![]() ![]() In 2006, the park introduced a new holiday. In 2004, the highly-coveted international Applause Award which honors “foresight, originality and creativity, plus sound business development and profitability,” was presented to Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, the smallest park to ever receive the award. That year, Holiday World became the first park in the world to provide free, unlimited soft drinks. Holiday World introduced The Raven wooden roller coaster in 1995 it has been voted one of the world’s top wooden coasters each year since, as has The Legend wooden roller coaster, added in 2000. The park, which was named the nation’s #1 Water Park by USA Today, also offers free sunscreen. In 1993, Splashin’ Safari Water Park was added it now covers nearly 40 acres and features two water coasters and wave pools, a river, family raft rides and water slides, plus several interactive family-waterplay complexes. In 1984, Santa Claus Land expanded to also include Halloween and 4th of July sections, and the park’s name was changed to Holiday World. Guests included Ronald Reagan, who stopped by in 1955.Īs the park grew, the Koch family knew Christmas was not the only theming possibility for the park. Children from across the country came to sit on the real Santa’s knee and whisper their Christmas wishes. Over the decades, Santa Claus Land flourished. Long-time employee Matt Eckert is now president. His brother Dan was president through 2012. Bill and Pat had five children the eldest, Will, was the park’s president for more than 20 years until his unexpected death in 2010. In 1960, Bill married “Santa’s daughter,” Patricia Yellig he remained active in the family business until his death in 2001. Koch’s son Bill soon became the head of Santa Claus Land. Santa Claus Land opened Augthe theme park included a toy shop, toy displays, a restaurant, themed children’s rides, and, of course, Santa. With nine children of his own, Koch loved children, holidays and celebrations. 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. Koch created the world’s first theme park as a retirement project. The history of the nation’s first theme park is the story of a family which has, for seven decades, dedicated itself to providing millions of guests with good, old-fashioned family fun.Įvansville, Ind., industrialist Louis J.
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