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Park News
www.parkworld-online.com
Pilgrims Plunge at Holiday World
Welcome to the world’s tallest water ride
When Holiday World opened for the 63rd season on May 2, all attention was on A classic shoot-the-chutes ride with the addition of an open elevator (pictured
the record-breaking new ride, Pilgrims Plunge from Intamin. Competing with The below), the attraction features 10-seater boats that float calmly before entering
Voyage rollercoaster as the tallest ride in the park, Pilgrims Plunge sets a new the lift section. After swiftly rising to the top of the 135ft tower, each boat pauses
height record for water rides with its 131ft drop (the complete attraction towers briefly before descending rapidly down the flume at a 45-degree angle, creating
165ft-tall). a dramatic splashdown. On the way back to the themed station, the already-wet
riders are sprayed by geysers.
“We’ve dreamed about adding a shoot-the-
chutes for years,” says Holiday World president
Will Koch. “When we saw the opportunity to
break the world record and to use an open-air
elevator in the design, we couldn’t resist! This
is a classic family ride with a modern twist.”
The water ride is accessible from both the
Thanksgiving section in Holiday World and via
a pathway from the Splashin' Safari waterpark,
with riders allowed to board in their swimsuits
if they prefer.
This season the park is celebrating the
second largest expansion in its 63-year history.
Koch says the price tag for Pilgrims Plunge
represents more than half of the $8.4 million
being invested for 2009. Other additions
include more shaded structures inside Splashin'
Safari plus improvements to the Legend
Parking Lot.
Flower lady retires at 98
At the age of 98, Frieda Foertsch reckons it’s time to become a “lady of
leisure.” Starting in 1954 at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana, the longtime
employee literally worked her way around the park, at first in the kitchen and
admissions, followed by sewing Santa suits and cleaning the park, then, for the
past two decades, caring for the park’s flowers. At her retirement party, she
thanked the Koch family for “putting up with me all these years” and teased
park president Will Koch that she’d worked at the park “before you even
existed.” In 2000, Foertsch was named Indiana’s Outstanding Older Worker.
Classic carousel for sale
Looking for a classic wooden carousel? How about this majestic four-abreast ride,
nearly a century old (there’s not a piece of fibreglass in sight)?
The ride in question is a 1910 Dentzel four-abreast all wood menagerie model in
immaculate condition. Next year it will be 100 years old. It was appraised for $5
million, but the asking price is significantly less. The only sales stipulation is that it
be sold and operated as a unit.
"This carousel will be a landmark centrepiece for anyone serious about
building a traditional amusement facility," believes Tony Rossi of International
Rides Management, which is handling the sale.
The park model is available immediately and can be seen in a location in the
Northeast United States. It was last updated in 2004 and currently operates with
four rows including 35 jumping horses,
18 standing horses, a lion,
tiger, mule and two camels,
plus two chariots. Some
animals are by Carmel, others
by Illions. There is also a working
Wurlitzer 146A Band Organ
built in 1924.
12
JUNE 2009
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