Friendliest & Cleanest Amusement Park

[Gary M]

Article from today's Indianapolis Star:




August 30, 2005


Just 1 minute
Going beyond the headlines

Trade rankings: Chalk it all up to Hoosier friendliness

Amusement Today trade magazine named Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind., as the friendliest and cleanest park in the world.

The park's staff was honored as the friendliest for the eighth year in a row, and the park was named the cleanest for the sixth year in a row in an annual survey that included big-name parks such as Disney's Magic Kingdom and Cedar Point.

Splashin' Safari, the neighboring water park, received honors for several water rides and best landscaping. The parks are ranked according to a survey sent to 500 "well-traveled park fans" around the globe, said Gary Slade, the magazine's publisher.

This year's awards were announced Saturday at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. Holiday World is slated to host the ceremony next year.

-- Jaime Malarkey

 

[jlovesee]

Yes, my husband and I also publish a magazine, called Theme Parks Magazine, though we are more geared to the general public. In our last Readers Choice Awards Holiday World was also selected for the cleanest and most family friendly.

Its a wonderful park, for those who haven't been. They offer free soda, free sunscreen, free parking, and the employees are very nice. You will often see Will Koch (general manager and owner) and Pat Koch (his mother) out working on cleaning the park or running the rides. Plus next year the are adding a very large new wooden coaster called the Voyage. Added to there two already wonderful Raven and Legend wooden coasters. Plus they have a massive waterpark, with two wave pools. This is a great place to take a family.

here is their website.
http://www.holidayworld.com/

Which if anyone every wants to get a recommendation of a good amusement/theme park in the area please let me know as I have visited not all, but a vast majority of amusement parks out there.

Jennifer

 

[luv2nascar]

I've never even heard of this park. Disney is my #1 and Busch Gardens Williamsburg is my #2.

 

[jerbroni]

Holiday World is a wonderful park. I also enjoy Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO and Knoebel's in Elysburg(?), PA. Both of those are also very friendly and 'Disney-clean'

 

[da-winnie-pooh]

This past summer our family went to Holiday World, King's Island and Cedar Point. Of the 3, HW was most definitely the cleanest with the friendliest employees. Good food, too!

People would get up from a table at lunch, and immediately an employee would head over and start washing the table.

They also have free sunscreen at the water park.

Can you tell I was impressed with Holiday World???

Of course, it isn't Disney. But it's fun!!!

Anita

 

[cdpa4d]

Even though Holiday World is an amusement park it does have a theme. The theme revolves around several holidays throughout the year. The biggest holiday theme would be Christmas. This makes sense since the park is located in Santa Claus, Indiana.

 

[jlovesee]

Jerbroni, you really have your head screwed on right, those are some wonderful parks you mentioned. I especially enjoy Knoebels, I've only been there once, but it was a treat.

To add on to a previous poster, Holiday World does CURRENTLY have 3 themed sections, next year it will be 4 with the addition of Thanksgiving!
That's where the Voyage roller coaster will be, and they will also be adding an interactive dark ride.

Some other great parks if you're in the mindset of Knoebels, HW and SDC though is Dollywood in Pigeon Forge (also owned by the Herschends who own SDC) Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk and my favorite Lakeside in Denver.


Jennifer

 

[icebaby]

I have to say I have been to WDW many times, and only once to Holiday World, and I was blown away by the midwest charm, and I am pretty sure it is 6x winner for cleanest. And I truly am not a Hoosier biased opinion. . .I have only been in the 317 area code for less than 5 years. . .

 

[bubba73]

I can't speak on Holiday World as I have nver been there but I thought I had read or heard that Busch Gardens in Williamsburg had been voted the cleanest or the best landscaping. If I had an unlimited expense account and all the time in the world, I would love to visit every park so I could experience and speak intelligently about them but no matter what, I can't imagine having a favorite other than WDW. Maybe I could change my mind but even after 23 trips, it is still my fave.

 

[DoomBuggyBabe]

Ah, Knoebel's. As much as SkipperBubba and I enjoy our yearly jaunts to WDW, we also seriously enjoy our jaunts up the road (we're an hour and a half-ish away depending on traffic) to Elysburg. No parking charge. No admission charge to step foot into the park -- you can buy all-day ride passes or just pay as you go. Good, reasonably priced food. Clean. Family-oriented. Yes, it's in the middle of nowhere (otherwise known as the Lower Anthracite Region), but we don't care. Nice coasters, good haunted house, best bumper cars ever. Do yourselves a favor -- if you ever get the chance, go.
Cheers,
Q