Holiday World Announces World’s Longest Water Coaster for 2012 As Some Coaster Fans Groan
Today, Holiday World announced Mammoth their largest single ride investment with a price tag of $9 million. Like the park’s Wildebeest, Mammoth will feature both down hill and up hill sections made possible via linear induction motors that will propel the ride boats. Unlike Wildebeest, the much larger Mammoth will feature boats where six riders face each other.
The Santa Claus, Indiana theme park has a track record of being an early adopter of new Web and social media technology. Today’s announcement was no different as it was made live via the Holiday World’s U Stream channel.
Here’s a video of Holiday World’s Mammoth:
Families vs. Roller Coaster Fans – The Debate Rages On…
As soon as the first details of the ride were announced, I noticed that the number of viewers watching the presentation on U Stream started to decrease. I’m sure many were expecting or hoping for a roller coaster. I followed some of the live reactions in the streaming chat area beside the video and I could tell that some were dissapointed. Others argued that Mammoth might help bring more money to Holiday World than a roller coaster could.
My Take – Holiday World Knows What They’re Doing
While I was hoping for another roller coaster (especially a steel coaster), adding another water park attraction must be in the park’s best interest. For the 144th time, families spend more money at theme parks than roller coaster enthusiasts. Therefore, if Holiday World wants to keep growing they’d best continue to attract the crowd that generates the most revenue for them. Taking that fun experience of the water coaster and making it even more of a group (family) experience is smart. Believe it or not, Mammoth may generate more money for the park than a Gerstlauer Eurofighter like Dare Devil Dive or Untamed would.
The Minivan Effect
As both a coaster enthusiast and a family man, I can see it both ways.
But what disappointed coaster fans may be dealing with is something that I call the “Minivan Effect”. If you’re not a parent, and especially if you’re young, there’s no way you can see the appeal of a minivan. I used to loathe them. I hated driving behind them and couldn’t get over just how uncool they looked. When you’re a parent, your priorities change. You drive slower and utility far outweighs coolness. I couldn’t see that as a single 23 year-old in brand new, speedy Sentra SE-R. And many (not all) thrill-loving coaster enthusiasts can’t see the appeal in a family attraction like Mammoth. It’s all about perspective.
Update 8/5 – Here are a few other posts Holiday World fans might want to check out. Read my full review of The Voyage from five years ago today! Also read why I’m so excited for its new Timberliner trains: Gravity Group’s Timberliners Could Be a Game Changer
What’s Your Take?
What do you think of Mammoth? Do you think it was a good idea to add another water coaster? Leave a comment below.
August 3, 2011 at 09:51
I am all for diversifying the attractions in the park, I don't feel a park has to always had a huge roller coaster or thrill ride to necessarily grab my attention. Balance is good, however, in those regards I feel they may have been focusing a bit too much on the water park lately and neglecting the theme park. Pilgrims Plunge was the last notable ride in the theme park and even that was a water ride and will be three years old next season.
August 3, 2011 at 09:59
I was really hoping after Wildebeest that they would add another big ride to the main park. This sounds like a cool water coaster, but I have to admit that it was a disappointment.
August 3, 2011 at 10:14
Anyone else seeing a pattern here?
August 3, 2011 at 10:59
They are trying to balance it out: Holiday World has tons of visitors for such a small park, so instead of adding another coaster to make the theme park area extremely packed, they are continually adding waterslides to help lessen the crowds in the theme park, while making the water park stronger. This way the theme park isn't as packed as most parks are. And, the lines are shorter.
August 3, 2011 at 11:46
Which attraction in either park has had the longest lines the past two years? Wildebeest.
August 3, 2011 at 15:05
The long lines for Wildebeest could be from the low rider capacity. But I read during the chat next to the ustream announcement that the roller coasters tend to have no lines while the water rides have longer lines.
August 5, 2011 at 06:06
I'm a season passholder to Holiday World. The lines depend heavily on weather. On really hot summer days (which is most of the season for HW) the coasters lines are big after the park first opens in the morning. As it gets hotter, more and more people go over to the water park and those lines start to get long. During the hottest part of the day, coaster lines can be non-existent while water park lines are huge. When you start getting into the cooler evening, the lines start getting long again.
August 3, 2011 at 13:44
As a theme park enthusiasts this doesn't bother me that much. Sure I will take all the coasters I can get but this looks like a cool ride and adds more options for fun.
August 3, 2011 at 14:12
I love my MiniVan, I would select my minivan over my Wife anyday except Monday, she's a good bingo partner, the Wife that is. I "hate roller-coasters" I haven't been on one since 1997 or 98
August 3, 2011 at 15:36
This is personally disappointing, but not surprising. Splashin' Safari is the bigger draw and increasing it's capacity has always been a priority. It is the only water park I can think of that has 2 wave pools, 2 water play structures with dumping buckets, 2 giant raft slides… Wildebeest is a great ride with huge lines. It only makes sense to capitalize on that.
While we take the 3 wooden coasters as "givens,". it is still remarkable that such rides operate in what has always been a kiddie/family park. And yes my experience has been that the lines are relatively short– most of HW's target market don't ride the coasters over and over like we do.
There still seems to be a big divide on HW's Facebook page. While I agree they know what they are doing, they ARE alienating a segment of their market and I wonder how much of an impact that will have or if HW even cares.
August 3, 2011 at 17:05
You make some good points. I don't know the water park that well, but what you're saying seems to jive with the sentiment that I'm picking up on. It seems that the water park is more of a draw than it may be at other parks. At the end of the announcement, they mentioned that Trip Advisor has rated Splashin Safari the Best Water Park in the U.S.
I'm not sure that they're at risk of alienating too many coaster fans. When you've got what's widely considered the #1 or #2 ranked wooden coaster in the World (The Voyage) and a ride like Raven that classic woodie fans LOVE.
August 3, 2011 at 15:42
I like the analogy. Is Mommoth longer as well as wider than Wildebeast? "Larger" is a very vauge term.
August 5, 2011 at 05:52
Yes, Mammoth is longer and taller than Wildebeest. Wider, too, but that sounds a little odd.
August 3, 2011 at 18:03
Agreed. As a park enthusiast I'm still keeping the park on my itinerary for sure. I was speaking of some strongly negative comments on the Facebook page that seemed to be coming from the general public in their market area. For example, Nashville residents saying they were going to go to Kings island instead of HW.
August 3, 2011 at 19:28
Oh. Sorry. For some reason I thought you meant coaster fans. Not a physical geographic market. I can see your concern there. And on second thought, thrill riding families (maybe with older kids) might visit Kings Island over Holiday World. I could see that. I do wonder about the ages and demographics of those who left negative comments.
August 4, 2011 at 19:34
Although this is disappointing, it does make more sense from a financial point of view. Hopefully they will add a new coaster within the next 2 years.
August 5, 2011 at 06:05
part of the reasoning behind the mammoth is that they can only move about 5000 people through the wildebeest in a day, when the park draws 16000 people on a saturday that means possibly close to another 5000 people who wanted to ride do not have the chance, the mammoth will help increase water park capacity and alleviate the pressure put on the wildebeest and in general keep guests who are at the park happier.
August 5, 2011 at 06:12
I am not disappointed by this addition at all. I have never been in a water park as packed as Splashin Safari was this past year. They are doing the right thing by offering more rides in the water park to help make the lines for the more popular rides shorter. In the middle of the summer it is nice to spend most of your day in the water park and ride the coasters at night. Mammoth looks like an amazing water coaster with some great drops.
As far as not getting a steel coaster. They basically told us at HWN that they would not be adding one this year, but they were very interested in adding one in the next few years. So I don't think people who are waiting for that next coaster will have to wait that long. In the meantime, have fun on Voyage, it's awesome.
August 5, 2011 at 06:13
I was hoping for a new roller coaster. Yea, the Wildebeast is cool, but I don't need another one. It will generally be the same idea, just different seats. I don't mind the seats. It will make things more interesting. But I am REALLY hoping for a new roller coaster. I love the ones there, but I've been going there for years. So it's a little old. They need to alternate projects. Like, one for the water park. Then the next project should be for the theme park.
August 5, 2011 at 06:20
although a new coaster sounds exciting, we bring our family to holiday world every year and have a blast. this is just one more ride we can ride as a family. with families who have younger children a steel coaster is not. and another ride in the water park does definately make for smaller rides in the theme park, we went last weekend and were able to get on the roller coasters and other usually packed rides with virtually NO WAIT, and still have time to do the water park also. i think holiday world knows what they are doing. its a family park and they want it to remain a family park, fun for the whole family, so im sure a new coaster will be in the plans eventually, until then my family will still be at HW every year
August 5, 2011 at 06:20
I am 20 years old. I am also a huge roller coaster fan. Whenever I go to Holiday World, I go with several other college students. I still feel like the Mammoth is the best choice for now. Because it is the "worlds longest" I feel as though it can still bring in some adventurers. "I have ridden the world's longest water coaster AND the world's best wooden coaster." It's a pretty awesome thought. However, though I feel like the family idea is what is best now. They may soon need a metal coaster to continue such growth. It is good to be well rounded. That would almost add to the family part. More diverse families would be drawn. Such as families with teens.
August 5, 2011 at 06:21
why arent there any like actual big hils on them that would make me scream like on a rc? Rc stands for roller coaster btw.
August 5, 2011 at 06:26
We have been going to HW for 20+ years, drive three hours to get there when we could drive 1-1/2 to Six Flags, who charge for everything! HW obviously care about the people that come there. Free parking, free soda, free lockers at rides, free sunscreen – no better deal for the money. The park is clean, workers always friendly. Just great place period. My kids 15, 20, 22 love both parks. We will always go there no matter what they do or don't add. It is a great place PERIOD.
August 5, 2011 at 06:44
i cant wait for this ride next year, i do have to say when my family visited this past july, we spent more time in the water park than anywhere else, so i think this ride is a great idea for the park, Wildebeast is awsome, so i know this mammoth is gonna be over the top !
August 5, 2011 at 06:49
I thought that the water coaster is a GREAT idea! We go there every year and when we go it is always SO hot that most of the day is spent in the water park. Of course, on the other hand, most of the day is in the water park since some of their rides and a few new ones, and they don't have to be roller coasters, wouldn't hurt!