Splashin’ Safari is the best water park in the world. That’s the call from the voters at Amusement Today, who handed Holiday World three Golden Ticket Awards at a ceremony in Austin, Texas. It’s the first time the Santa Claus, Indiana water park has taken that title.
“This is a dream come true,” says Leah Koch-Blumhardt, Director of Communications and Fourth-Generation Owner. Her father, Will Koch, opened Splashin’ Safari in 1993 with the goal of building the best water park in the world. Koch-Blumhardt credits the park’s maintenance and operations teams for keeping the rides moving, the walkways clean and the free soft drinks stocked.
Which rides won at the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards?
For the first time, Splashin’ Safari’s three water coasters claimed all three top spots for Best Water Park Ride. Mammoth was named #1, Wildebeest #2 and Cheetah Chase #3. That’s sixteen years running that a Splashin’ Safari water coaster has held the top spot.
The whole podium belongs to one park, which is a little ridiculous in the best way.
The Voyage also reclaimed its title as the #1 wooden roller coaster in the world, its first win in 15 years. Over the past five years, Holiday World has put roughly $2.5 million into more than 3,000 feet of track replacements. “The Voyage is 20 years old this season,” says Lauren Crosby, Director of Entertainment and Events and Fourth-Generation Owner, who says the team has been chasing this award for a decade.
What makes Splashin’ Safari the Water Coaster Capital of the World?
Splashin’ Safari covers nearly 40 acres of Holiday World’s 125-acre property. Inside that footprint are two massive wave pools, a lazy river and dozens of slides on top of the water coaster lineup. During the summer season, the water park is free with admission to Holiday World.
Both parks also include free unlimited soft drinks, free parking and free sunscreen.
What’s open at Holiday World this fall?
Splashin’ Safari is closed for the season. Holiday World is open Saturdays and Sundays for family-friendly Happy Halloween Weekends, which begin September 19. Friday Night Live! continues every Friday from 5 to 10 pm through October 30.
There’s more coming after that. Amusement Today announced during the ceremony that Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari will be the official host park for 2027, the fourth time the park has welcomed attractions industry leaders for the annual awards. The park also announced Cannonball! Water Roller Coaster on July 1, 2026, and the record-breaking attraction will open in spring of 2027.
Santa Claus sits a few hours from Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Nashville and Columbus, which is part of why the park draws multi-day trips from as far out as Kansas City, Atlanta and Chicago.
Shark Take: If you want to ride the new #1 wooden coaster this year, you’ve got weekends through the Halloween run and Friday nights until October 30. The water coasters are done until summer.
Source: Leah Koch
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