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 covers the full ride lineup, current ticket tiers and prices, seasonal hours, parking, and the free perks that make a visit here different from most theme parks.
Quick Answer
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is a family-owned theme and water park in Santa Claus, Indiana, built around four holiday-themed lands. It’s best known for three top-rated wooden roller coasters — The Raven, The Legend, and The Voyage — plus the steel launch coaster Thunderbird and the newer family coaster Good Gravy!, and admission includes Splashin’ Safari, a water park anchored by the world-record water coaster Mammoth.
Every ticket includes free parking, free unlimited soft drinks, and free sunscreen. General-admission gate price runs around $76.99 for a single day (less if booked online in advance), and the park typically operates May through October with hours that expand in summer and shrink to weekends-only in fall — always confirm current prices and hours on the official Holiday World tickets page before you go.
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. It launches riders to highway speed in a few seconds, then sends 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. Riders board a gravy-boat-shaped train and shuttle forward and backward through a whimsical world of oversized kitchen utensils at speeds up to about 37 mph — it’s a milder, family-friendly complement to the park’s bigger wooden coasters and 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, using water jets to propel side-by-side rafts through dueling tracks. 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 back into the sunlight, and it rounds 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 Prices & Ticket Types
Holiday World sells daily tickets in a few tiers rather than one flat price. Pick Your Date tickets are booked in advance for a specific day and are usually the cheapest option; Any Day tickets cost more but are valid on any operating day of the season for guests who want flexibility; and multi-day Flex tickets (2-day and 3-day) suit families visiting more than once in a week. Season passes are also sold for repeat local visitors.
As of the current season, the standard one-day general-admission gate price is about $76.99, with online Pick Your Date tickets typically discounted below that when purchased at least a day in advance. Every ticket type includes the same core amenities — admission to both the theme park and water park, free parking, unlimited soft drinks, sunscreen, and Wi-Fi — and children ages three and under get in free. For exact current prices, since they’re adjusted seasonally, check the official Holiday World tickets page.
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 a lot 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., and a handful of dates offer evening-only hours for special events. Because the calendar shifts date to date and year to year, check the official Holiday World hours & calendar page for the specific day you plan to visit before you go.
Parking, Freebies & Money-Saving Tips
Parking is free for every guest, which is unusual among major theme parks and part of the park’s long-running ‘no hidden fees’ approach. Since 2000, Holiday World has also offered free unlimited soft drinks throughout both the theme park and water park, a perk that has become central to its identity and helped it earn ‘Friendliest Park’ recognition from Amusement Today multiple times. Free sunscreen dispensers and free Wi-Fi round out the amenities included with every ticket.
Because there’s no separate charge for the water park, no parking fee, and no charge for drinks or sunscreen, families often find the total cost of a day at Holiday World lower than comparable regional parks once those add-ons are factored in elsewhere. Lockers are available for rent inside the park for guests who want to store belongings while riding water attractions, and buying tickets online in advance is generally cheaper than paying at the gate.
Holiday World rides, tickets, hours & prices FAQs
How much are Holiday World tickets?
Standard one-day general admission is around $76.99 at the gate, with online Pick Your Date tickets typically priced lower when bought at least a day ahead. Multi-day Flex tickets and season passes are also available; check the official tickets page for current pricing.
Is Splashin’ Safari included with Holiday World admission?
Yes. A single theme park ticket covers both Holiday World and the Splashin’ Safari water park, including the water coasters Mammoth and Cheetah Chase — there’s no separate water park charge.
Is parking free at Holiday World?
Yes, parking is free for every guest, which is unusual among major theme parks and part of the park’s guest-first, no-hidden-fees approach.
What are Holiday World’s hours?
The park generally operates May through October, with full daily hours in summer (often 10 a.m. into the evening) and a weekends-only schedule from mid-August through the end of the season. Exact hours vary by date, so check the official hours & calendar page before visiting.
What is the best roller coaster at Holiday World?
The Voyage is widely considered the park’s signature ride and is regularly ranked among the top wooden coasters in the world for its length and airtime. The Legend and The Raven are also enthusiast favorites, and Thunderbird is the top steel/launch coaster.
Is Good Gravy! a good ride for younger kids?
Good Gravy! is a family boomerang coaster that opened in 2024 in the Thanksgiving section, reaching about 37 mph — it’s milder than The Voyage or Thunderbird, making it a good step-up ride for younger or first-time coaster riders.
Get More from Holiday World rides, tickets, hours & prices
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Holiday World rides, tickets, hours & prices, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Want the day’s theme park news in your inbox? Subscribe to ThrillZing Daily — free.