Dan Koch leads purchase of Alabama's Splash Adventure

As far as I can tell, this has nothing to do with Koch Development, right?

Seems like an independent run (either the Family, or Dan alone, as the article is contradictory), and not the legal entity of "Koch development". It's a bit of a head scratcher too. Can only assume it was a steal, as the impediments to turning that operation around are huge.

I wish them nothing but success. The only thing I didn't like about Alabama Adventure was that if the wind was blowing the wrong way, there was a powerful odor that I assume was from a nearby factory.

As near as I can figure upwards of 100 million was put into this park.

and it sold a few year ago for 5 million (out of bankruptcy)

As long as the price was less than 10 million

I think it is a steal.

I will go and check it out .

An amusement park (if they rebuild the dry section)

with an included water park .That is run well May be able to thrive there.

Are some of the Holiday World employee's moving there as well?

Will Paula be helping with the social media ?

I'd be willing to bet my next retirement check that the Indiana folks ain't goin nowhere.

Pat and the kids are in Alabama and doing this on their own.

Will's wife and their kids run HWN and I'm assuming Koch Development as she owns 60%. At least that's the short version I've heard.

And Dan posted in FB that Rampagevwill return.

Tekwardo said:

Pat and the kids are in Alabama and doing this apparently while Will's wife and their kids run HWN.

Now I have 2 Koch-run parks within 3 hours! Nashville is suddenly the buckle of the Koch parks belt. How much you want to bet that Alabama's Splash Adventure gets free parking, sunscreen, and soda?

You don't really have to make a bet if you read the article.

Jeez, if I had only seen RCMAC's post yesterday, I'd be sitting on that big retirement check now! I need to check the site more often.

Not so fast, there. To be clear, what I meant was the park STAFF there in Indiana, Paula and the like. I believe this new project will remain totally unassociated with any business at Holiday World, and ne'er the twain shall meet.

If its any different, I'll be very surprised.

And for the record, my fixed monthly income wouldn't get anybody here very far. :-)

Well lucky for you I didn't take you up on that, because I'd have to sue for the check and Dan Koch is my lawyer.

The two parks aren't affiliated.

This isn't a Koch Family expansion from what I gather. This is Dan, Pat, and Dan's sister starting over as they are no longer involved in Holiday World.

That's really an ugly shame, if true. Certainly not what Will would have wanted. We'll never know the inner workings of the family dynamic, but I can't imagine a world where a child-in-law isn't still a part of the family when the spouse dies. So unfortunate.

Agreed, never thought that this would come about. I really do feel bad for all parties involved.

Yeah, I agree.

Granted, I don't have any real 'inside' info, I'm just going on what I've seen 'confirmed' by people that do seem to know more around the net, as well as comments made by some people I've talked to, but I think it's safe to assume that things are not well with the extended Koch family relations, and there are basically two camps now.

Just from bits and pieces I've gathered, I think Dan's antics lead to the rift, which is sad, though I can't confirm that nor do I know more than has been said in the news and by people on message boards. Obviously it isn't my family and I don't know what went down or how, but I'm not sure I could have went to court with my inlaws if I had tried to do what (it appears) he did publicly.

I guess in the end, Dan & Co. decided to cut their losses as the court did not hear their appeal, and this is the route they took (while still owning a minority stake in the other family business). I think that is good for the park, and I hope they find success.

Perhaps one day it'll all go a different way and the family can heal. Maybe even work together.

P.S. I have read that Pat, Dan, and Pat's daughter have moved to Alabama, so it looks like they're going all in. I do believe they have what it takes to turn that park around. I have to wonder if the behind the scenes drama is what really led to them not buying Kentucky Kingdom.

Here's an article interviewing Dan:

Click

I'm not first hand with anyone at HW, but I've heard the same things as you, Tek.

Hopefully Alabama's Adventure will become Holiday World South!

Jason Hammond said:

The only thing I didn't like about Alabama Adventure was that if the wind was blowing the wrong way, there was a powerful odor that I assume was from a nearby factory.

It wasn't from a factory. It was from *insert Alabama joke here*.