Holiday World sits in the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, where retired industrialist Louis J. Koch opened it in 1946 as Santa Claus Land, making it one of the oldest theme parks still operating in the United States. The park was rebranded Holiday World in 1984 and today spans four holiday-themed lands: Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Fourth of July.
Long known for treating guests well, Holiday World has repeatedly been voted the world’s friendliest theme park and has racked up more Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards than any other park, including honors for its wooden coasters and for park cleanliness and food. This guide breaks down exactly how Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari tickets work — the different ticket types, current season pass tiers, what every ticket includes, and the free perks that make a visit here different from most theme parks — plus the full ride lineup and seasonal hours.
Quick Answer
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari tickets come in four main flavors: single-day Pick Your Date tickets (the cheapest option, priced by calendar date and booked online at least a day in advance), Any Day tickets (a flat, higher price valid on any operating day for guests who need flexibility), multi-day Flex tickets, and season passes (Summer Fun Card, Season Pass, and Platinum Season Pass). The single-day gate price is about $76.99, but online Pick Your Date pricing is almost always lower. Every ticket type — daily or season — covers admission to both the theme park and the Splashin’ Safari water park, plus free parking, unlimited soft drinks, sunscreen, and Wi-Fi. For the exact prices on your travel dates, check the official Holiday World tickets page.
Holiday World’s Roller Coasters
Holiday World’s coaster lineup centers on three acclaimed wooden rides: The Raven (1995), The Legend (2000), and The Voyage (2006), consistently ranked among the world’s best wooden coasters by Amusement Today and enthusiast polls. The Voyage is regularly rated among the top two wooden coasters on earth, stretching over a mile of track with a huge amount of airtime. The Legend follows with a trio of dramatic drops, including the world’s first spiral drop, while The Raven is famous for a surprise fifth drop and a low, fast finish that skims Lake Rudolph.
On the steel side, Thunderbird, a Bolliger & Mabillard launched wing coaster that debuted in 2015, was the first of its kind in the United States, launching riders to highway speed in seconds before sending them through a 14-story Immelmann loop, a zero-g roll, a barrel roll, and the tallest vertical loop found on any wing coaster. Thanksgiving land got its own headline ride in May 2024 with Good Gravy!, North America’s first Vekoma Family Boomerang coaster — a milder, family-friendly complement to the park’s bigger wooden coasters that’s a good option for younger riders who aren’t ready for The Voyage or Thunderbird.
Splashin’ Safari Water Park
Splashin’ Safari is included with theme park admission rather than sold as a separate ticket, so a single-day ticket covers both sides of the property. The signature attraction is Mammoth, a Guinness World Record holder as the longest water coaster, which carries multi-person rafts through a long run of enclosed and open track. Wildebeest and Cheetah Chase add to the lineup, with Cheetah Chase billed as the world’s first launched water coaster.
ZOOMbabwe, billed as the world’s largest fully enclosed water slide, sends multi-person tubes through roughly ten stories of steep drops, banked curves, and complete darkness before a splashdown, rounding out the park’s marquee thrill slides alongside a wave pool, lazy river, and dedicated areas for younger kids. The park has also announced Cannonball!, a new Mack Rides water coaster planned for 2027.
Ticket Types Explained: Pick Your Date, Any Day & Flex
Pick Your Date (PYD) tickets are Holiday World’s cheapest option. Pricing follows a color-coded calendar — a busy Saturday in July costs more than a quiet Tuesday in June — and the listed prices apply only when you buy online by the day before your visit; buying on the day of your visit costs a few dollars more, though still less than the walk-up gate price. If your plans change after buying a PYD ticket, Guest Relations can typically switch it to a different date, though additional charges may apply depending on the new date.
Any Day tickets cost more than most PYD dates but are valid on any single operating day of the season, which suits guests who can’t commit to a specific date. Multi-day Flex tickets (2-day and 3-day) are built for families visiting more than once in a week or spreading a trip across a weekend. Group tickets are available at a discount for parties of 15 or more through the park’s group sales office, and children ages three and under always get in free. Holiday World also offers a free Pre-K Season Pass for eligible 4- and 5-year-olds born within a set date range each year, which must be registered online in advance and processed on-site, along with special-rate programs for military members, first responders, nurses, teachers, and foster families.
Season Passes: Summer Fun Card, Season Pass & Platinum
For repeat visitors, Holiday World sells three season pass tiers. The Summer Fun Card is the entry-level option, valid Sunday through Friday up to Labor Day — a good fit for families who don’t need weekend access. The standard Season Pass adds unlimited admission on every operating day of the season, plus a monthly allotment of discounted “bring-a-friend” tickets and a discount on food and merchandise. The Platinum Season Pass sits at the top, with unlimited season-long admission, a bigger stack of monthly bring-a-friend tickets, deeper food and merchandise discounts, and early access to new attractions such as the upcoming Cannonball! water coaster.
As of September 2026, Holiday World is running an early-bird discount on its next season’s passes for a limited window each fall, so buying early can save real money over the regular price. Because pass tiers, perks, and the discount deadline change from year to year, confirm current pricing on the official Holiday World season passes page before you buy.
The Worry-Free Weather Guarantee
One thing that sets Holiday World’s tickets apart is the Worry-Free Weather Guarantee. If severe weather forces the park to close a significant portion of its major attractions for 90 minutes or longer on the day you visit, guests holding a single-day or Flex ticket that was scanned that day can return on another date that season at no extra charge. It’s not a general rain check for a passing drizzle — rides generally keep running in light rain — but it does protect ticket buyers against a visit wiped out by a real storm. Keep a photo of your scanned ticket and check with Guest Relations, or look up activation dates on the park’s website, if you think the guarantee applied to your visit.
Hours & Best Time to Visit
Holiday World typically operates from early May through the end of October, with Splashin’ Safari open from May into early September. From mid-August through the end of the season, the park usually shifts to a weekends-only schedule while Halloween-themed events run in the Halloween land. Daily hours vary by date rather than following one fixed schedule — weekdays often run shorter (roughly 10 a.m. to 6 or 7 p.m.), while weekends and peak summer dates stretch later, sometimes past 8 or 9 p.m.
Because both hours and the cheapest Pick Your Date prices shift day to day and year to year, check the official Holiday World site for the hours and pricing calendar on the exact day you plan to visit before you buy tickets.
Parking, Freebies & Money-Saving Tips
Parking is free for every guest, which is unusual among regional theme parks that often charge $20 to $30 just to park a car. Add in unlimited free soft drinks at self-serve stations throughout the park, free sunscreen dispensers to prevent sunburn, and free Wi-Fi, and the included perks alone can save a family real money compared to parks that charge separately for each.
The single biggest lever for saving on Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari tickets is buying Pick Your Date tickets online in advance and picking a lower-priced weekday over a peak Saturday. After that, families who plan to return more than a couple of times in a season should compare the cost of a Season Pass or Summer Fun Card against multiple single-day tickets, since the bring-a-friend perks and food/merchandise discounts can close the gap quickly for a family of regulars.
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari tickets FAQs
How much are Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari tickets?
The walk-up gate price for a single-day ticket is about $76.99, but online Pick Your Date tickets are usually cheaper depending on the day you choose, and Any Day, Flex, and season pass options are priced separately. Check the official tickets page for current prices on your travel dates.
Is Splashin’ Safari included with Holiday World admission?
Yes. A single Holiday World ticket covers both the theme park and the Splashin’ Safari water park — there’s no separate water park ticket to buy.
What’s the difference between Pick Your Date and Any Day tickets?
Pick Your Date tickets are tied to one specific calendar date and priced based on expected crowd levels, making them the cheapest option overall. Any Day tickets cost more but can be used on any single operating day of the season, which is better for guests who aren’t sure yet which day they’ll visit.
Are kids free at Holiday World?
Children ages three and under are admitted free. Holiday World also offers a free Pre-K Season Pass for eligible 4- and 5-year-olds, which must be registered online in advance and then processed on-site with proof of age.
Is a Holiday World season pass worth it?
If your family plans to visit more than two or three times in a season, a Season Pass or the weekday-only Summer Fun Card can cost less than buying single-day tickets each trip, especially once you factor in the bring-a-friend tickets and food/merchandise discounts that come with the standard and Platinum tiers.
What happens if it rains during my visit?
Holiday World’s Worry-Free Weather Guarantee lets guests with a scanned single-day or Flex ticket return on another date that season if severe weather closes major rides for 90 minutes or more on their visit day. Light rain alone doesn’t trigger it, since most rides keep operating.
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