Holiday World & Splashin' Safari
4.6(16K)google
4.1(337)yelp
Roller CoasterWater ParkFamilyKidsSummer RetreatMust-See
Overview
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, originally known as Santa Claus Land, is a theme park and water park located in Santa Claus, Indiana, United States. The park opened in 1946 and features rides, live entertainment, and games. It is divided into four sections that celebrate Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Wed10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Thu10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Suggested Duration0.5-1 day
Best TimeSummer from June through August provides the absolute pinnacle experience with both theme and water parks fully running. Passing the security gates by 8:45 AM is essential to head straight for world-class roller coasters like 'The Voyage' or 'Wildebeest' before lines peak. Take advantage of their unique, completely free unlimited soft drinks and sunscreen stations during the hot midday hours.
Getting TherePerfectly positioned in the festive town of Santa Claus at 452 E Christmas Blvd. Accessible strictly by driving. Take I-65 S from central Indiana, merge onto I-64 W near Evansville, and take Exit 63 for US-231 South, following State Road 162 East straight to the park. The destination boasts massive, rolling complimentary lots with tram service straight to the gate.
Travel Tips
- The park sits near the razor-thin Central/Eastern time zone boundary but locks operations strictly to Central Standard Time (CST). Cross-county drivers must verify device clocks to avoid gate missteps.
- The park provides unlimited complimentary soft drinks and sunscreen stations. Avoid hauling heavy cases of bottled water into the grid; bring an empty premium plastic tumbler for endless refills.
- The extreme wooden coaster 'The Voyage' enforces zero loose items. Pockets must be entirely cleared of cellphones, keys, and coins; you must store them in the paid locker banks before entering the queue.
Reviews
Positive
- The park offers free unlimited soft drinks, free sunscreen, and free Wi-Fi, which is an absolutely incredible and unmatched perk!
- The Splashin' Safari water park features world-class water coasters like Wildebeest; the thrills are absolutely spectacular.
- The employees are incredibly warm and friendly, radiating classic Midwestern hospitality; cleanliness and order are flawless.
- The multilingual signs and accessible facilities are excellently handled; renting strollers or wheelchairs is easy and accommodating.
Heads up
- While drinks are free, base ticket prices have steadily climbed over the years, making entry a heavy expense for large families.
- Queues for signature coasters and major water rides frequently exceed an hour during peak season, which is grueling under the hot sun.
- Located in remote Santa Claus, it's unreachable by transit, requiring a drive; parking lots get severely tight during holidays.
- Combining both water and dry theme parks means lugging heavy bags of swimwear and trekking long distances, which is exhausting.