Founded in 1946, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari is a family-owned and run theme park and water park located in Santa Claus, Indiana. Holiday World is a standard theme park, with rides, dining options, games, and attractions. Splashin' Safari is a water park featuring numerous water rides and food options. Both parks offer rides and attractions for every age. Lockers are available for rental. Both parks are connected and a ticket gets you admission into both.
Parking and public transportation at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Parking is free at the parks. If you are staying at the nearby Lake Rudolph Campground and RV Park, shuttles to and from the parks are available throughout the day at no charge.
Best and worst time to go to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
May and June, September and October are the least busy times to visit, with weekday visits offering much shorter lines than the weekends. July and August are the busiest months. Saturdays mid-June through mid-August typically present the longest lines.
Admission to the Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Depending on the time of the year, tickets range from $30-45 for adults and $24-35 for visitors under 54". Unlike most theme parks, tickets for children are not priced according to age, but rather for those under 54". If you have a very tall child, be aware that you may have to purchase an adult ticket. One tickets gets you admission into both parks.
Must see and must do at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Holiday World includes several roller coasters. The steel coaster Thunderbird is the nation's first launched wing coaster. The Voyage was voted the nation's #1 wooden roller coaster by TIME magazine. Splashin' Safari is home to the water coaster Wildebeest, voted #1 Water Park Ride on the Planet numerous years in a row by Amusement Today magazine.
Other places to visit near Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Located in Santa Claus, Indiana, families have many Santa-themed options for venturing away from the parks, including Santa's Candy Castle; the Santa Claus post office, from which thousands of Santa-bound letters are mailed during the Christmas season; and the Santa Claus Christmas Store. The boyhood home of Abraham Lincoln is located just four miles away. Caving, riding stables, and canoeing options are also close by.
Hotels near Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
If you plan to visit both parks, consider staying for two days-a dry day at Holiday World and a wet day at Splashin' Safari. There are many overnight options in the area that cater to visitors to the park. There are a few standard hotels less than 10 miles from the parks. Located less than three miles away are other options, including Santa's Lakeside Cottages, the Lake Rudolph Campground and RV Resort (RVs are available on-site for rental as well), and Santa's Lodge. Lake Rudolph includes a free shuttle throughout the day to and from the parks.
Insider Tip for visitors to Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
Visit on a Friday night in June or July to watch the Friday night fireworks at closing time. Sunscreen and a wide selection of drinks, including soft drinks, Gatorade, lemonade, tea, and water, are free and self-serve stations are located in numerous locations throughout both parks. Lines for popular roller coasters are generally shorter by mid-afternoon.
Author's Bio: Heather Hurley is a publishing professional and freelance writer living in Carmel, Indiana. She and her family love the fact that many of the water coasters offer rafts that seat four.