Day 14: Holiday World
Day 14: Holiday World
Credits
Report Compilation: Chris Hull, David Elvey, Phil Coates and Susan Ellis.
Richard Davis
What an amazing day and a half! Our thanks must go out not only to Pat and Will Koch, and Paula Werne, but every member of staff at Holiday World for making our visit so special. Not only do the park have 3 of the best coasters on the planet they have one of the nicests parks and the friendliest staff. I will never forget the night ride I took on Voyage before the breakdown, it will forever be cemented into my memory as the best single ride on any coaster to date. Will and all at the Gravity Group I salute you!
Chris Hull
WOW! I'm not sure I can do justice to the day that we have just had. A very warm and enthusiastic welcome from Pat Koch (the owner of Holiday World) started the day off superbly and showed the passion that Pat (and indeed all her staff) have for this park. On entering the park it was immediately clear that a great deal of care and attention has gone into maintaining the cleanliness and layout of the park. The groundsmen sure do a terrific job. As for the rides - quite simply 3 of the best wooden coasters on the planet. The Raven runs fantastically well and is a great ride through the trees and along the lake. The Legend provides a contrasting ride with strong laterals and again runs really well. As for Voyage - stunning! A combination of old and new, an out and back and a twister. There is no bad seat on this coaster and it only pauses for breath at the block brakes. An incredible addition to Holiday World's attraction list. Even the new dark shoot 'em up ride (Gobbler Getaway) is so well done. This is a park that is still very much family run and really could show the big corporate company parks how to do things well. A couple of hours in the very well themed and kept waterpark provided some relief from the heat. We then had a fantastic 'lunch' at 6pm which is probably the best food of the trip so far. Pat gave a heartfelt speech and we sang Happy Birthday - she's soon to be 75! ERS followed on the Raven and Legend as the sun set. However the ERS on Voyage had to be cancelled due to technical difficulties. The park could quite rightly have told us that it was the end of the day. However they laid on an extra 30 minute ERS on the Raven and the Legend. Staff stayed on well past the 21.30 official end time and still maintained their enthusiasm. Even better news followed for the following day with an extended walkabout tour and a chance to be a test dummy on Voyage's first morning runs. Quite simply a fantastic park run by fantastic people.
Mark Riley and Jenny Lamb
After hearing comments regarding the Voyage being 'too much' and 'very rough', we were a little nervous climbing the lift for the first time. But we need not have been. Voyage is absolutely ******* incredible. It's non-stop action but ride is perfectly designed not to throw you in the wrong direction. It's a work of art. Our evening ERS was hampered by Voyage not running but, thanks to the hospitality of Holiday World, they re-opened both of their 'smaller' woodies (they're anything but). Legend in the dark was a very welcome alternative. Amazing day.
Mark Sebley
Sleigh bells ring snow is glistening... We're walking in a WOODY wonderland. vWOODY WOODY WOODY = GOODY GOODY GOOD. What a fantastic start to ECC woody weekend. Three of the Best wooden coasters all under one roof, all insane rides. Thanks to the park for looking after us so well, the food, welcome, ERS's, waterpark were all top notch. If only all parks could come to yourselves (and Knoebels) to learn the art of running a park. Pat Koch's enthusiasm for the park shows in all the ride operators and staff who are second to none. Oh how I envy the people that live close to this georgeous park. Hope The return visit is not too far away.
andycoasterboy
This is my third time to Holiday World and each time it just gets better '99 riding The Raven and the press day for the launch of The Legend and now the stupendous Voyage. Having heard so much about this ride before the trip it was great to finally sit down, buckle-up and literally go on the ride of my life. Totally dumbfounded for words to explain how totally amazing this ride is, hoping someone following this is able to?? And if the daytime riding was good, flying along the track in the pitch black was, well totally awesome. This coaster is THE benchmark to all others that follow - the Gravity Group and Will Koch have done an amazing job. Pat Koch as ever was happliy walking around the park talking to everyone and was found being the ride op on her 'baby' Gobbler's Get Away - this I think sets this park apart from any other I have visited, every member of staff is so happy and helpful. Then there is the waterpark with a great collection of slides and pools and sunblock which comes in very handy for us pasty Europeans. Santa's Lodge must also get a mention with the great bar service and the huge bucket of pretzels and crisps.
Jeff Holmes
This was my first visit to Holiday World and it is now listed in my top favourite parks. The staff were the friendliest people I have ever met in a theme park. They arranged 3 ERS's for us. First it was The Raven which is a great old fashioned woodie with a neck breaking ending. 2nd was the Legend which was for me the best of the 2 old fashioned woodies. The ride lasted longer and had 3 wicked helixes 2 of which were in tunnels. Finally came the phenomenal Voyage. This was absolutely breath taking with 3 large drops giving plenty of airtime, 90 degree bends, speed tunnels with triple-drop all of which made one classic ride and makes my number one woodie by far.
Steve Fagin
After hearing the hype about Voyage, I was expecting something either excellent or hellish. Son of Beast this was not. Holiday Park has built what is arguably the best coaster on the trip. Voyage is a distillation of everything a tracked thrill ride ought to be. The speed, smoothness, succession of elements, exaggerated banking and incessant airtime produce a totality of coaster experience not to be missed. Very, very good. The visit itself also matched the enjoyment of this killer app: great hospitality, friendly staff and a real willingness to entertain. I particularly liked some of the touches like free sunscreen in the waterpark, and unlimited soft drinks included with entry (rather surprising given the revenue these generate for most parks). Thanks Holiday WOrld, you were a most worthy visit on our hit list.
Lars Sorensen
Deep in the woods lurks, no it's not santa claus, The Voyage. This is one of those coasters that is so hard to describe with saying, "You have to ride it". I mean it is just insane, first drop is amazing in the back, and the rest of the ride is just wicked, and super fast. The Raven, and Legend is both very good coasters too. Holiday World is just such a nice place to be, and the hospitality was great too. And we had a ERS on the lifthill at the top at Voyage.
Bart Van Goethem
This charming park has stolen my heart right away. It is home to not one but three world class coasters. All placed in a wooded area with their own theming. Six years after The Legend they have done it again. The Voyage has it all. It is such a great creation. We were treated like kings by the park. Great food and ERS in abundance.
Peter Jackson ( AKA Duck Man LY& MY SMB )
Holiday World - WOW! what a great Theme & Water park. The new Voyage was a really enjoyable ride in all seats that I tried. Raven and The legend are still good but the Voyage is now my number 1 woodie. The only down point was lack of phone signal and internet. The park staff were all smiles and nothing seemed to much trouble for them. Free sunblock & Soda for the entire visit. Duck withdrawel syptoms today. Thanks to all the staff for making our stay here so good.
Steve Davies
You're lucky, Peter, I haven't had a phone signal since we left P'vania! Anyway- Raven....Legend......Legend.... Raven - I still don't know which I prefer, and both are so good in the dark! Oh, and then there's that insignificant little new coaster down the far end. But seriously, what a ride! Voyage has everything, giant drops, tunnels, twists, turns, just hope Holiday World can maintain it so it doesn't become rough, as it is extreme enough as it is. To sum up- Wow!
Ole Bredesen-Vestby
This just keeps getting better and better. I have got myself a new number one woodie: The Voyage. What a ride. I was one of the lucky ones that got to ride it in the dark, and... WOW!! For the rest of the park, the music show Pop Revolution was really good, and for the Raven vs Legend, well, I think I prefer Raven. Synd du ikke hadde mulighet til aa bli med hit, Eirik.
Bob Clark
Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana - where it's Christmas every day with the Raven, The Legend and The Voyage.
Darren and Mary
Superb park staff so friendly and helpful, they were so happy to change the ERS last night, they are also so aware of health issues - free drinks and sun block. Riding The Voyage in the dark was something special as was my first ever lift hill stop. Darren obviously enjoyed a park with three excellent woodies.
Chris Penn
Holiday world - 3 awesome woodies what more could you ask for. Voyage being out of this world now my number one woodie. I was lucky and got to ride it in the dark twice, one being in the back seat. It's a fantastic family run park and the food was outstanding.
Mats Hummel
Fantastic family run park. The Voyage is a really great but demanding coaster, feels like my new #1 woodie. They have 3 great coasters in this park. Thanks to the sheriff we had a safe hike to the park.
Even Stangebye
Had a great time in Holiday World, but was unlucky with the ERS on the Voyage in the evening - it broke down! But, I'm sure life still will move on... Tried to explain the the Nissen comes from Norway and not from the Coca Cola Company in Atlanta, but the lady in the Christmas store didn't believe me...
Nina Kleppe
Holiday World was a nice park with 3 good woodies. Voyage was the best, it's my new number 1 wood coaster. It was so powerfull all the way. WOW!
Odd Arne Roste
Holiday World had three great woodies. Raven and Legend were good, but Voyage was excellent. I was lucky made a trip during the ERS at night. It was faster then fast. It is difficult to understand how it managed to keep the speed up. It was very nice to meet Pat Koch.
David & Susan Ellis
Holiday World is a lovely park with 3 great wooden coasters and very friendly staff. We had an evening ERS on Raven and Legend. Unfortunately at the start of the night-time ERS on Voyage (Susan's 400th coaster) there was a problem, and the ride closed after two trains. We never got to ride it in the dark. The park, determined to make up for this disappointment, gave us the other woodies again until 10pm, and gave us an extended walk behind the scenes. In the morning Voyage suffered more problems, but some of us were fortunate to be guinea pigs, riding 3 consecutive rides to make sure it worked! Superb!
David Harrington
A superb day and a half at Holiday World - it's not purely by luck alone that they have three absolutely cracking woodies - the Koch family are a great bunch of people and true enthusiasts who really enjoy their work. An amazing welcome - the hospitality was unbelievable and the ride operators were without exception genuinely friendly. We were also treated to the best food of the trip. The ERS on Voyage was somewhat curtailed due to technical problems with the lift hill, and I only managed one test ride before it broke down again the next morning - but this is definitely my number one woodie. Raven was a fantastic ride too - offering a great feeling of hurtling into oblivion without being painfully rough. Spent the afternoon in the excellent waterpark.
Chris Simon
Yes, you can believe all the hype, The Voyage is an absolute corker. Straight into my charts at Number 2 - will have to think carefully whether it will overtake Timbers! Two other Top 10 woodies (Raven and Legend) of course which are still running beautifully. Holiday World is a fantastic place for families and thrill-seekers alike.
Lutz Konerding
Getting one ride on the Voyage at night: 0 Euros. Hearing "Jingle Bells" on the toilet in June: 0 Euros. Meeting Mrs. Pat Koch ("Queen of clean" and "Mrs. Holiday World") and listening to her philosophy to run such a phantastic park with this three great woodies: priceless!!!!!
David Elvy
A full day at Holiday World today. We were "normal guests" for the day, until the Park closed - that's when our ERS sessions started. I rode all the park's coasters, and then spent the day in the waterpark - a great waterpark too with some amazing slides. Then, we had lunch - some of the best Park Food EVER. We were then lead to the joint ERS on Raven and The Legend. Both of the rides were flying, amazing rides - and Raven is my
favourite of the two. Then we were lead to the Voyage for a night ERS. I got on the first train - which got stuck on the lift hill for a few moments - before the journey resumed. The Voyage is an awesome ride - loads of airtime, very fast and smooth throughout. The ERS had to be cancelled though, due to technical reasons - so the Park opened Raven and The Legend for us again. Thanks to all at Holiday World for a great day - Great Park, Staff and food.
Kim Varde Lassen
Holiday World in essence looks like the other parks we have visited, but the general experience was a clear 10. Nice atmosphere and great hospitality was quickly created by the owners. The staff and the ride ops seemed happy to work there, which is easily detected in their attitudes. Food was good, waterpark was really big and actually the best so far. Now....Voyage!! This ride just takes your breath away...definately a new number one for wooden coasters.. well it isn't really wood all the way, but nevermind. It just goes on and on, is full of surprises and is so huge!! Beast is up there with it, but Voyage is just that more complete and action packed. The ERS was a bust, but we only had an engine to blame. Danish: Har det stadig herligt. Vi er lidt i soevnunderskud, men vi kan sove naar vi kommer hjem. ret
Terry Jarvis
There quite possibly isn't any other park, that can boast to having three of the best, outstanding, highclass, wooden rollercoasters. Everytime I visit the park, I'm never disappointed! The Raven and The Legend are still as good as the first time i rode them, plenty of airtime and they fly around the track. In the past i've never been a fan of tall woodies, i've always found most of them to be a little rough and bumpy. The Voyage is the
exception, it's very smooth and very fast, and i love the triple down part in the tunnel. I now have a new number 1! Keep up the good work Holiday World, and i look forward to returning.
Stu Simms
You know you're at a special park when you see the owner, Pat koch, loading guests onto the Gobbler Getaway dark ride. All the staff at Holiday World are incredibly friendly, polite and efficient, taking people's bags really helped speed up the loading of the rides and keep the waiting times to a minimum. We also had a blast in the great waterpark which had some really fun slides, the perfect way to cool off in the lovely weather. The night time ERS on Raven, Legend and Voyage blew us away, those three coasters are amazing enough in the day but are even more exceptional in the dark.
Tim Herre
Holiday World STOP What can I say STOP Probably the park with the best assortment of wooden roller coasters in the world STOP Plus the best water park of the trip STOP If any park out there can come close to the magic of Knoebels, this must be the one STOP Awesome STOP Perfect rides STOP Perfectly operated STOP Perfectly maintained STOP The Voyage blew me away STOP This is by far the best wooden roller coaster experience you can get these days STOP And there is nothing that comes anywhere near it STOP Anyone who has not ridden The Voyage may please shut up when it comes to woodies STOP Thanks very much STOP The Voyage is my new Number one STOP
