It’s been voted the World’s Friendliest amusement park for 11 years in a row and the World’s Cleanest for 9 straight years. In 2007, Consumers Digest named it the nation’s Top Value Park. You may think you know what park I’m talking about, but I bet you’ll be surprised to learn that these honors belong to belong to America’s first theme park—Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, located in the tiny holiday-themed town of Santa Claus, Indiana. Opened in 1946, the park is still going strong, attracting millions annually from across the Midwest.

Now I’m the first to admit that I’m not a big fan of amusement parks. I don’t enjoy large crowds, and after a bruising experience on Coney Island’s Cyclone, I have no desire to hurtle down a wooden track ever again. But recently, I had the opportunity to visit Holiday World, and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed my time in the park. 

Holiday World is the brainchild of Evansville, Indiana, industrialist Louis J. Koch (pronounced “Cook”). In 1941, Koch came to Santa Claus and was troubled to learn that visiting children were disappointed because Santa Claus did not live there. As a result, he decided to create the park as a place where children could visit with Santa during the summer months. When it opened on August 3, 1946 (a full nine years before Disneyland opened in California), the park, then known as Santa Claus Land, included a toy shop, toy displays, a restaurant and themed children’s rides.

While the park has changed its name and expanded to include Halloween, Fourth of July and Thanksgiving sections, as well as a water park, it remains a family venture to this day. Louis’s daughter-in-law Pat can still be found in the park, scooping ice cream or meeting with guests, and her eldest son Will is now the president of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.

One thing guests will notice immediately upon entering the gates of Holiday World is the family-friend atmosphere of the park. As we enjoyed a light lunch at The Alamo, a Mexican-themed restaurant serving tacos, nachos and fajitas, my husband quietly asked, “Have you noticed how well-behaved all the children here are?” And he was right. There were no screaming children, no young kids running amok. Even the teenagers were subdued and well-mannered. In fact, running and unruly behavior are not allowed.

At the far southeast corner of the park is Holidog’s Funtown, a fenced-in area with age-appropriate rides for small children. This special area gives parents of toddlers and young kids a secure place to play without worrying about the kids running off or having a meltdown. Also in Funtown is the Freedom Train, the first ride in Santa Claus Land and the only ride remaining in continuous serve at the park. Another way the park upholds its family-friendly vibe is through its dress code. Swimsuits are strictly forbidden in the theme park area. In fact, while I was visiting, I saw more than a few employees tell guests in swimwear that they would either have to put on a shirt and shorts or return to the water park.

The park also offers free unlimited soft drinks and water at the many Pepsi Oasis Drink Stations scattered throughout the grounds as well as free sunscreen at its four sunscreen stations. And in 2008, the park introduced an allergen-friendly menu, which includes prepackaged foods that do not contain eight of the most common food allergens: wheat, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, soy and eggs.

But don’t be fooled in thinking that this isn’t a park for thrill seekers. Holiday World is home to two of the world’s top wooden roller coasters. The Voyage, opened in 2006, is the number one wooden coaster in the world, while the Raven has been voted one of the world’s top 10 wooden coasters each year since it opened in 1995. It’s third coaster, the Legend, is also top rated. And this year, Splashin’ Safari debuted Pilgrim’s Plunge, the world’s tallest water ride at 131 feet high. Riders are taken 13 stories up in an open-air elevator before dropping down in 10-passenger elevators. And even those on the ground can get in on the fun, operating “geysers” that will drench the passengers as they come to the end of their splashing joyride.

So whether you enjoy floating down a slow moving river or plunging 173 feet toward earth at 67 miles per hour, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari offers fun for all members of the family. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is open daily through August 15 and then on weekends through mid-October.