Holiday World closes season with one million visitors

2 Million also seems high to me. Especialy if ther are only anticipating a 5% increase next year. With a 5% increase next year they would need an average of almost 24% the next 3 years after that to hit 2 million by 2010.

2006 - 1,005,000

2007 - 1,055,250 (+ 5% )

2008 - 1,308,510 (+ 24% )

2009 - 1,622,552 (+ 24% )

2010 - 2,011,964 (+ 24% )

This does not seem possible to me. An average of 20% over the next 4 years would also hit the 2 Million mark and that doesn't seem realistic either.

Is an Easter theme area on the way during that time? How about a coaster with a lot of ejector air: call it the Bunny Hop or something like that.

If they avereage about 15% over the next 4 years, they'll hit 2M.

Interesting.

So when does a small park become big?

And more importantly, doubling attendance means you have to double capacity or you're stuck with the same long(er) lines as bigger parks suffer from.

Is HW really going to double the park's capacity in 4 years - especially since we know year one's additions are the Tilt-A-Whirl and new water slide? What exactly will be added in the following three seasons to make the park capable of reasonably handling twice the attendance (assuming the goal is the same waits/ride availability)?

Just some thoughts.

And on top of that, are there enough workers in that area to support such growth? If new rides are built, that most definitely requires new workers. The area doesn't seem like that big of a job market. I wonder from how far do people drive to work at Holiday World?

Correction:

Rather than 2010 as the goal for 2 million ... it was "10 years out."

(I just listened to Podcast #2 to verify what Will said. Jeff origininally remember Will saying 1 million by 2010 and I said that Will must have said *2* million by 2010 ... not bothering to run it through the portion of my brain that does math, as 2010 isn't all that far off. Mea culpa.)

Whew! That gives us a few more years...

Thanks, Paula

I suppose if I would've just listened to it. Duh!

It really wasn't all that painful... :)

Ahhh, that makes sense.

I was starting to worry that the powers that be at HW had gone mad with power. ;)

Thank you Free soft drinks and the Voyage. Those were the only two reasons I went to Holiday World this year!

That seems more reasonable. 2 million by 2016. Add a steel coaster or two along with another woodie (maybe a racer), another interactive darkride, various flats, a transport ride or two, more shows, new theme areas for Easter and either New Year's or Valentines Day and make Splashin' Safari into a park comparable to Schlitterbahn. Keep the freebies that set this park apart from so many others.

HW is going to be a semi-destination park like BGE, SDC, and DW. Promote the park as a vacation destination in Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, Memphis, etc. Maybe some people will come from even further away when this happens (I'm about a days drive away.) One more thing, build a hotel. Others will be doing this as well if the park grows enough.

I ain't changin' no stinkin' sheets.

Ixnay on the otelhay.

Paula

Okay with that. Just keep those rides, waterslides, shows, themed arreas and free drinks coming.

10 years make a lot more sense... with a projected 5% next year, the following 9 years would need to average 7.5% to surpass 2 Million by 2016. Still not easy, but it's great to hear that HW is setting such goals for itself.

And not to be nit-picky but ApolloAndy, 15% increases for the next 4 years would only bring you to about 1.75 Million.*** This post was edited by Jason Hammond 10/11/2006 6:20:13 PM ***

The reason I mentioned the idea of a hotel is because much of HWs future growth is going to have to come from visitors from outside daytrip distance. Many are likely to be vacationers that will spend 2 or even 3 days at the park.

Accomodations in the area are quite limited at present so if the park is to grow, more such facilities will be needed. Of course, if the park becomes larger, someone else is likely to meet the increased demand for lodging in the area by building new hotels and motels. .

What I don't see is HW building something, charging a premium price, and then offering special privileges to the hotel guests. That's just not their way of doing business. It is true that other hotel operators will have to price their accommodations in the area to reflect the seasonal nature of the demand so prices would have to be higher than what would otherwise prevail in southern Indiana. Thats just a reflection of the reality that there would be little happening to fill up the rooms during the off-season.