Tag Archives: holiday world

Holiday World Makes Big Splash with New Water Coaster

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I just spoke with my supervisor Tom Schuman about Holiday World, the Santa Claus-based amusement/water park. He summed it up aptly: "They seem to be doing a lot of things right."

This installment of why Holiday World (a Chamber member, btw) is so cool is that their newest water coaster in production — The Mammoth — was on the front page of HuffingtonPost.com today. The site features an article and a simulation video of the new $9 million ride, which will be the longest water coaster in the world. (Additionally, the park currently boasts the world’s longest ride in the .3 mile-long Wildebeest.)

See the article and video here, and be sure to get down to Holiday World sometime soon!

Riding the Government Reform Roller Coaster

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The effort to introduce the concepts of efficiency and better service to citizens into Indiana’s local government structure has seen more ups and downs than your favorite ride at Holiday World or any amusement park of your choice.

Following seven-plus weeks of progress, retreat, debate and committee members offering support for the broken-beyond-repair status quo, the full Senate restored teeth to some of the legislation on Tuesday.

Eliminating township boards in 91 counties (why not Marion, we must ask?) would be a tremendous step. Doing away with rampant nepotism and unconsionable levels of budget reserves are also a move in the right direction. Some county, library and election reforms are also in play.

The attention turns to the House, with the ball resting with Speaker Pat Bauer. The nearly 40-year veteran of the Statehouse wars has promised all along to take a look at what comes over from the Senate — and he repeated that pledge to the Indiana Chamber’s executive committee last week. Not an overwhelming endorsement, but there is some optimism. This should not be a partisan issue; all can find a place on the bandwagon for better government.

MySmartgov.org makes the case for change. Indiana Chamber members can get the latest in a March 6 First Friday Conference Call featuring Chamber expert Mark Lawrance and government reform commission member Louis Mahern.

Oprah Labels Holiday World a Top ‘Wacky’ Destination for Families

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Well, you’ve made it, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari; Oprah thinks you’re cool:

The popular website Oprah.com just released its list of “Wacky Family Attractions” in a feature designed to encourage families to vacation closer to home this year “when time and money are in short supply.” Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is one of the eight family attractions recommended on the list.

“If Oprah wants to call us ‘wacky,’ we don’t mind a bit,” says the parks’ president, Will Koch. “Come to think of it, it is a little wacky for a theme park to play Jingle Bells in the middle of July!”

The Oprah.com article includes a photo of Santa Claus in his Holiday World summer garb along with a brief history of the park and description of the variety of rides—and holidays—featured at the world’s first theme park. Other parks included in the feature are Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky and Legoland in California.

Oprah.com is one of the 2,000 most-visited websites on the Internet.

Holiday World Theme Park opens its 63rd season on May 2 with the premiere of Pilgrims Plunge, the world’s tallest water ride; Splashin’ Safari Water Park opens May 15. For more information, visit the parks’ website at www.HolidayWorld.com or call 1-877-463-2645.

Kudos to Holiday World, an Indiana Chamber member. Check out the mention on Oprah’s site here.