up”? I don’t think so …
Eric just laughed, “You’ve been Rickrolled!”
What?
“Rickrolled!”
What are you talking about?!
This went on for quite a while. When Eric finally convinced me this was a real “thing,” I promised to myself that some day there’d be an eRicRoll.
And today was that day.
In short, we were making decisions about priorities when discussing a project with an outside vendor. One item in particular was tabled for later.
“One less hill to climb” was a phrase used at the end of the conversation.
“One less egg to fry,” I added, hoping Eric was familiar with the classic Fifth Dimension song from the ’60s.
Oh, you don’t know that song? I’ll send you the link.
I really intended to, too. But suddenly I remembered that promise I’d made to myself so very many years ago.
And …
A little bit later, Eric called me (I guess I should mention that he’s now my boss): “I can’t believe you Rickrolled me!”
I believe I detected more than a hint of admiration in his tone.
Nathan nearly fell out of his chair laughing. He had just started working here when the original Rickroll occurred. LaurenR, well she didn’t know what we were talking, laughing, or singing about.
But she does now, poor thing.
I didn’t end there. I took my glee to Twitter:
@HolidayWorld congratulations. Never give up!
— Indiana Tourism (@VisitIndiana) January 6, 2014
That’s pretty cool when the folks at the State Tourism office join in the fun.
As this day rolls down, we leave you with the following sage advice from the man of the hour:
Final note: I know this video is from 1987. But I have to ask … is Rick wearing Mom Jeans?
What a ridiculous question to ask!
So … is it cold enough for ya?
According to hundreds of our Facebook friends, the answer is a shivery yes!
The comments posted are nothing short of a geography question. I must say, it was nice to see so many “likes” on the post from Hawaii. (We won’t hate you because you’re warm.)
Here’s sending you warm thoughts – and wishing you all a quick and safe conclusion to this cold snap.
Happy New Year from Holiday World!
Happy 2014 to you and your family from all of us here at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari!