Holiday World & Splashin' Safari facts for kids

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

Previously known as Santa Claus Land (1946-1984)
Location	Santa Claus, Indiana, U.S.
Coordinates	38°07′08″N 86°54′58″W / 38.119°N 86.916°W / 38.119; -86.916
Status	Operating
Opened	August 3, 1946 (1946-08-03)
Owner	Koch Development Corporation
Operated by	Koch Development Corporation
General manager	Matthew Eckert
Theme	Holidays
Slogan	Number 1 for Family Fun!
Operating season	May through October
Attendance	1.1 million (2010)
Area	125 acres (0.51 km2)
Attractions
Total	49
Roller coasters	6
Water rides	3

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is a super fun theme park and water park located in Santa Claus, Indiana, USA. It used to be called Santa Claus Land. The theme park first opened in 1946. It has awesome rides, live shows, and games. The park is split into four cool sections that celebrate different holidays: Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July.

Holiday World has three amazing wooden roller coasters. One of the most famous is The Voyage, which is often called one of the best in the world! There are also two exciting steel coasters. The water park, Splashin' Safari, opened in 1993. It has two of the longest water coasters in the world: Wildebeest and Mammoth, which even holds a Guinness World Record! Splashin' Safari also has a launched water coaster, raft rides, water slides, and other fun water attractions for families.

History of Holiday World

The Freedom Train, which ran from 1946 to 2012

How Santa Claus Land Started

Building the Park

The idea for Santa Claus Land came from Louis J. Koch, who was a retired businessman. In 1941, he visited the town of Santa Claus, Indiana. He felt sad that kids would come to a town named Santa Claus but couldn't actually meet Santa. So, he dreamed up a park where children could have fun and visit Santa all year long! Building the park was delayed a bit by World War II, but construction finally began on August 4, 1945.

Opening Day and Early Years (1946-1954)

Santa Claus Land opened its doors on August 3, 1946. At first, it was free to enter! The park had a Santa, a toy shop, toy displays, a restaurant, and fun rides for kids. One of the first rides was The Freedom Train. Louis Koch's son, Bill Koch, took over the park as it became more popular. Over the next few years, Bill added more attractions, like the first ever Jeep-Go-Round and a deer farm with fourteen European white fallow deer.

Ronald Reagan visiting Santa Claus Land in 1955

Growing Bigger (1955-1975)

In 1955, Santa Claus Land started charging a small fee for adults (50 cents), but kids could still get in for free! Even with the new cost, more and more people visited the park. A new ride area called Pleasureland opened in 1955. In the early 1970s, more children's rides were added, like Dasher's Seahorses and Prancer's Merry-Go-Round. For a few summers, there were even live water ski shows on Lake Rudolph!

Bill Koch married Patricia "Pat" Yellig in 1960. Her dad, Jim Yellig, was the park's Santa Claus! Bill and Pat had five children, who would later help run the park.

Focusing on Families (1976-1983)

In 1976, Santa Claus Land changed its main focus. It started to become a park for the whole family, not just little kids. The park added nine new rides by 1984. Most of these rides were designed to be fun for older kids and adults too. Rides like Eagle's Flight and Scarecrow Scrambler were added to appeal to everyone.

Becoming Holiday World

New Holiday Sections (1984-1992)

By 1984, the Koch Family realized they could celebrate more than just Christmas. So, Santa Claus Land got much bigger! They added a Halloween section and a Fourth of July section. Because the park now celebrated more holidays, its name officially changed to Holiday World. Later, rides like Frightful Falls and Raging Rapids were added.

During this time, Will Koch, Bill Koch's oldest son, became the President of the park. His brother, Daniel "Dan" Koch, became the chairman.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari

An early photo of The Raven. Bill Koch Sr. is on the left; Will Koch is on the right

Adding a Water Park (1993-2005)

In 1993, the awesome water park Splashin' Safari opened! It started with rides like Congo River and AmaZOOM. The next year, The Wave pool was added.

In 1995, the park added its first big wooden roller coaster, The Raven. It was built by Custom Coasters International. The Raven was named "Ride of the Year" and was even voted the world's second-best wooden roller coaster! For four years, it was ranked as the #1 wooden roller coaster in the world.

In 2000, another wooden roller coaster, The Legend, opened. It's based on the story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and is taller, longer, and faster than The Raven. The Legend was voted the fourth-best wooden roller coaster in the world in 2002. Also in 2000, Holiday World started offering free unlimited soft drinks to its guests, which was a huge hit and made the park famous around the world!

Over the next few years, more fun was added. In 2002, ZOOMbabwe, the world's largest enclosed water slide, came to Splashin' Safari. In 2003, Splashin' Safari added Zinga, a big bowl slide. Holiday World also added Liberty Launch, a tall drop ride. In 2005, Bahari Wave Pool was added, which helped double the size of Splashin' Safari!

In 2004, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari won a very special award called the Applause Award. This award is given to parks that show great ideas, creativity, and good business. Holiday World was the smallest park ever to win it!

New Records and Rides (2006-2013)

The Voyage opened in 2006, and set a record for air-time on a wooden roller coaster

The year 2006 was Holiday World's 60th anniversary! To celebrate, they added a brand new section: Thanksgiving. This section included two new rides. One was Gobbler Getaway, an interactive dark ride. The biggest new ride was The Voyage, the park's third wooden roller coaster. The Voyage quickly became famous because it has the most "air-time" (that floating feeling!) of any wooden roller coaster. It's also the second-longest wooden roller coaster in the world! The Voyage was named "Best New Ride" in 2006 and was voted the #1 wooden roller coaster in the world for several years.

More rides were added over the next few years. Bakuli and Kima Bay came to Splashin' Safari. Turkey Whirl was added to the Thanksgiving section. In 2009, Holiday World opened Pilgrims Plunge, which was the world's tallest water ride at the time! It lifted riders 135 feet up before dropping them down a big splash. It was later renamed Giraffica.

Splashin' Safari broke another record in 2010 with Wildebeest. When it opened, it was the world's longest water coaster! It uses special motors to push riders up hills. Wildebeest was named "Best New Waterpark Ride" and "Best Waterpark Ride" for several years. The park broke its own record again in 2012 when Mammoth opened. Mammoth is even longer than Wildebeest, making it the longest water coaster in the world!

Sadly, in June 2010, the park's President and CEO, Will Koch, sadly passed away. His younger brother, Dan Koch, became the new president. Later, Matt Eckert became the park's president, who was the first not related to the Koch family.

Many older rides were updated or replaced during this time. In 2013, the park removed The Freedom Train, which was one of the original rides, and replaced it with a new train ride called Holidog Express. In Splashin' Safari, some older slides were removed to make way for a new entrance plaza, and new slides like Hyena Falls were added.

Recent Expansions (2014-Present)

In 2014, Holiday World added a new swinging ship ride called the Mayflower in the Thanksgiving section. This ride swings 54 feet over water!

On July 24, 2014, the park announced a huge new ride for 2015: Thunderbird! This is a launched Bolliger & Mabillard Wing Coaster. It's the park's first major steel roller coaster. Thunderbird zooms from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and has the tallest vertical loop on a Wing Coaster!

In 2020, Holiday World added Cheetah Chase, a dueling launched water coaster in Splashin' Safari. It's over 1,700 feet long and reaches speeds of over 20 miles per hour.

For 2024, the park announced a brand new area called Stuffing Springs. This area features Good Gravy!, a Vekoma Family Boomerang roller coaster. It's the first of its kind in North America, standing 77 feet tall and reaching 37 mph. The area also includes a playground and new restrooms.

Themed Areas

Holiday World is split into four fun holiday-themed sections: Christmas, Halloween, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving. Each section has rides, games, food, and decorations that match its holiday theme. Even the music changes as you walk from one section to another! Splashin' Safari, the water park, has a general safari theme.

Christmas Section

When you first enter Holiday World, you step right into the Christmas section. This is the oldest part of the park, dating back to 1946. It was the only themed area until 1984. While it doesn't have huge roller coasters, it has a smaller area called Rudolph's Reindeer Ranch with several rides for younger kids. You'll see a big Santa Claus statue, a Christmas tree, and a nativity scene here. Since the park opened, Santa Claus has been available every day to chat with children!

Halloween Section

The Halloween section was one of the first new holiday areas added in 1984. Two of the park's three wooden roller coasters are here: The Raven and The Legend. You can also find the Goblin Burgers restaurant, which looks like a witch's house, and the Frightful Falls log flume. The main entrance to Splashin' Safari water park is also in this section. Listen for the spooky school bell ringing from The Legend's station! The mascot for this section is Kitty Claws, a cute black cat.

Fourth of July Section

The Fourth of July section was also added in 1984. It's named after Independence Day. The mascot here is George the Eagle. This area has the most rides in the theme park. You'll find the Hoosier Celebration Theater, where many live shows happen, and The Alamo restaurant, which serves Mexican food. There's also a special kids' play area called Holidog's FunTown, which is circled by the Holidog Express train.

Holidog's FunTown

Thanksgiving Section

The Thanksgiving section is the newest part of the park, added in 2006 for Holiday World's 60th birthday. The main ride here is The Voyage, which twists and turns around the area. You'll also find Thunderbird, the wing coaster, and the new Good Gravy! roller coaster. The Plymouth Rock Café in this section serves yummy Thanksgiving-style food like turkey and stuffing. You might even hear turkeys "gobbling" from the Gobbler Getaway ride!

Splashin' Safari Water Park

Splashin' Safari, which opened in 1993, is one of the best water parks in the United States! It was even named the #1 water park by TripAdvisor in 2011. The water park has a safari theme, with ride names inspired by animals and Swahili words. Holiday World has added new attractions to Splashin' Safari almost every year. It's home to the world's two longest water coasters: Wildebeest and Mammoth. The best part? Entry to Splashin' Safari is included with your Holiday World ticket!

Park Mascots and Characters

Instead of using characters from movies or TV, Holiday World has created its own fun mascots!

• Santa Claus– The jolly old man who is the mascot of the Christmas section.
• Holidog – A friendly brown dog who is the main mascot of Holiday World.
• Safari Sam – A cool green crocodile who is the mascot of Splashin' Safari.
• George the Eagle – A bald eagle wearing patriotic clothes, the mascot of the Fourth of July section.
• Kitty Claws – A cute black cat wearing a Halloween-themed outfit, the mascot of the Halloween section. She joined in 2012.

Live Entertainment

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari offers lots of live shows, including singing, dancing, and amazing diving acts. All shows are performed almost every day when the park is open.

• Santa's Storytime Theater – Kids can sit with Santa Claus on stage as he reads stories and sings Christmas songs.
• Dive! – This show at the High Dive Theater features divers performing incredible dives from different heights, including one from 80 feet high into just 10 feet of water!
• Hoosier Celebration Theater – This outdoor theater hosts many live shows daily, like Celebrate! and Holidog's Dance Party.
• Holidog's All-Star Theater – Located in Holidog's FunTown, this theater has shows just for kids, featuring Holidog, Safari Sam, and Kitty Claws singing and dancing.
• Muziki Bay – This theater in Splashin' Safari has a small stage surrounded by a shallow pool, where shows like Beach Blast at the Bay are performed.

Special Events

Holiday World hosts many unique and fun events throughout the year:

• Weddings: – Many couples have chosen to get married at Holiday World in unique ways, like on a roller coaster or in a hot air balloon!
• Golden Ticket Awards: – Since 1998, Holiday World has hosted the Golden Ticket Awards three times. These awards celebrate the best in the amusement park industry.
• Play Day: – Every year since 1993, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari welcomes thousands of children with special needs for an event called "Play Day." The money from tickets helps the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center.
• Walk to Cure Diabetes: – Since 2006, Holiday World has hosted a walk to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Over $1.7 million has been raised with the park's help!
• HoliWood Nights: – This special event is for members of roller coaster clubs. They get exclusive ride time on the park's wooden roller coasters before and after the park opens to the public. Each year's event has a fun movie-themed name!
• Rock the World: – Since 2012, Holiday World has hosted a Christian music festival called Rock the World. Christian bands perform throughout the day, and famous artists play on a main stage after the park closes.
• Happy Halloween Weekends: – In October, Holiday World stays open for family-friendly Halloween fun! The park has two corn mazes, hayrides, a 3-D walk-through haunted house, and a kids' activity area. The park is decorated for Halloween, and there are special shows and food.

Awards and Recognition

In 2004, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari received the prestigious Applause Award. This award is given to parks that show great ideas, creativity, and good business. Holiday World was the smallest park ever to receive this honor! The park even has a large replica of the award as part of a fountain in the Christmas section.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari has also won many Golden Ticket Awards from Amusement Today magazine. These awards recognize the best parks and rides in the amusement industry. As of 2016, Holiday World has won more Golden Ticket Awards (51!) than any other amusement park in the world!

Images for kids

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  An early photo of Frightful Falls

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  Zinga

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  Three of Holiday World & Splashin' Safari's mascots. Left to right: George the Eagle, Holidog, Safari Sam

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  An aerial view of Santa Claus Land taken around 1957