Holiday World Provides Great Value for Your Family Vacation Plans
For most people, if you mention a trip to a theme park, they get the vision of a trip to Disney or maybe Universal Studios. If you mention that you’re going to a regional theme park, then their vision turns to worn out and outdated parks that survive just by being the only option around.
The exception to that would be Holiday World and Splashin Safari, located in Santa Claus, Indiana. Holiday World is a world class theme park and attraction located in Southern Indiana, about 45 minutes east of Evansville, Indiana along I-64. It is not an easy place to get to, but the reward is big for those that go.
History of Holiday World Santa Claus Indiana
Family owned and operated since 1946, Holiday World has a long history of being a destination for families throughout the Midwest. The reputation is well earned, because of how well the parks are run and the attractions available at a sensible Midwestern price. You pay one price and have full day access to both Holiday World and Splashin Safari.
Holiday World theme park has something for everyone. The park is divided up into various sections. Holiday World has holiday themes – Christmas, Halloween, 4th of July and Thanksgiving. There is also Holidog’s Funtown for little kids. Each section has a variety of rides to choose from. A few of our favorites include the HallowSwings, the Mayflower, and Gobbler Getaway. The Gobbler Getaway is similar to the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disney World or the Men In Black ride at Universal, only here you are traveling throughout the ride trying to catch a turkey.
Top Rated Wooden Roller Coasters
Roller coasters are not our thing, but if they appeal to you then Holiday World will be very appealing. The park features six coasters in total, ranging from kid and family friendly rides to hold on to your hat thrill rides. Holiday World roller coasters are three of the world’s top wooden rollercoasters; The Legend, The Raven, and The Voyage. All three rank on the list of the top wooden coasters in the world, with The Voyage at the top of the list.
The holiday theme can be seen throughout the parks. You can even visit Santa during your summer vacation. Afterall, this is located in Santa Claus, Indiana. They also offer other shows and activities at the park as a part of your admission. Magic shows, musical performances and basic theme park offerings are available throughout the day if you want a break. In the evenings, they have started doing drone shows as well, which look pretty cool.
One of the Best Water Parks
Splashin Safari water park is where we spend the bulk of our day when we visit, and with good reason. This water park perennially is listed as one of the best water parks in the country. There are two wave pools to enjoy, a lazy river and several other water attractions for all ages. If you’re a coaster fan, they even have two water-coasters for you to tame; Wildebeest and Cheetah Chase.
The water park has over a dozen different attractions, with plenty of space to help keep it from feeling too crowded. And should you want your own space and to take a break, they do offer cabanas throughout the water park for rentals. They do fill up fast, so if you are interested then you should book ahead. If you don’t reserve a cabana, there are still lockers and loungers available throughout the water park area that you can get.
There are many reasons why Holiday World has been successful for generations. Two of the biggest reasons are: 1) their location, and 2) their willingness to invest in new attractions.
As for location, they are centrally located to several large metro areas. Indianapolis, Louisville, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and Nashville are all within a quick three-hour drive to Holiday World. Because of their location in a remote part of Indiana, land is cheap, so they have been able to expand their theme park and available attractions and amenities with ease over the years.
Holiday World Value
You get a lot of value when you visit Holiday World and Splashin Safari. It starts with admission to both parks for one price. You also get a lot of items for free that other parks would charge. Things that are included for free with your park admission include: parking, unlimited soft drinks, sunscreen, inner tube use and hand sanitizer. Something else that is a nice value is the worry-free weather guarantee. If their major attractions are closed for weather related reasons longer than 90 minutes, their guarantee kicks in and provides you with another day to come back and enjoy.
Another nice value is the food at the parks. You already have savings by not having to pay for drinks with any meals at the park. Holiday World value adds up quickly when it comes to food and drinks. They offer basic fast food items throughout the park. Meals come with a main entree, fries and a cookie. While they are more than what you’d pay at a fast food chain restaurant, the prices are lower than what you’d see at other theme parks. Our recent visit had us enjoying a large cheese pizza, two orders of breadsticks and two large orders of fries for $42. Food quality is good, especially their burgers and pizza options. They have plenty of snack options too including carnival favorites like ice cream and funnel cakes. Alcoholic beverages are also available at select locations within the park.
Also worth noting if you’re planning a visit is that cell phone service can be spotty in the park, should that be important to you. In recent years, they have started offering free Wi-Fi.
Initially known as Santa Claus Land, the Holiday World name came about in 1984. It was at that time that the Koch family started investing in new attractions in the park. Legend has it that in the early 1980s, the family was approached by a large theme park organization about buying them. The family turned down the offer, realizing that if major national companies were interested in expanding the business that maybe they should just do it themselves. And so they did.
Splashin Safari Water Park opened in 1993. Two of the world’s top wooden roller coasters, The Raven and The Legend opened between 1995 and 2000. A third wooden rollercoaster, The Voyage was added in 2006. At one point, Holiday World had three of the top ten wooden rollercoasters in the world. Beyond adding rollercoasters, Holiday World has added several attractions in the water park. Since about 2010, they have averaged a major expansion about every other year. Annually, they are receiving accolades for having the best water park rides in the country.
Holiday World is regional by nature for its business plan. But they are international in terms of their reputation and approach to serving their customers. The theme park and water park frequently win the cleanest park in theme park industry competitions. This is very much on display, as we’ve witnessed in the past the owners with a broom and pan walking the park and tidying up. In 2004, Holiday World became the smallest theme park to win the Applause Award which is given out to the best theme park in the world by IAAPA (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions).
Planning Your Visit
If you are interested in visiting Holiday World, there are a few things to know. First off, the location is central to several major metros but is isolated. Holiday World has some cabins and a campground nearby. But the selection of other hotels in the immediate area is somewhat limited. For us, we usually stay in the Louisville area which is about an hour east of the parks.
The park is in the Central Time Zone. This is worth mentioning because it is close to the divide between Eastern and Central Time Zones, and it does confuse people. Holiday World typically opens an hour before Splashin Safari. Holiday World and Splashin Safari are a seasonal business. Dates will vary each year, but typically they open in mid May and are open daily through Labor Day for both parks. Holiday World does stay open later on the weekends through October.
Finally, never pay full price for a ticket to go there. Not that it isn’t worth it, it is. But they offer several discounts offered through various outlets across the Midwest so ask around. Also, they have standing discounts for military personnel, nurses and first responders, and even foster families. There are several options for tickets, including discounts for multiple days.
Is Holiday World worth it? For us, the answer is unquestionably yes. You get a world class experience for both a theme park and a water park. The free soft drinks and other values added to your admission makes Holiday World and Splashin Safari a good deal. We have the luxury of being within a day’s drive, which makes a big difference. But if you’re vacationing in Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Nashville, St. Louis or other towns in that part of the country, it is worth carving out a day to enjoy this Midwestern treasure.
If you’re planning a trip to the US heartland, check out some of our other trip reports to see other fun and unique stops for you to consider.
