Kentucky Man Wins "Pappy of the Year" With Holiday World Marathon

Joey and Vicky Dickens of Whitesville, KY, have a whole gaggle of grandkids. Fourteen kiddos ranging from one month old to 12 years old. When the crew is all together, you just know their hands are full!

They love to travel together, whether it's to the beach or the mountains; they have traditions that everyone looks forward to. For example, when every grandkid turns 7, they get a trip to the Smoky Mountains with Granny and Pappy. How special is that? Three of them turned 7 this year, and they decided to make it a group trip.

Having just returned from that adventure, Joey had a few days off this week. We all know how hard it is to come back from vacation, so Joey decided to keep the party going in Holiday World. Boy, did he make the most of it! Over the course of three days and six trips, he took TWELVE of those 14 grands.

"Two of them aren't old enough just yet," Joey told me. "My wife was working, but we wanted to get over there. The kids love the water park." Obviously, taking a dozen children ages 2 to 12 would be wild to attempt solo, so dividing and conquering was the way to go.

"We did a trip every morning and then went back for an evening shift each day. They love the waterpark." Joey rode the coasters with them, of course! "They did the Watubee over and over. The older ones love the Cheetah Chase. They just giggled and laughed when Pappy got splashed with water."

Groups of Grandkids

Here are the six groups of grandkids. Starting with these little princesses in pink, Sloane (3) and Evelyn (4)

Cora (7) and Everett (7)

The Big Kids

Cameran (7), Asher (12), and Leighton (turning 10 next Wednesday!)

Carter & Pappy Two Peas in a Pod

Carter (3) got Pappy all to himself for his trip.

I think he had a good time!

Let's Hear it For the Boys

Jonah (5) and Brayden (4) kept Pappy laughing.

At one point, Brayden asked Jonah if he wanted to smell his foot. "I never wash it, and it smells really bad." As tempting as that sounds, I don't think Jonah took Brayden up on that offer! Haha!

Double Trouble!

Last but not least, Rowan and Weston, two-year-old twins!

Joey said, "Going on a trip with the twins is like having two radio stations playing at the same time. Both on LOUD." I bet they all slept real good that night!

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I bet Joey especially slept good each night. That's a whole lotta fun packed into 72 hours. Remember when I mentioned earlier how he and Granny have their hands full with all of these grandbabies? Well, you also can bet their hearts are even fuller. This is the kind of thing all Pappys dream of doing with their buddies.

Do you have special memories like this with your family at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari? Feel free to share them on Facebook or send us a message on the App. The 80th season is underway, and there is a lot to look forward to!