Visitors Guide to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Holiday World celebrates the holidays of Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July with rides, live entertainment, and other attractions. The park has been owned and operated by the Koch family of Santa Claus, Indiana since opening as Santa Claus Land in 1946. In addition to its collection of world-class roller coasters and water coasters (in the Splashin' Safari water park area), Holiday World is notable for offering free parking, free sunscreen, and free Pepsi soft drinks throughout the park, making a visit here one of the best values in the industry.
Our recommendations below come from our ongoing survey of Theme Park Insider readers. Locations with star ratings ★ ranked especially highly among our readers. Vote here to take part in our surveys and submit your picks for top attractions.
What to Do
Roller Coasters
The Voyage★ ★
A 6,442-foot Gravity Group hybrid coaster (wood track and steel frame) with a 154-drop and top speed of 67 mph, in Thanksgiving. Height requirement: 48 inches
Thunderbird
A 3,035-foot, 140-foot tall Bolliger & Mabillard launched wing coaster with four inversions and a top speed of 60 mph, in Thanksgiving. Height requirement: 52 inches
The Legend
A 4,042-foot CCI wooden roller coaster with a 113 drop and top speed of 59 mph, in Halloween. Height requirement: 48 inches
The Raven
A 2,800-foot CCI wooden roller coaster with an 85 foot drop and top speed of 48 mph, in Halloween. Height requirement: 48 inches
Good Gravy!
Head into grandma's rec room to board America's first Vekoma Family Boomerang coaster. Themed to Thanksgiving dinner gravy boats, the coaster trains run up to 37 mph on a track with a maximum height of 77 feet. Height requirement: 38 inches
Splashin' Safari Water Coasters
Cheetah Chase - a dueling ProSlide RocketBLAST. Height requirement: 42 inches (48 when unaccompanied by an adult)
Mammoth - a 1,763-foot ProSlide HydroMagnetic Mammoth. Height requirement: 42 inches (48 when unaccompanied by an adult)
Wildebeest - a 1,710-foot ProSlide HydroMagnetic Rocket. Height requirement: 42 inches (48 when unaccompanied by an adult)
Holidog's Treehouse: Play structure. Height restriction: Must be under 54 inches
The Howler: Zamperla Kiddie coaster. Minimum height: 36 inches
Kitty's Tea Party: Junior Teacups
Lewis & Clark Trail: Track ride
Liberty Launch: Drop Tower. Minimum height: 48 inches
Revolution: Round-Up. Minimum height: 42 inches
Rough Riders: Dodgems. Minimum height: 42 inches
Star Spangled Carousel
Thanksgiving
Gobbler Getaway: Sally Dark Rides interactive attraction, where riders try to capture runaway turkeys for a Thanksgiving dinner. (Spoiler alert: The dinner does not turn out how you might think.)
Cranberry Corner: Play structure. Height restriction: Must be under 54 inches
Crow's Nest: Star Flyer. Minimum height: 42 inches
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is located in Santa Claus, Indiana - on State Road 162, eight miles south of Interstate 64, about one hour west of Louisville, Kentucky.