News: Holiday World adds carousel and kiddie ride

Posted at 12:33 PM EST (1733 GMT)

Nov. 29th, 2007 -- Via Press Release: The family ride line-up at Holiday World will expand to include a patriotic carousel and a bouncy spring ride in 2008.

"We announced Kima Bay two months ago, with the promise of more," says Holiday World & Splashin' Safari president Will Koch. "This morning we posted a video announcement on YouTube with the news about our Star Spangled Carousel and Reindeer Games ride."

Star Spangled Carousel, which will be added to the park's 4th of July section, will include a mixture of 30 horses and other animals, plus two chariots.

"Our guests have implored us to add a carousel for years," says Koch. "We think this beautiful ride will make a lot of families very happy."

The second ride, Reindeer Games, is a smaller version of the popular Liberty Launch drop ride. Located in the park's Christmas section, the three-story "spring ride" will give children of all ages a chance to leap in the air like reindeer.

Rounding out the announcement is a series of improvements including additional restrooms and another Pepsi Oasis in Splashin' Safari, a tram for the Legend Parking Lot, and a number of outdoor clocks in both parks.

In September, Koch announced a monkey-themed family waterplay attraction would top the list of $6 million in additions for 2008.

Kima Bay, in Splashin' Safari, will feature seven water slides plus more than 100 water-play elements, including more than 125 water jets. The four-story interactive structure will be topped by a 1,200-gallon ever-filling, ever-tipping bucket of water.

"Kima is the Swahili word for monkey," says Koch. "We think children will especially enjoy the fun monkey theming, nearly as much as all the climbing, splashing and sliding in store for them at Kima Bay."

Koch says Kima Bay, Star Spangled Carousel, and Reindeer Games will add a considerable amount of capacity, which is an ongoing priority at the parks. He predicts the need to hire an additional 50 seasonal employees for 2008.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari reopens in May. For more information, log on to www.holidayworld.com or call 1-877-Go-Family.