I traveled to Santa Claus, Indiana, to visit Holiday World, a theme park in the Midwest. Carly Caramanna I visited Holiday World, a theme park located in Santa Claus, Indiana. The park is quaint and charming, and I was impressed by all three of its wooden roller coasters.
Holiday World is also affordable compared to many other parks. I visited Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana, this summer. Holiday World is open from May to October every year.
Carly CaramannaAs a theme-park journalist, I travel the world visiting different amusement parks and have been everywhere from Walt Disney World Resort to Dollywood. I recently crossed Holiday World, America’s first theme park, off my bucket list. The family-owned and operated park is located in Santa Claus, Indiana, a 2,600-person town known as “America’s Christmas Hometown.
“Holiday World is quaint, but it still delivers several thrilling, top-notch attractions. Here are the things that surprised me most during my summertime visit. Holiday World was called Santa Claus Land before it expanded in the 1980s.
Holiday World was called Santa Claus Land until the 1980s. Carly CaramannaBefore I arrived at Santa Claus, I underestimated the importance of the town’s history. During a visit to the Santa Claus Museum, I learned that the town was originally supposed to be called Santa Fe, but another community in Indiana already had it.
The town went with Santa Claus instead. Children began mailing their Christmas wishlists to Santa Claus, and over time, the town became shaped by the holiday and its beloved central figure. The local theme park opened in 1946 as Santa Claus Land before becoming Holiday World in 1984, when it expanded to include sections centered around other holidays.
Inside the park, there are many homages to its history and original name. Holiday World has callbacks to its old name throughout the park. Carly CaramannaI loved the way Holiday World celebrates its roots.
The park has Santa Claus Land murals, and the shops sell vintage-looking merchandise. I didn’t have to wait in long lines to meet Santa Claus or the park mascots, Safari Sam and Holidog. Luckily, there weren’t long lines to meet Santa Claus or the Holiday World mascots, Safari Sam and Holidog.
Carly CaramannaWhen I arrived at Holiday World, Santa Claus appeared in the main plaza to pose for photos with guests. I loved this detail, and it instantly got me into the holiday spirit. I also met the two park mascots, Safari Sam and Holidog.
The characters roamed around the park rather than staying put in one designated location. There weren’t long lines for the meet-and-greets, which can often happen at larger parks. Holiday World is comparatively affordable and offers guests an unlimited amount of complimentary soft drinks and sunscreen.
Soft drinks and sunscreen are both complimentary and unlimited at Holiday World. Carly CaramannaCompared to many other theme parks I’ve visited, Holiday World offers guests a great deal. The price of one-day admission starts at $59.
99, whereas tickets to Disney parks cost over $100. I was surprised that soft drinks are free and unlimited for all Holiday World guests, and I saw an impressive amount of self-serve fountains around the park. The machines also dispense ice-cold water.
So even though I don’t drink soda, I still found the machines to be handy. They made it easy to stay hydrated on the hot summer day when I visited. Holiday World also offers guests an unlimited amount of free sunscreen, with self-service pumps available throughout the park.
All three wooden roller coasters were very impressive, but The Voyage stood out. The Voyage was my favorite wooden roller coaster at Holiday World. Carly CaramannaHoliday World is home to three world-renowned wooden roller coasters: The Legend, The Raven, and The Voyage.
Of all the attractions at Holiday World, these rides excited me the most. My favorite ended up being The Voyage. I rank it as one of the best wooden roller coasters I’ve ever experienced.
I was also impressed by the way the park managed lines and crowds. It never felt too busy, and wait times were manageable. I was able to ride The Voyage several times during my visit and spent minimal time in line.
Each holiday-themed section felt immersive and unique. There’s a Halloween-themed area inside Holiday World. Carly CaramannaThe theme park has different areas centered around Christmas, Fourth of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.
Each section had holiday-specific signage and building structures. The park also played different music in each area that goes along with the theme, which enhanced the experience and made it truly immersive. The Thanksgiving-themed section was my favorite area in the park.
I loved the rides and the food in the Thanksgiving area. Carly CaramannaOf all the park’s areas, the Thanksgiving-themed one was my absolute favorite. It’s also home to my two favorite attractions: The Voyage and the Gobbler Getaway.
The latter is an interactive dark ride designed by Sally Dark Rides, the company behind award-winning rides at both Disney and Universal parks. On the hilarious, dark ride, guests summon missing birds with the help of “turkey callers,” or hand-held digital scoring consoles. I found the ride’s overall theming and storyline to be very impressive.
The food was incredible with portions so generous that guests could split dishes. I ordered a delicious turkey dinner in the Thanksgiving area. Carly CaramannaAs someone who loves theme-park food, I was impressed by Holiday World’s dining options, from its festive snacks to its baked goods.
My favorite restaurant inside the park was Plymouth Rock Café, a Thanksgiving-themed spot. I ordered the turkey dinner, complete with buttery mashed potatoes and tender, flavorful meat. It was absolutely amazing.
The $15. 99 entree came with two sides. The portion was so generous that I split the dish with my husband.
Holiday World’s signature blue ice cream was some of the best soft-serve I’ve had at a theme park. The signature ice cream flavor tasted like a combination of vanilla and berry. Carly CaramannaMy other favorite food item is the park’s signature Udderly Blue Ice Cream.
The flavor is listed as blue raspberry, but I thought it tasted more like French vanilla with just a hint of berries. The ice cream was thick like custard, and it was some of the best soft-serve I’ve had at a theme park. We were able to stay in a cabin directly behind one of Holiday World’s roller coaster.
Our cabin was directly behind one of Holiday World’s coasters, so we had a front-row seat to the action. Carly CaramannaOne of my favorite parts of the visit was staying in a cabin at Sun Outdoors, a campground and RV resort located right behind one of Holiday World’s roller coasters. It was thrilling to hear the ride, and our cabin had a deck that was the perfect location to watch fireworks in the evening.
The cabin’s proximity to Holiday World was also a major win. We were able to take a quick mid-afternoon break before returning to the park for nighttime coaster rides. Endangered owls nest in Thunderbird, the park’s steel rollercoaster.
Barn owls nest in Thunderbird, Holiday World’s steel coaster. Carly CaramannaThunderbird doubles as Holiday World’s first steel roller coaster and as a spot for owls to nest. When we were queueing in the ride’s barn before getting on the coaster, we spotted barn owls (or Tyto alba) above us.
These birds are an endangered species. Fewer than 50 of them have been found in Indiana. Holiday World is one of the most charming theme parks I’ve been to, and I’d love to return in the future.
Holiday World has managed to hold onto its charm throughout the years. Carly CaramannaHoliday World has made updates to accommodate customers’ changing demands over the years, but I appreciate that it’s maintained its special charm. In addition to the incredibly well-done rides, the park’s overall feel is a major reason I’d like to come back.
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From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/what-is-holiday-world-theme-park-like-in-santa-claus-2022-8
