Halloween Done Right

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Casey-CheetahChased When you’re the only park that celebrates Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, and Halloween every day, you learn a thing or two about those holidays. So, while I don’t want to brag… I have to say that Holiday World knows how to have a Happy Halloween done right.  This morning our full-time staff all piled into our training room for one of our monthly meetings.  Except today was different. Today was Halloween.  So HR decided to hold a costume contest. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that this group knows how to Halloween.  Full-time employees dressed up for Halloween Our attractions team dressed up as the cast of Wreck-It Ralph
Attractions Wrecking It (Dressed as Wreck-It Ralph characters)

Attractions (from left to right): Adam as Fix-It Felix, Lori as Vanellope von Schweetz, and Alan as Wreck-It Ralph

                      Lisa from our Food & Beverage department dressed up as Dippin’ Dots (and won, might I add).  Lisa dressed as Dippin' Dots    Lisa as Dippin' Dots full picture (It took her a while to get a hand out to accept her award) Casey, our I.T. Director dressed as “Cheetah Chased.” I’ll let the .gif here speak for itself…  
Casey-Cheetah Chased

Run, Casey, Run!!!

We all had fun, but it was time to get back to work.  Our newest member of I.T. (and second-place winner) Kenny got back to his “lab.” (Get it?) KennyStein in the Lab From all of us here at Holiday World, we wish you a safe and happy Halloween! 
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Who Gets the Last Ride?

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Sabrina and Shelby

If you look front left, there’s Sabrina (from Communications) and her sister Shelby (from Attractions–you may have seen her operating some of our slides or The Raven or Frightful Falls this summer).

Have you ever wondered who gets the last ride of the season?  After a million guests come through our gates each year, who gets to be the very last rider of the season?  I mean, at HoliWood Nights, people buy the right to be the last rider of the night. Wouldn’t the last ride of the season be just as coveted? We don’t know. And we don’t want to know.

We reserve that spot for our hard-working Team Members.

One of the last rides of the night So Sunday after the last 2019 Guests left the park, our Team Members finished their work and went to ride Thunderbird.  And I snapped a few pictures of the trains.  What’s pictured: trains with our seasonal Team Members riding Thunderbird at night for the last time of the season.  What’s not pictured: the hugs and tears of the last day of the season. 

Working here isn’t about the paycheck. 

It’s about the family you build during a summer of sweating while working hard. And worrying about whether a Guest understood your lame jokes (or wait, was that just me?).  It’s about the memories of goofing off during break with your friends.  It’s about meeting people in one summer who will change your lives forever. 

I’m putting on my owner hat now:

To every Team Member from the 2019 season: thank you from the bottom of my heart. On behalf of the rest
Luke and Austin on Thunderbird

Luke and Austin from Entertainment on Thunderbird

of my family: Thank you. It’s been an incredible season, and it’s been a pleasure getting to know some of you and to help tell just a part of the stories of your summers. If you were there on Sunday, I want to add a special thanks for sticking around to end the season. Even if you didn’t make it to the end of the season, thank you.  That last ride of every season belongs to all of you.  Thank you. 
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2019 Season ends with a magical proposal!

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HoliBlog | Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Each year the end of the season is bittersweet, but this year our 2019 Season ended with a new beginning.

We closed out our 2019 Season with a magical proposal! In early October, Derek reached out to our team for help planning a proposal for his son. Logan and his girlfriend Ashley were traveling here from California to spend time with family at Holiday World. Our team considered the different fountains and scenery that would be nice. Leah recommended we reach out to Brandon Baggett with the LOL Comedy Magic Show. Brandon was instantly on board! Brandon and the Holiday World team made a plan for the proposal. We arranged to meet Logan and Derek twenty minutes prior to show time at the Hoosier Celebration Theater.

They told their group they were going to rent a stroller, so we could meet to go over the details. 

Brandon and AJ gave Logan a walk through of the plan he crafted for the proposal.

Brandon and AJ gave Logan a walk through of the plan he crafted for the proposal.

While Logan was being shown the plan, our team saved seats for their family so Brandon would know where to look for Ashley. Before they arrived, the reserved tape was removed and Logan passed the ring off to Luke.
Luke smiling with Ashley's ring!

Luke didn’t enjoy his role as ring bearer one bit! Can’t you tell?

All that was left to do was enjoy Brandon’s show while we waited for the big moment! Towards the end, Brandon asked where everyone was from, from the corner you could hear a group saying CALIFORNIA.

Brandon played it off perfectly! What? Someone from California? Come on stage!

Brandon showed our California friend snow!

Brandon showed our California friend snow!

While Ashley was being invited up, our team got Logan in place backstage. Brandon showed her snow for the very first time and kept the crowd engaged. After the snow, he asked Ashley to stay on the stage for his final act. Every show Brandon makes a motorcycle appear, but this time Logan was on it!
Logan got down on one knee to propose!

Logan got down on one knee to propose!

With a big smile he got down on one knee and she said yes!

Brandon announces the good news!

Brandon announces the good news!

We work hard to be a place where families make memories they will cherish for a lifetime. A special thanks to this family for choosing to share your moment with us and Brandon for making it happen. We can’t think of a better way to close out a season!

Check out Logan and Ashley’s magical proposal here:

Holiday World is no stranger to love! We love hearing stories about couples who met here or took someone here as a first date.  Are you part of a HoliCouple? Tell us about it in the comments below!
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Out with the Old, In with the Smooth

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This week we set out to answer two of your burning questions about the Voyage:

Why did we start track work early? What are we doing to the track? Initially we thought we would take some cellphone pictures to share progress on the Voyage. Once we started working with the maintenance team and heard what they were up to, we couldn’t resist turning it into a full morning of production. Over 600 feet of the old track is being replaced to ensure smooth voyages in 2020 and our maintenance crew is already on track with the upgrades. 
Here is where the track maintenance ends on the Voyage.

The end of the line! Here is where the track maintenance ends on the Voyage.

Once I started talking with the crew one thing became abundantly clear: Our roller coaster technicians are passionate about our coasters and giving our guests the best experience.

Our three wooden coasters get ridden every morning by our roller coaster techs. When the Voyage was due for maintenance, they knew exactly where they wanted to smooth out the ride in the off season.

These upgrades are going to make for a MUCH smoother ride!

In the photo above the rail is nailed to the middle to the hand rail.

In the photo above the rail is nailed to the middle to the hand rail.

First, our team  nails the rails to either the top or middle of the side rail.

Taking this step first ensures that each piece of rail goes back in the correct order when the track work is finished.

Here is the section of track where the rails and track have already been removed. The rails are nailed to the hand rail so the crew can easily put them back in order.

Here is the section of track where the rails and track have already been removed. The rails are nailed to the hand rail so the crew can easily put them back in order.

Why did we need the jump start to get the Voyage repairs done before 2020? Through our annual maintenance rotation between our three wooden roller coasters, it was time to check up on the Voyage.

After an assessment, it was determined we would replace about 40 feet, with the overlap that adds up to over 600 feet of track! 

Under the rails are EIGHT layers of staggered wood!

Under the rails are EIGHT layers of staggered wood!

When repairs are made to a wooden coaster, you can’t just remove the part you are focused on improving.

Once the rails are up there are EIGHT overlapped layers of wood that have to be removed!

So large sections of the coaster have to be removed to smooth out small portions of the ride.
Our team carefully removing a chunk of the Voyage!

Our team carefully removing a chunk of the Voyage!

Have you ever noticed that our coasters blend in with their scenic surroundings? To not disturb the treeline or fencing in place, the telehandler has very little room to work and navigate. As you can see in the picture above, the pieces are led by another team member to ensure the track doesn’t swing. Once they have detached a section it gets added to the ever-growing discard pile.
Old track pieces laying in a pile.

Out with the old track, in with the smooth!

The wood seen above also can’t be picked up at your local department store. We have found a specific type that is hardy enough to withstand  daily use and Indiana’s elements. The Voyage improvements are evidence of Holiday World’s dedication to improving our guest’s experience. Our team exceeds industry standards by not only maintaining our coasters but working to make them better. Not only do we have exciting projects like Cheetah Chase, but we’re prioritizing the upkeep of the rides you love! Fans of the Voyage will have a much smoother ride in 2020! Who’s counting down the days to May already? Check out the latest installment of Hard Hat Chronicles to see upgrades from a birds-eye view with comments from Josh a Holiday World Roller Coaster Technician! 
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Hoosier choice for “Monster of the Year?”

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During Happy Halloween Weekends, Hoosier Celebration Stage gets a touch of spooky fun!

Our Monster Mash Cast stirs up a fright!

Our Monster Mash Cast from left to right: Monster of Ceremonies, Blair Witch, Damien, Miss Evilina, Luna Gaga, Stitches the Clown

Monster Mash is one of our brand new spooktacular shows that puts you in the judges seat to crown “Monster of the Year.” Keep reading to the very bottom for a sneak peek!

Sit a spell and let us introduce you to these supernaturally talented contestants:

Monster of Ceremonies

Our emcee, Monster of Ceremonies, kicks off the competition by introducing us to the contestants and spends the entirety of the show keeping them from too much mischief. When he’s not running the show, Zach calls New York home.

Blair Witch

The lovely lady in lavender, Blair Witch enchants us with songs like “Jump in the Line” and “I’ll Put A Spell On You.” Her song list is full of high energy music that will leave you dancing in your seat and ready to give her your vote. Cassidy’s haunted home is in Maine. 

Damien

Our Hungry Monster, Damien, stalks the stage hungry for a victory and his next victim. He’ll be the one with the rough gait and hunched over posture, if that doesn’t narrow it down, you’ll recognize him as the monster singing “Cannibal” and “Maneater.” When he’s not searching for brains for brunch, Marc calls our nation’s capital home.

Miss Evilina

One thing is evident, the reigning “Monster of the Year” may not be ready to pass the torch. As a former beauty queen, Miss Evilina  is green with envy as the other contestants compete for HER title. As the competition co-host she bewitches us with her vocals to “The Monster” and “Queen of the Night.”  Emma calls the ghoul grass state of Kentucky her home.

Luna Gaga

Luna Gaga, the Pop Monster brings spunk to the stage with her poppin’ pitch and personality in songs like “E.T”  and “Bad Guy.” Don’t let the tutu fool you, dripping in jewels and sass, she’s a force to be reckoned with for her competitors. Elly comes from neighboring Illinois.

Stitches the Clown

Stitches the Clown gets the last laugh! He lives up to his title of “Scary Monster” as he brings the fright with his chilling vocals and disturbing glances!  He unnerves and entertains the crowd with songs like “Sweet Dreams” and “Zombie.”  Rudy is a native of Tennessee.

Now that you’ve met them all, I don’t know how you’ll choose!

These ultra talented ghouls make it VERY hard to pick a favorite, but at the very end Monster of Ceremonies will ask the crowd to decide. As he announces each Monster’s name, it will be up to you to hoot and howl to cast your vote!

You’ll have to be present to make your vote count, but here is a sneak peek so you can make an informed decision:

 Want to know when our creatures will take the stage? Check out our Today: At A Glance during Happy Halloween Weekends.

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Walking in a Halloween Wonderland

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Amanda and Alison

Each year for Happy Halloween Weekends, our seasonal Team Members transform the park to give it a festive Halloween Feeling. So our Communications team set out while the park was still being decorated. Since we’re still in Santa Claus, Indiana, it just makes sense to call it a walk in a “Halloween Wonderland.” I’m sorry.

Communications Team

Communications team from left to right: Josh, Sabrina, and myself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First we ran into Allison and Amanda from Entertainment and Events. They were hard at work spray-painting hay bales:

Amanda and Alison with "Frankenstraw" hay bale

Allison (left) and Amanda (right) posing with their work of art… we like to call him FrankenstrawHaybales in progress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you haven’t seen these (as well as our Kitty Claws hay bales painted by my talented sister Lauren), you’re missing out.

 Lauren Hay Kitties Snap

In case you haven’t visited before during our Happy Halloween Weekends, you should know the fun and festive decorations you’re missing out on…

There’s lovely fall decor:

 HHW Decor

And spooky additions like this giant Spider’s web over our Spider’s Web games:

Spiders WebSpider Shadow

And cute little monsters hiding in our landscaping:

Avenue of Flags EyesAlamo Eyes

We have new balloons:

    Balloons Walkway

And photo opportunities galore…

Kitty Pumpkin Chirstmas Plaza

The Kitty Claws Pumpkin

 

Haunted Houses

The Spooky Houses Hill

 

Josh posing with pumpkins photo opportunity

Josh was a good sport posing with the pumpkins here

 

Sabrina Scarecrow

Sabrina as a scarecrow (though after we took this picture they moved things around and now there’s a cute Halloween train there)

 

Leah posing in Kitty's trick or treat bag

…and if I forced Josh and Sabrina to take pictures I had to take one too…

Sabrina and I even stopped by the 4th of July wall (painted just this year by the way) for a quick photo shoot.  If you haven’t been there yet, it’s a great background for some excellent selfies. 

Sabrina 4th of July WallPatriotic Wall

 

And just to tie the title of this blog post back in from that tangent, I’ve re-written some lyrics from Walking in a Winter Wonderland: 

People scream, are you listening?

In the maze, voices whispering

A most frightful sight, 

It’s spooky tonight,

Walking in a Halloween Wonderland

 

Enjoy getting that tune unstuck from your head. I’ll be singing it for the next week…

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Sweepstakes: Coolest Time to Visit

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Congratulations to our winner, Brooke W. from Evansville, Indiana!

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Have you visited Holiday World during Happy Halloween Weekends?

Wacky Workshop of Wonders:
Professor D.R. Holiday and his assistant, Otto

Normally we can comfortably say that the lines are shorter and the weather is cooler.

Well, the first of those two has been true this year. It’s still been pretty warm these past few weeks.

But it looks like fall weather might actually arrive just in time for this weekend’s festivities!

October is the perfect time to visit.

You can still enjoy your favorite rides, and we have tons of great Halloween-themed fun, activities, and food.

We have 12 acres of corn mazes, three funhouses, tons of seasonal treats on our menus, plus scary good shows!

You won’t want to miss the Wacky Workshop of Wonders with Professor D.R. Holiday, the LOL Comedy Magic Show, or The Monster Mash – where you help us choose the “Monster of the Year!”

The cast of The Monster Mash!

The cast of The Monster Mash!

There’s so much fun to be had that we thought we should have a new sweepstakes and give tickets so you can come experience it for yourself!

Here’s what you could win:

  • 4 one-day tickets to Holiday World
  • $20 HoliCash

We’ll choose one winner at random.

 

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

  • You must be at least 18 years old to enter. You must not have won tickets from Holiday World in the past 12 months. Employees of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Koch Development Corporation, and 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.)
  • Winners will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends.
  • Use the widget, below, to enter. There are several options, so you can earn extra entries. For the “Leave a blog post comment,” simply answer this question: What is your favorite part of Happy Halloween Weekends? (Our comments are moderated, so as long as the content is HoliFriendly, it will appear soon.)
  • Tickets are non-transferable and not for re-sale. Winner is solely responsible for reporting and paying any and all applicable taxes related to the prize(s). No purchase necessary.
  • 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.
  • Not eligible if you’ve won tickets from us in the past 12 months.

Happy Halloween Weekends run Saturdays and Sundays through October 27. Check out our full calendar here!

Ready to enter? Simply enter by using the widget below. You can enter daily through Friday, October 11, 2019, at 3:30pm CDT, when we’ll choose a winner at random.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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