If you’re looking for a theme park road trip where world-class attractions come without some of the extras that can quickly inflate the cost of a family vacation, Santa Claus, Indiana, deserves a spot on your travel list.

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari already has a loyal following among coaster enthusiasts and families. Now it has some new hardware to back up that reputation.

At the 2026 Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards, Splashin’ Safari was named Best Water Park in the world for the first time, while The Voyage reclaimed the title of Best Wooden Roller Coaster. Even more impressive, Splashin’ Safari swept the top three positions for Best Water Park Ride, with Mammoth finishing No. 1, Wildebeest No. 2 and Cheetah Chase No. 3.

For travelers, those awards make a compelling case for building a summer getaway around this southern Indiana destination.

A Water Park Worth Planning a Trip Around

Splashin’ Safari occupies nearly 40 acres of Holiday World’s 125-acre property and is included with admission during the summer season.

Inside are two massive wave pools, a lazy river, children’s play areas, dozens of slides and one of the most impressive collections of water coasters anywhere.

The park calls itself the Water Coaster Capital of the World, and the latest Golden Ticket results certainly strengthen that claim.

The sweep marked another milestone for Splashin’ Safari, whose water coasters have now held the No. 1 position for 16 consecutive years.

The sweep wasn’t Splashin’ Safari’s only milestone. Its first-ever Best Water Park Golden Ticket gave the park another reason to celebrate.

“This is a dream come true,” fourth-generation owner and Director of Communications Leah Koch-Blumhardt said.

Her father, the late Will Koch, opened Splashin’ Safari in 1993 with ambitions of creating one of the world’s great water parks. More than three decades later, the Golden Ticket voters have put it at the top.

The Voyage Is Back on Top

Across the midway at Holiday World, another longtime favorite has returned to familiar territory.

The Voyage was named the world’s Best Wooden Roller Coaster for the first time in 15 years.

Celebrating its 20th season in 2026, The Voyage has long been a destination coaster for enthusiasts. Its relentless combination of speed, airtime, tunnels and terrain helped establish Holiday World as much more than a regional theme park.

Keeping a wooden coaster performing at that level requires considerable work, especially as it ages. Holiday World has invested approximately $2.5 million over the past five years to replace more than 3,000 feet of track.

That investment appears to have paid off.

“We’ve had our sights set on bringing this award home for the last decade,” fourth-generation owner and Director of Entertainment and Events Lauren Crosby said.

The Value Is Part of the Appeal

Awards may get travelers’ attention, but Holiday World’s approach to value is another reason the park stands out.

Parking is free. Unlimited soft drinks are free. Sunscreen is free. And during the summer, Splashin’ Safari is included with Holiday World admission rather than requiring a separate water park ticket.

Those benefits can make a noticeable difference for a family spending an entire day — or multiple days — at the resort.

The park’s Santa Claus location also makes it particularly well suited for a Midwest road trip. Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Nashville, St. Louis and Columbus are all within reasonable driving distance, while travelers from Chicago, Kansas City and Atlanta can turn a visit into a multi-day getaway.

There’s Already Another Reason to Visit in 2027

The story doesn’t end with this year’s awards.

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari has already announced Cannonball!, a record-breaking water roller coaster scheduled to open in spring 2027.

And when the Golden Ticket Awards return next year, they’ll be coming to Santa Claus. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari was selected to host the 2027 ceremony, marking the fourth time the park will welcome attractions-industry leaders from around the world.

Fall Gives Travelers Another Kind of Holiday World

Splashin’ Safari has closed for 2026, so travelers hoping to experience Mammoth, Wildebeest and Cheetah Chase will have to wait until next season.

Holiday World, however, isn’t finished for the year.

Happy Halloween Weekends begins Sept. 19, giving families a chance to experience the park in a completely different atmosphere on Saturdays and Sundays. Friday Night Live! also continues from 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 30.

The water coasters may have to wait until next summer, but the latest Golden Ticket results provide something travelers can use right now: another reason to start thinking about a 2027 road trip to Santa Claus.

After all, there aren’t many places where you can find the world’s top-ranked water park, the No. 1 wooden roller coaster and the three highest-ranked water park rides in one destination.

In Santa Claus, Indiana, they’re all waiting on the same 125 acres.

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(Photos courtesy of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari)