{"id":178,"date":"2023-10-28T20:37:20","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T20:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/holiworld.wpenginepowered.com\/?page_id=178"},"modified":"2025-03-21T10:39:32","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T15:39:32","slug":"park-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/holidayworld.com\/park-info\/park-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Park History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Park History<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/header>\n\n
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From SANTA CLAUS LAND to HOLIDAY WORLD
\nMore than 75 YEARS OF FAMILY FUN<\/h3>\n

The history of the nation\u2019s first theme park is the story of a family which has, for nearly eight decades, dedicated itself to providing millions of guests with good, old-fashioned family fun.<\/p>\n

Evansville, Ind., industrialist Louis J. Koch created the world\u2019s first theme park<\/a> as a retirement project. He was troubled that the tiny hamlet of Santa Claus, Ind., was visited by children who were disappointed when they discovered Santa was not there. With nine children of his own, Koch loved children, holidays and celebrations.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a><\/p>\n

Santa Claus Land opened August 3, 1946; the theme park included a toy shop, toy displays, a restaurant, themed children\u2019s rides, and, of course, Santa. Koch\u2019s son Bill soon became the head of Santa Claus Land. In 1960, Bill married \u201cSanta\u2019s daughter,\u201d Patricia Yellig; he remained active in the family business until his death in 2001. Bill and Pat had five children; the eldest, Will, was the park\u2019s president for more than 20 years until his unexpected death in 2010. His brother Dan was president through 2012. Long-time employee Matt Eckert is now president.<\/p>\n

Over the decades, Santa Claus Land flourished. Children from across the country came to sit on the real Santa\u2019s knee and whisper their Christmas wishes. Guests included Ronald Reagan, who stopped by in 1955.<\/p>\n

As the park grew, the Koch family knew Christmas was not the only theming possibility for the park. In 1984, Santa Claus Land expanded to also include Halloween and 4th of July sections, and the park\u2019s name was changed to Holiday World.<\/p>\n

In 1993, Splashin\u2019 Safari Water Park was added; it now covers nearly 40 acres and features three water coasters and two wave pools, a river, family raft rides and water slides, plus several interactive family-waterplay complexes. The park, which was named the nation\u2019s #1 Water Park by USA Today, also offers free sunscreen.<\/p>\n

Holiday World introduced The Raven<\/a> wooden roller coaster in 1995; it has been voted one of the world\u2019s top wooden coasters each year since, as has The Legend<\/a> wooden roller coaster, added in 2000. That year, Holiday World became the first park in the world to provide free, unlimited soft drinks<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In 2004, the highly-coveted international Applause Award which honors \u201cforesight, originality and creativity, plus sound business development and profitability,\u201d was presented to Holiday World & Splashin\u2019 Safari, the smallest park ever to receive the award.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

In 2006, the park introduced a new holiday. The Thanksgiving section included a recording-breaking new wooden coaster, The Voyage<\/a>, which helped catapult the park\u2019s seasonal attendance past the one-million mark for the first time. In 2013, TIME magazine named The Voyage the nation\u2019s best wooden roller coaster; the parks, which now cover 125 acres, have been repeatedly named the World\u2019s Friendliest and Cleanest. In 2007 and again in 2012, Consumers Digest named Holiday World the nation\u2019s \u201cTop Value Park.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2010, the park\u2019s first water coaster, Wildebeest<\/a>, opened; it was voted the #1 Water Park Ride in the World every year through 2022. In 2012, Mammoth<\/a>, the World\u2019s Longest Water Coaster, opened. It was named the #1 Water Park Ride in the World in 2023. Cheetah Chase<\/a>, the World\u2019s first Launched Water Coaster, opened in 2020 and won the title of #1 New Water Park Ride in the Golden Ticket Awards.<\/p>\n

\"Thunderbird<\/p>\n

America\u2019s first launched wing roller coaster \u2013 Thunderbird<\/a> \u2013 premiered in 2015. Good Gravy! family roller coaster, better known as America’s Graviest Coaster, opened in 2024 and was named USA Today’s Best New Theme Park attraction of the year.<\/p>\n

Throughout its existence, Holiday World has set high standards for the theme park industry, with a steadfast adherence to the values established in the company\u2019s cornerstones: safety, service, cleanliness, and friendliness.<\/p>\n

Updated 3\/21\/25<\/em><\/h6>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n\t\t\tMay 15, 2019<\/span>\n\t\t\t

Timeline: Santa Claus Land, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\nRead Now<\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\n\t\n<\/article> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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About Santa<\/span> Claus, Indiana<\/h2>\n \t\t <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\"photo<\/p>\n