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Pop Culture Flashback: Oldest Theme Park in the U.S. – Santa Claus Land (August 3)

Thought Disneyland was the oldest theme park in the U.S.? Santa Claus Land beat Walt’s dream by nine years! The park is now known as Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari Water Park.

August 3, 2026

Thought Disneyland was the oldest theme park in the U.S.? Well, you’re close. But Santa Claus Land in Santa Claus, Indiana beat Walt’s dream by nine years! The park is now known as Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari Water Park, and they are currently working on a new attraction that will open with a world record.

1946 – Christmas in July: Santa Claus Land Theme Park Opens

Santa Claus Land theme park in 1946. — Santa Claus Land (now known as Holiday World) in 1946. (Holiday World)

In 1941, Louis J. Koch visited the town of Santa Claus in Indiana. He found it sad that some children would visit this town eager to meet Santa only to find that he was not there. This fueled his desire to create a “Santa Claus Land” park where kids could see Santa any time of the year. Due to World War II, construction didn’t begin until August 1945.

Koch received a Christmas miracle when Santa Claus Land opened on this day in 1946. America’s first theme park opened with free admission, a toy shop, toy displays, a restaurant, a few rides and of course the jolly old elf himself. Later, a deer farm was added. As the park grew, the focus of the park grew as well focusing on families rather than just children.

By 1984, Santa Claus Land saw the possibility of extending its holiday theme becoming Holiday World with a Halloween and Fourth of July additions. In 1993, the Koch family added the Splashin’ Safari Water Park.

In celebration of Holiday World’s 60th anniversary, the park opened a Thanksgiving section which features the Good Gravy roller coaster.

Currently, the park is working towards completion of Cannonball, a new water coaster to open in 2027. It will become not only the tallest water coaster in the United States, but the fastest too.

Christmas All Year Round

Holiday World is not the only entertainment venue in the U.S. that offers Christmasy fun. Other places include Christmas, Michigan; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Sky Park at Santa’s Village in Skyforest, California; The North Pole – Santa’s Workshop in Cascade, Colorado; Castle Noel in Medina, Ohio; Santa’s Land in Cherokee, North Carolina; Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire and Santa’s Workshop in North Pole, New York. (You can read more about them here.)

OTHER EVENTS THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY:

1996 – The “Macarena” Dance Craze was Born

U.S. Army Sgt. teaches the "Macarena" to an Iraqi army soldier. — U.S. Army Sgt. Tierney Nowland teaches the “Macarena” to an Iraqi army soldier *(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Elisha Dawkins via Wikimedia Commons)*

The original Los Del Rio recording of “Macarena” was a hit in Latin America but would not have gained much attention in North America if it weren’t for John Caride. The DJ worked at a Miami radio station and asked the station manager if they could add the song to their playlist. He was told no as the station did not play songs sung exclusively in Spanish.

With the help of producers Carols De Yarza and Mike Triay, the song was recorded with English-language verses and remixed to make it more dance “club-friendly.” The new version, “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” was soon played at wedding receptions everywhere. The song became a #1 hit on this day in 1996 and stayed in the Billboard Hot 100 for 60 weeks.