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This is definitely an
enjoyable and fun experience and we are looking forward to
visiting again. The entire family will enjoy the wide variety of
rides, unique shops, live shows, good food, free drinks &
parking, and very friendly employees. Plus you can visit with
Santa Claus himself. |
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The history of the
nation's first theme park is the story of a family which
has, for three generations, dedicated itself to providing
millions of guests with good, old-fashioned family fun. |
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From SANTA CLAUS LAND
to HOLIDAY WORLD
57 Years of Family Fun |
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Evansville, Indiana,
industrialist Louis J. Koch created the nation's first
theme park as a retirement project. He was troubled that
the tiny hamlet of Santa Claus, Indiana, was visited by
children from throughout the country who were ultimately
disappointed when they found out Santa was not there. With
nine children of his own, Koch loved children, holidays
and celebrations.
Koch was actually
planning to open his park earlier in the 1940s, but World
War II forced him to wait until 1946. Santa Claus Land
originally contained a toy shop, toy displays, themed
children's rides, a restaurant, and, of course, Santa
Claus. |
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When Koch's son Bill returned
from the war, he was curious to see what his father was up to. After
overcoming doubts about the park's viability, Bill became the head
of Santa Claus Land. In 1960, Bill married "Santa's daughter,"
Patricia Yellig; he remained active in the family business until his
death in 2001. Bill and Pat had five children; the eldest,
Will, is the president and general manager of Holiday World &
Splashin' Safari.
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Over the decades, Santa
Claus Land grew and flourished. Children from throughout the
country came to sit on the real Santa's knee and talk
glowingly about their Christmas wishes. Guests included Ronald
Reagan, who stopped by in 1955. |
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As the park expanded, the Koch family knew that Christmas was
just one of the theme possibilities for the park. In 1984,
Santa Claus Land grew to include Halloween and Fourth of July
sections, and the park's name was changed to Holiday World.
Larger rides were added, including the very popular Raging
Rapids white water raft ride and Frightful Falls log flume. In
all, Holiday World features 100 acres of rides, shows, games,
and attractions.
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In 1993, Splashin' Safari Water Park was
added, featuring a wave pool, action river, a family raft ride,
numerous water slides, plus Crocodile Isle children's activity area
and Monsoon Lagoon, an interactive, multi-leveled family water-play
complex. |
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To celebrate it's 50th
season in 1995, Holiday World premiered The Raven wooden
roller coaster. Located in the Halloween section, The Raven
features 86-foot and 61-foot drops, a low, banked curve over
Lake Rudolph, and a 120-foot tunnel. |
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In 1999, a new area opened in the 4th
of July section. Holidog's Fun Town includes Holidog's
Treehouse, America's biggest family-play super-structure; The
Howler family roller coaster, Doggone Trail jeep rides, Magic
Waters, and more. |
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For it's 55th season,
Holiday World premiered The Legend wooden roller coaster.
Themed after The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the new coaster
creates a wild ride -- through the woods of the Halloween
section with three major drops, a double helix and four
tunnels. |
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Also in 2000, Holiday World
became the only park in the world to offer free, unlimited soft
drinks to every guest. In August, 2001, the readers of Amusement
Today voted The Raven the World's #1 Wooden Roller Coaster and
The Legend the #5 Wooden Coaster; in the same survey, readers named
Holiday World the #1 Friendliest Park and the #1 Cleanest Park.
In 2002, the World's Largest
Enclosed Water Slide -- ZOOMbabwe -- premieres; and sunscreen is now
free in the water park.
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Throughout it's
half-century of existence, Holiday World has set high
standards for the theme park industry, with beautiful grounds
and landscaping, plus a steadfast adherence to the values
established in the company's cornerstones: safety, service,
cleanliness and friendliness.
www.HolidayWorld.com |
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