Made in Germany

Posted

No, we’re not referring to the Koch family, although they certainly carry a strong heritage from their Germanic ancestors.

We’re talking about something called a flywheel.

One of Thunderbird's flywheels

Two, actually.

VP James explains in this edition of The Hard Hat Chronicles:

Thunderbird, our new steel roller coaster – the first launched wing coaster on the continent – opens April 25, just 77 days from today. Oh, you prefer to ride in 76 days? Be sure to line up some Holiday World Season Passes for you and your family and you get an invitation to ride April 24. And if you’d like an easy payment plan, but sure to get started in the next week, as our Easy Pay option goes away after February 15. Make your launch plans now!

Cabin Fever Sweepstakes

Posted

Thanks to everyone who entered our Cabin Fever Sweepstakes! Our winners were chosen at random from thousands of entries.

Congratulations to:

  • Grand Prize Winner: Melanie M. from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who wins two nights in a Rudolph’s Christmas Cabin at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort plus four one-day tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
  • Runner-Up Winner: Janelle A. from Lakeview, Indiana, who wins two one-day tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

Truth be told, we haven’t had it too bad so far this winter.

This morning there was just a dusting of snow on the ground.

… and on the roof of the loading station for our new roller coaster, Thunderbird:

However, our brethren to the north and to the east have received a load of snow, with more to come this weekend. And so, there is no argument from us that it’s time for a Cabin Fever Sweepstakes! Here’s what you could win:

    • Grand Prize: Two overnights in a Rudolph’s Christmas Cabin at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, plus four tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

 

    • Runner-Up Prize: Two tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

 

Rudolph's Christmas Cabin at Lake Rudolph How to enter? Let’s start with a few necessaries:

    • You must be at least 18 years old to enter.

 

  • Employees of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, Sun Communities, and Sun RV Resort (and the immediate family members of employees) are not eligible to enter.

 

 

  • Use the widget, below, to enter daily. There are lots of options, so you can earn extra entries by posting here on our HoliBlog, tweeting about this sweepstakes, and visiting us on our Facebook page.Two winners – chosen at random – will be emailed the afternoon of February 13. If you win the Grand Prize, which includes overnights in a Christmas Cabin at Lake Rudolph, please note you must be at least 21 to phone in your reservation; also, the dates the cabin may be reserved for are May 1 – 21 and May 25 – June 11, 2015.

 

 

  • For the “post a comment on the blog” entry option, simply tell us your best cure for Cabin Fever. (Our comments are moderated, so as long as the content is HoliFriendly, it will appear soon.)Did you know you can subscribe to our HoliBlog so that you receive all of our posts (including contests) by email? If you’re using a desktop computer or tablet, look for the “Subscribe to Blog” sidebar at the top-right corner of this page. On a smartphone? Just scroll down a tiny bit more to find it.

 

 

Ready to enter? Of course you are: Simply enter our sweepstakes here from a mobile device; or if you’re using an immobile device, enter by using the widget, below. And not just today – enter daily through Friday, February 13, 2015 at 1pm CST. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all – winter won’t last forever!

An audition for American Idol

Posted

Rayvon Owen in Rejoice! 2011Four years ago, a young man from Richmond, Virginia, auditioned to be in our musical shows.

Rayvon Owen was invited to join us for the 2011 season, and we’re so glad he did.

My middle son, John, worked tech for the shows that season. He remembers Rayvon as a really nice guy, with a voice “as smooth as butter.”

Fast-forward four years and Rayvon has another audition.

Tomorrow night.

In San Francisco.

For American Idol.

You be the judge:

We wish Rayvon the very best tomorrow evening. We plan to cheer him on and remember fondly his summer with us, as a “smooth as butter” vocalist in our Rejoice! and Legacy shows.

And when are our auditions for this season? They’re coming up on March 1. Check out our Holiday World Audition Information here on our website.

A Minecraft look at Holiday World

Posted

… and Splashin’ Safari.

And even our Santa statue:

Santa statue, Minecraft style

At first, I really felt badly that I’d missed the “hey, take a look!” tweet from the creator of this impressive Minecraft rendition of our parks:

… by several months.

But when I noticed the date of the tweet and saw it was posted the day before our big Thunderbird roller coaster announcement last July, it seemed likely that anyone who was this big of a fan would understand one overlooked missive.

Matt, for one, is thrilled. Although our park president admits he’s a bit puzzled by the Minecraft phenomenon, his six-year-old son – Drew – has it all figured out.

First, middle-child Claire, 10, proclaimed the park tour legit.

The Raven, Minecraft style

Drew quickly corrected his big sister, “No. It’s better than legit.”

Big thanks to WolfStrike150 for the three months of devotion in creating our park on Minecraft – can’t wait to see v2.0!

The height of anticipation

Posted

One of the most  common questions we receive when we add a new roller coaster is, “How tall do you have to be to ride?”
And then a few also ask, “How tall is too tall?”

Andy on Thunderbird roller coaster

Meet Andy.

He’s on the high end of the measuring stick.

Andy is one of our four Attractions Managers. He was sweating it for a while when we announced Thunderbird.

… because he loves roller coasters and could hardly imagine coming to work every day without being able to ride our new steel coaster.

Thunderbird is a wing coaster, meaning your feet are dangling. Sometimes straight down and sometimes straight up.

And oftentimes in between.

Oh, and there are all sorts of “near misses” along Thunderbird’s flight route. You know, like the tunnels on The Voyage? Where you know that there’s plenty of room, but still instinctively duck your head as you careen toward it?

Yes. Those.

You already know about Crow’s Nest. And Thunderbird’s dance with Voyage.

There’s also this.

Thunderbird's keyhole building

In roller coaster terminology, it’s called a “keyhole building.”

And it’s under construction as we speak.

We’re an efficient bunch, so we use it twice. Thunderbird will “crash” through this barn a-comin’ and a-goin’.

It will be awesome.

Where is it located? Right across from one of Voyage’s tunnels.

Thunderbird's keyhole building, across from a Voyage tunnel

Stephen said it felt like Voyage was photobombing Thunderbird today.

Thunderbird and Voyage

Here’s another view:

Thunderbird roller coaster's twists and turns

Meanwhile, how is beanpole Andy doing? Will he get to ride? (And will he forgive me for that beanpole crack?)

Yes! As long as he doesn’t grow any more – and rides Thunderbird without shoes – he should be good to go. All 6’6″ of him.

Here’s our entire Out To Launch Bunch, Attractions Managers Andy, Jennifer, Lori and Alex. Just hangin’ around, ready to ride …

Back to that earlier question about minimum height to ride Thunderbird roller coaster? Riders must be at least 52″ tall, which translates into 4’4″.

We’re at T-minus-96 in our daily countdown. And the excitement is mounting!

These dummies are ready

Posted

There’s something about test dummies.

They’re very eager.

Case in point:

Thunderbird car

Thunderbird will have two trains. One is here already and the other will arrive next month.

Testing begins in February, but the dummies don’t care. When you want a front seat for the first launch, you don’t mess around. You make arrangements to be available.

To answer the many questions about how we’ll choose the first riders for our Media Preview Day (yes, we’re already hearing from reporters and news crews wanting to broadcast live that day), we will launch an online auction in the coming weeks to determine those lucky riders and raise funds for a great cause. Details to come!

The Maintenance Men

Posted

Congratulations to Andy, Tim, Tom, Michael, Sean, Clint and Bob for achieving AIMS certification today following a week of Safety School.

In Orlando.

Andy is one of our Attractions Managers and the other fellows are part of our Maintenance Team.

We’re sure proud of them for passing their certification test and have even arranged for a mini-heatwave for their return to Santa Claus tomorrow.

Tomorrow. When there are 98 days left until Opening Day.

Thunderbird countdown

Posted

Launchtime is quickly approaching … who’s starving for a ride?

Season Pass discounts are at their deepest right now – and expire this Thursday at midnight (January 15). So if five hours of Thunderbird roller coaster rides, along with The Voyage, Crow’s Nest, Mayflower, Turkey Whirl, The Raven, The Legend and more sound like your kind of Friday evening, be sure to get your Season Passes now. Our new Easy Pay option? Thanks to those who suggested it – the monthly payment plan is a big hit!