There are water parks with good slides, and then there’s Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari — a destination that has transformed the water coaster into an attraction category all its own.

Tucked into the rolling hills of southern Indiana, the family-owned park has quietly built one of the most impressive collections of water attractions anywhere in the world. While many parks boast one signature water coaster, Holiday World offers three groundbreaking attractions — Wildebeest, Mammoth, and Cheetah Chase — that collectively make a compelling case for why Splashin’ Safari deserves to be on every summer travel bucket list.

For thrill-seekers, families, and roller coaster fans alike, the park has become synonymous with innovation, blending the splash-filled fun of a water park with the speed, launches, and unpredictability of a traditional coaster experience.

The Park That Changed Water Coasters Forever

Holiday World’s rise to water coaster dominance began in 2010 with Wildebeest, a game-changing ProSlide HydroMagnetic Rocket attraction that redefined what guests thought a water slide could do.

Stretching 1,710 feet and lasting nearly two and a half minutes, Wildebeest introduced many guests to the concept of uphill water coaster launches. Using linear induction motors, the attraction propelled rafts uphill rather than relying solely on gravity, creating a ride experience that felt far more like a roller coaster than a traditional water slide.

Instead of a quick descent into a splash pool, Wildebeest delivered airtime hills, sharp turns, rapid pacing, and  repeated bursts of acceleration that immediately set a new standard for the industry.

Holiday World didn’t stop there.

In 2012, the park unveiled Mammoth, an even larger and more ambitious water coaster that sprawled across three acres and stretched 1,763 feet. The six-person circular boats added a completely different ride dynamic, spinning unpredictably as riders navigated seven drops and six uphill launches.

The attraction’s combination of darkness, spinning motion, and repeated propulsion moments created a chaotic, laugh-filled adventure unlike anything else in the water park world. Mammoth earned a Guinness World Record as the world’s longest water coaster and remains one of the park’s signature attractions more than a decade later.

Then came Cheetah Chase in 2020, another industry first.

Unlike the LIM-powered systems used on Wildebeest and Mammoth, Cheetah Chase uses powerful water jets to launch side-by-side rafts through a competitive racing layout. The attraction became the world’s first launched water coaster, introducing head-to-head racing and forward water launches that brought a completely new energy to the experience.

The result is a ride that feels part water slide, part roller coaster, and part competitive sport.

Three Completely Different Experiences

What makes Holiday World’s water coaster lineup especially impressive is that the rides don’t feel repetitive.

Wildebeest delivers speed and momentum, with relentless pacing that keeps riders grinning from start to finish. Mammoth offers a sprawling, soaking adventure filled with unpredictable spins and family-style raft chaos. Cheetah Chase focuses on adrenaline and competition, with racing elements that make every ride feel different depending on who wins the duel.

Together, the attractions span more than 5,100 feet of water coaster track — an astonishing amount packed into a single park.

The industry recognition has followed.

Holiday World’s water coasters have repeatedly dominated Amusement Today’s annual Golden Ticket Awards for Best Water Park Ride, with the park’s attractions claiming the top honor 14 times. Mammoth earned Water Park Ride of the Year honors again in 2025, reinforcing Splashin’ Safari’s reputation as the undisputed leader in the category.

More Than Just Great Water Coasters

What elevates Holiday World beyond simply having impressive rides is the overall guest experience.

Splashin’ Safari is included with admission to Holiday World, instantly giving visitors access to one of the nation’s top water parks alongside the theme park itself. The park also continues to stand out for guest-friendly perks that have become increasingly rare in the industry, including free parking, complimentary soft drinks, free sunscreen, and complimentary inner tubes.

The atmosphere feels distinctly different from many large corporate destinations. Operations are efficient, the park is exceptionally clean, and the family-focused environment remains one of Holiday World’s defining strengths.

That combination of world-class attractions and Midwestern hospitality is a major reason why families return year after year.

An Easy Summer Road Trip Destination

Located in Santa Claus, Holiday World sits within driving distance of several major Midwest cities, including Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Nashville, and Columbus, making it an ideal summer getaway for families looking for a destination that offers both thrills and value.

For travelers searching for a park experience that genuinely stands apart from the competition, Holiday World’s collection of record-breaking water coasters gives the southern Indiana destination something few parks can claim: a category it completely owns.

The park doesn’t just offer great water coasters. It offers the best collection of water coasters anywhere in the world.

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(Photos courtesy Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari)