Ornamental fountain

Ornaments fountain

Here’s something you don’t exactly see every day …

Ornaments fountain

… not even in the town of Santa Claus!

It arrived first thing this morning: Our shiny new ornamental fountain (get it?).

Ornamental fountain

Take a look at the fun

And so, you may ask, what happened to that perfectly good other fountain statue?

No worries! The Applause Fountain statue is safe!

The story behind those hands is that the statue was made after we won the International Applause Award in 2004.

Park President Will Koch was over the moon to win. We were the smallest park ever to be named the best in the industry.

Will holding the Applause Award

He’d promised the staff if we won, we’d have a huge version made for the fountain.

So where are the hands going?

New Applause Hands location

They’re going down to our employee entrance area. (This is a rendering; we’ll get this park setting finished up later this spring.)

Let’s crop in so you can read the sign, with its message from Will, who passed away suddenly in 2010.

Applause Award sign

We hope you’ll agree Will’s message will inspire our Team Members for years to come as they arrive to start another day of fun.
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The scoop about Waffle Cone Lights

Rick making Waffle Cone Lights

This time of the year (gulp – we’re just two weeks from Opening Day!), changes happen so quickly that it’s a challenge to catch them all for you to see. So we were delighted to hear from Rick, our Graphic Artist, that he was working on creating the Waffle Cone Lights for the new Sugarplum Scoop Shop.

Stephen grabbed the video cam and captured the DIY

There’s something new to see each day in Santa’s Merry Marketplace – the elves (in hard hats) are hard at work!

Among the elves is fourth-generation owner Lauren, who’s very involved in the park’s theming.

Lauren with Fireplace Decor

Here she is taking a look at some of the finishing touches for Candy Cane Confectionary, which is part of Santa’s Merry Marketplace.

Lauren with Candy Cane Confectionary Decor

Both the Candy Cane Confectionary and Candy Cornucopia (a new candy shop in Thanksgiving) will stock Salt Water Taffy.

Judging from the response on Facebook, this was a very good decision.

Ready for a look around?

Here’s a 360-degree look at Santa’s Merry Marketplace from what will be the seating area.

And just because it’s an irresistible option, here’s the Tiny Planet version of the above 360:

Tiny Planet look at Santa's Merry Marketplace

Lest there be another second wasted worrying about our iconic Santa Murals (Rick created them, too, back in 1991), here’s proof positive that they’re a jolly part of Santa’s Merry Marketplace.

Lauren with Santa Mural

Would you like to be among the first to experience Santa’s Merry Marketplace? We have a sneak preview planned for Platinum Season Passholders on May 3. The deepest discounts for Season Passes are available until that date.
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Wattle we ride first?

Turkey Whirl Assembly

Some may find this to be fowl, but if you take a look at turkey anatomy, you’ll know a wattle is that fleshy neck thingy (technically speaking, of course).

The other weird turkey word? The snood of course. That’s the hangy thing over the turkey’s beak.

Turkey Whirl logo

That red thingy flying up right under the turkey’s eye? That’s the snood.




Speaking of snood, did you know the farmer in Gobbler Getaway has a name?

It’s Farmer Van Snoodle

Farmer Van Snoodle

This all makes sense now, right?

Now that we’re all settled into Turkey Land, let’s catch up!

Here’s a look at the putting-back-together of Turkey Whirl. (This is definitely a #VolumeUp video.)

Turkey Whirl is right across from Gobbler Getaway, where we’ll now offer on-ride photos.

Here’s the sign, with an interesting reflection in the window.

Gobbler Getaway Photos Sign

Right by Gobbler Getaway Photos, you’ll see a few yummy additions.

A Dippin’ Dots Sundae Shop and Candy Cornucopia!

Candy Cornucopia Sign

We’ll show you more about Candy Cornucopia in the weeks to come.

But for now, suffice it to say …

Salt. Water. Taffy.

Salt Water Taffy

No doubt lots of our visitors will gobble down these flavors – 18 in all!
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Sweepstakes: Summer Kickoff

Holiday World & Louisville City FC Prize Pack - web

Congratulations to our winner: Brittany G. from White Lake, Michigan! Thanks to all who entered. More giveaways coming up soon!
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Click.

Did you hear that? It was the sound of me moving the little switch on our thermostat from Heat to Cool.

Because it’s starting to feel like summer!

Mammoth Water Coaster | Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Mammoth – the world’s longest water coaster (certified by Guinness World Records)

What better way to kick off summer than a sweepstakes? And what better way to kick off a kickoff than soccer?

That’s right, the winner of this sweepstakes will not only win tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari and two nights over Memorial Day Weekend in a Holiday Cottage at Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, but also season tickets for all the Louisville City FC home games starting May 18!

So let’s get started!

Our Summer Kickoff Sweepstakes winner will receive:

  • Four one-day tickets to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
  • Two nights in a Holiday Cottage during Memorial Day Weekend
  • Four tickets for each Louisville City FC home game starting May 18
  • Four “Season Ticket Member” scarves from Louisville City FC
Holiday World & Louisville City FC Prize Pack

Before you enter, please read through these instructions and rules:

  • You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Also, you must not have won tickets from Holiday World in the past 12 months.
  • Employees of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Koch Development Corporation, Lake Rudolph Campground & RV Resort, Sun Communities, Sun RV Resort, and Louisville City FC (plus the immediate family members of employees) are not eligible to enter.
  • By entering, you agree to be added to our e-newsletter list (you may unsubscribe at any time by following the directions in your email).
  • Use the widget, below, to enter daily. There are lots of options, so you can earn extra entries by posting here on our HoliBlog and tweeting about this sweepstakes. Earn even more entries by following us on Pinterest, and visiting our Facebook pages (we’d love it if you’d leave us a Facebook Recommendation while you’re there!).
  • If you win our Summer Kickoff Sweepstakes, please note you must be at least 21 to phone in your two-night Holiday Cottage reservation at Lake Rudolph. *Here are the dates the cottage will be available for reservation: May 24 – 27, 2019.
  • All prizes are non-transferable and not for re-sale. Each winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize(s). Tickets to Holiday World and Louisville City FC must be picked up at Holiday World.
  • For the “post a comment on the blog” entry option, simply tell us how you want to kick off summer this year. (Our comments are moderated, so as long as the content is HoliFriendly, it will appear soon.)

Ready to enter?

Simply enter by using the widget, below. And not just today – enter daily through Wednesday, May 8, 2019, at 2:30pm CDT, when we’ll email our winner, chosen at random.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck to all!
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Santa's Merry Marketplace Decorations

I’ll plead guilty to any accusation of a cheesy Christmas-lyric subject line, but …

Come on!

Santa's Merry Marketplace Decorations

Decor and more for Santa’s Merry Marketplace!

The chandeliers (all 23 of them) are hung by the chimney with care.

Register Stations at Santa's Merry Marketplace

Hold on – what chimney?

This chimney!

Santa's Merry Marketplace's Fireplace

Love these rustic doors for our Party Rooms.

These private rooms are reservable for groups of 15+ who want catered meals. And to celebrate Christmas a bit early.

Party Room Doors

Here’s one more view.

Let’s call it Santa’s Messy Marketplace for now. But in just a few weeks, it will be our Candy Cane Confectionary.

Candy Cane Confectionary

If you peer into the background of this photo, you’ll see some of the beloved Santa Claus Murals already decorating the walls.

Come see Santa’s Merry Marketplace for yourself on Opening Day, May 4 (or, if you’re a Platinum Season Passholder, on May 3).

We ho-ho-hope you’ll join us!
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Whatever happened to the Santa murals?

Santa murals

They’re back!

Santa murals

Sort of looks like a Santa Claus Art Gallery, doesn’t it?

The murals, which originated in 1991, were carefully preserved over the winter months. It’s time, though, for them to claim their space in Santa’s Merry Marketplace.

I’ve got to admit, we were stunned by the many accusations that we’d abandoned these works of art.

O ye of little faith

Another question asked with great emotion all winter concerned our pizza. We weren’t at all surprised to learn you loved Kringle’s Pizza. But we couldn’t quite fathom that some might think we’d throw out the recipe along with the murals!

Indeed, the first pizza for Santa’s Merry Marketplace slid into the oven just minutes ago:

first pizza

What else will we serve in Santa’s Merry Marketplace? Let’s see … Pizza & Pasta, Asian Cuisine, American Grill, Deli Sandwiches, and Kids Favorites. Here’s the full menu.

The Marketplace will also include:

  • Candy Cane Confectionary
  • Sugarplum Scoop Shoppe
  • Polar Expresso

And all of this deliciousness will be surrounded by Santa artwork.

Santa's sleigh mural

Santa’s Merry Marketplace will be ready to go for Opening Day, May 4.

Whether it’s pizza you’re craving of some General Tso’s Cauliflower Bites, we’ll be ready!

Santa murals

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Top, Tour, Taste

We tasted both General Tso's Chicken, as well as this delicious vegetarian version:

Yesterday’s media event for the Tower Topping at Santa’s Merry Marketplace was a ho-ho-whole lot of fun!

To begin with, the weather was just perfect and the trees were awakening.

Water tower

TV crews, newspaper reporters, radio personalities, and the HoliDrone were on hand to watch the topping of the six-story tower at Santa’s Merry Marketplace.

Want to see more? Cameron from Eyewitness News later tweeted this great time-lapse:

 

What next?

After the “topping,” we took a construction tour throughout Santa’s Merry Marketplace (remember, we’re a month away from Opening Day):

Fabric on Ceiling | Santa's Merry Marketplace tour

Lauren and Matt led the tour, pointing out locations for Candy Cane Confectionary, Polar Expresso, and Sugarplum Scoop Shoppe.

Matt and Lauren with TV reporter

They also described the food-court area, where we’ll serve the following menus:

  • Asian Cuisine
  • Pizza & Pasta
  • Kids Favorites
  • American Grill
  • Deli Sandwiches

… and then strolled over to our three new Party Rooms, for groups of 15 and more to have catered events.

Then on to the Mother’s Nursing Room, two family restrooms, and our themed …

Green and white tiling in restrooms

… restrooms!

The tiling work is underway. And the bathrooms are quite roomy – with double the, er, seating capacity as we had last year.

Back outside, the tour ended across the plaza in St. Nick’s, where our Foods crew had spread out samples of a dozen or so of the new menu items for this season.

The reporters were a bit shy at first:

WBKR's Chad eating enthusiastically

WBKR’s Chad Benefield enthusiastically samples the vegetarian version of General Tso’s Chicken … er, Cauliflower

This gluten-free choice was particularly popular.

Empty plate

Cameron from Eyewitness News explains why in the video below. (I came across the video on his Facebook page; this is used with his permission.)

The tasting concluded with two of our new Festive Flurries:

Festive Flurries

Want to check out all the menus? We will offer 110 new items, with half in Santa’s Merry Marketplace alone.

With just four weeks until Opening Day, here’s your reminder that the best discounts for Season Passes disappear once we open for the season. This much food could take all summer!
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Legend rides again!

The Legend logo

Whatever you do, don’t look back! – Legend rides again

The Legend logo

This afternoon we got the call that The Legend was about to head out on its first rides of the season.

Around here, that’s a big deal

Stephen grabbed his video gear and headed down Halloween Hill to catch the start of Legend’s 20th season:


How unfair is it that test dummies get the first rides around here?

The Legend rides again – along with the rest of Holiday World – starting on May 4. We hope you’ll join us!
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The Calming Room

Calming Room

We post this photo of our pal Mick Foley on Twitter annually for Autism Awareness Day. He wears that Autism Acceptance band in honor of his son Mickey and the many others who deserve acceptance.

And each year, a number of people tweet their thanks to Mick, on behalf of their children.

Mick Foley - Autism Acceptance

… because it’s a wide spectrum that touches many families.

Did you know we have a Calming Room?

It’s available for our Guests with special needs who will benefit from a quiet, relaxing break from the park’s sensory stimulation.

Calming Room

The room, which includes bean bag chairs, a small tent, rocking chair, couch, plus adjustable lighting, is located inside our First Aid building  (the red-roofed building in Splashin’ Safari’s plaza).

Here’s a video tour:

Park Guests may reserve our Calming Room for 30-minute sessions on a first come, first served basis at Guest Relations or First Aid.

The Accessibility page on our website includes a variety of information. For example, is your arm or leg is in a cast?  You can check which attractions are safe for you to ride. We even list where our manual-flush toilets are located (thanks to the mom who asked us for this).

Here’s the link to our 2019 Accessibility Guide. There’s lots of information included in the guide, to help with planning your visit. Please take a look there for height and weight limits, health restrictions, cast information, pool-water depth, and more.
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