SANTA CLAUS, IND.—–According to USA Today, the best water park in the nation is located in Indiana. Holiday World’s Splashin’ Safari took top honors in the newspaper’s month-long online voting, which challenged fans to vote for their favorite water park from among 20 nominated for America’s “10 Best” Outdoor Water Parks. The newspaper reports votes “poured…
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Park Named to TripAdvisor Hall of Fame
Also, Voyage picked as Indiana’s Top Coaster SANTA CLAUS, IND—–As the summer vacation season kicks off, the world’s largest travel site – TripAdvisor.com – welcomes Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari into its new Hall of Fame. “TripAdvisor just notified us that our long history of receiving positive reviews has earned us an inaugural spot in…
Read More »Park’s fundraising for Juvenile Diabetes Research tops $4.3 million
Turn Type One into Type None SANTA CLAUS, IND.—–Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari hosted the park’s 14th annual “JDRF One Walk” today. More than $280,000 was raised for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Holiday World donated tickets to JDRF for today’s event. The tickets were “earned” by individuals, families, and teams who raised hundreds of thousands…
Read More »Timeline: Santa Claus Land, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Timeline: from Santa Claus Land to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari 1941 Louis J. Koch visits the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, and begins plans to open what is to become the world’s first theme park. 1945 Construction of Santa Claus Land begins (August 4). 1946 Opening day of the world’s first theme park,…
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Play Day donation tops $500,000
SANTA CLAUS, IN—–More than $30,000 was donated to the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center today, during Holiday World’s “Play Day.” The annual event is open to the Tri-State’s children with mental and physical disabilities. “Today, we opened the park for the invited guests of the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center,” says Holiday World’s Lauren Crosby, a fourth-generation owner. “This…
Read More »Park named “Midwest’s Most Affordable”
Holiday World Named ‘Midwest’s Most Affordable’ Park Free Soft Drinks for All Enters 20th Season SANTA CLAUS, IND.—–Holiday World launches its 73rd season this Saturday with a new award: the Midwest’s Most Affordable Park. HomeToGo.com, the world’s largest vacation rental search engine, released its annual Theme Park Price Index, a study of the affordability of…
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Park “Tops” Santa’s Merry Marketplace
SANTA CLAUS, IND.—– The tower at Holiday World’s new Santa’s Merry Marketplace is now complete. This morning, in a “topping ceremony,” a 10-story crane lifted the top half of the nearly six-story tower into place. “In the theme-park industry, we like to celebrate placing the highest piece of a new ride or building into place,”…
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Park’s Attractions Team Wins Safety Award
Ride Operators Win Award for Excellence in Safety SANTA CLAUS, IND.—– For the second year in a row, Holiday World’s team of ride operators has received the industry’s top award in Ride Operations Excellence. The award, presented by International Ride Training (IRT) of Nashville, Tennessee, is the result of scores earned during an unannounced safety…
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Holiday World to Fill 2,200 Jobs
SANTA CLAUS, IND.—–Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari officials expect to receive a record number of job applications as they prepare to fill 2,200 seasonal positions in the coming weeks. “We’re looking for friendly and energetic individuals who want to help families enjoy their getaways with us,” says Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari President Matt Eckert….
Read More »Park celebrates 100+ years of service
Longtime employees honored SANTA CLAUS, IN—–Eight employees at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari were recently honored for their years of service at the world’s first theme park. “Each year, we present Service Awards to employees who have been with our park family for multiples of five years,” says park president Matt Eckert. “It’s this core…
Read More »Santa’s Merry Marketplace to open in 2019
Park invests $5.5 million in 2019 SANTA CLAUS, IND.—–Holiday World’s iconic Kringle’s Kafe will serve its final customers on October 28, as construction of the new Santa’s Merry Marketplace begins in November. “We’re ramping up the theming and the menus for next season,” says park president Matt Eckert. “Santa’s Merry Marketplace is nearly 50 percent…
Read More »Park History: From Santa Claus Land to Holiday World
73 Years of Family Fun SANTA CLAUS, IND.—–The history of the nation’s first theme park is the story of a family which has, for seven decades, dedicated itself to providing millions of guests with good, old-fashioned family fun. Evansville, Ind., industrialist Louis J. Koch created the world’s first theme park as a retirement project. He…
Read More »Happy Halloween Weekends include new SCAREbnb funhouse
‘Come Alive!’ show features performers from Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana SANTA CLAUS, IND—– Holiday World’s four holiday-themed sections will merge into a single theme starting this weekend, as the park opens its Happy Halloween Weekends on September 22. “Holiday World is all about family fun and making memories – and certainly that includes the…
Read More »Wildebeest named Top Water Park Ride
Holiday World voted Cleanest Park SANTA CLAUS, IND.—– Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari’s Wildebeest water coaster took top honors once again during the 2018 Golden Ticket Awards ceremony, held this weekend at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. For the ninth year in a row, Holiday World’s Wildebeest water coaster was named the World’s #1…
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TripAdvisor names park among Top 1%
TripAdvisor Reviews Place Splashin’ Safari among Top 1% SANTA CLAUS, IND—–According to the world’s largest travel site – TripAdvisor.com – Splashin’ Safari is one of the world’s best water parks. The 40-acre water park, among the largest in the world, was named the #5 park in the nation and #15 in the world, following only Florida parks…
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