- Santa Claus Land (now Holiday World) was America's First Theme Park

- The park was started as a retirement project of Evansville, IN industrialist Louis J. Koch in 1946

- Holiday World & Splashin' Safari has been family-owned and operated for 4 generations

- Visitors to the park have included many celebrities, including former U.S. President Ronald Reagan

- Holiday World & Splashin' Safari was the first park to offer the innovative promotion of Free Unlimited Soft Drinks to its guests

America's first theme park, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, is one of the largest family-owned and -operated independent parks in the United States, and its success is no accident. From moving Interstate 64 closer to the small town to introducing free unlimited soft drinks, four generations of the Koch family have amplified the legacy of this iconic Indiana attraction.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari celebrates the history of the Koch family and Santa Jim Yellig; the origins of Santa Claus, Indiana; and the early years of Santa Claus Land. The story continues with the expansion from Santa Claus Land to Holiday World, the addition of the park's famous trio of top-ranked wooden roller coasters, and the development of Splashin' Safari Water Park, ranked one of the top water parks in the country.

For three-quarters of a century, the Koch family has launched the park into worldwide renown and national recognition. Featuring over 100 color illustrations, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari relives this joyous past while looking forward to the thrills fans can expect in the next 75 years.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
A Town Called Santa Claus
A Theme Park Comes to Santa Claus: 1946–1969
Growing Up: From Santa Claus Land to Holiday World, 1970–1990
Nevermore and Forever: Holiday World Reaches New Heights, 1990–2010
Making A Splash: How Holiday World's Splashin' Safari Became a World-Class Attraction
Looking Forward: A New Generation Comes to Holiday World
Appendix A: The Holiday World Attractions Index, 1946 to Present
Appendix B: Holiday World, Awards and Accomplishments
Bibliography
About the Authors