8 Reasons Why Holiday World’s One of the Best Theme Parks in America

The people have spoken and the votes have been counted. Once again, Holiday World and Splashin' Safari have racked up massive honors in the annual USA Today Readers' Choice Awards. In fact, one of the park's attractions has been voted the #1 Water Coaster in the entire country.

USA Today holds its Readers' Choice Awards annually and asks theme park enthusiasts around the country to chime in and vote for their favorite parks and attractions. This year, Holiday World and Splashin' Safari, received a total of eight nominations in six different categories and each nomination placed inside the Top 10. In other words, the voters love it.

Here's a look at this year's big honors for the Santa Claus, Indiana-based park.

BEST WATER COASTER

Splashin' Safari's water coaster- Wildebeest- was named the #1 Water Coaster in the country.

However, the park has two more water coasters that also placed inside that Top 10.

The Mammoth finished at #5!

Cheetah Chase, which pits teams of riders against each other on intertwining slides, finished #7 in the voting.

BEST WATER PARK

Splashin' Safari itself earned high praise among voters as well. It was named the #2 Water Park in the U.S.A.

The water park snagged some more accolades as well.

BEST WAVE POOL & BEST LAZY RIVER

Splashin' Safari's Bahari Wave Pool was named the #2 Wave Pool. The Bahari's wildly popular (and relaxing) lazy river finished at #4.

BEST ROLLER COASTER

The park's amazing wooden coaster- The Voyage- finished ranked #6 in the country.

BEST THEME PARK

Holiday World ranked #8 on the list of the Best Theme Parks!

The park is celebrating its 80th birthday season this year and will feature a brand new event called Rubber Duck Days.

READ MORE: Santa Claus, IN Welcomes the World's Largest Rubber Duck This Summer

The park will also celebrate the return of its wildly popular Holidays in the Sky Drone Show, Friday Night Live!, the Summer Wine'd Down Culinary Festival, and Happy Halloween Weekends, which will again feature dinosaurs in the corn maze.

READ MORE: Holiday World Brings Back Dino Maze Adventure This Fall

Holiday World opens for its 2026 season on Saturday, May 9th. Splashin' Safari will open on Saturday, May 16th.

For park info and tickets, visit HolidayWorld.com.