Rampage at Alabama Splash Adventure re-opens to ACE members

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? No, it wasn't. We are lifting this place up one day at a time. lightning can strike twice. It struck in Santa Claus Indiana with the HW growth. ASA has the same future I believe. I am having a blast here at this old forgotten place. Visit us in 2015. We are getting on the upward trajectory! Woo hoo!

Germans?

Forget it, he's rolling.

It depends... are we talking about the Tarantino version of history?

No, the Animal House version...

When are you going to drop the bomb and provide free unlimited soft drinks at Alabama Splash Adventure? Wasn't it Will that always talked about that being the best decision HW ever made?

I see, so that's a quote from a crappy movie.

We announced the free sodas at Alabama Splash Adventure for 2015 at Rampage Event on October 25. By way of history, the free soda idea was my Sister Natalie's idea. Will did out idea Natalie and me by at least 3-1 on other park ideas and developments, but that unlimited soft drink idea originated with my sister Natalie. Don't ever get me wrong here, Will was a genius, generous, wonderful man and I miss him more than you can imagine. I loved him very much. He is the one most clearly responsible for the wild success that Holiday World enjoyed.

Back to the soda story. Ha. Natalie had observed how well unlimited soft drinks worked out at park corporate buy out events in September and suggested we just add it to our regular season. It was the best business model decision we made at Holiday World. Will, Natalie and I agreed on that. It was a potentially very risky business decision. But, it helped put our park on a rocket trajectory on attendance. We did hire a patent lawyer to try to patent free unlimited soft drinks at an amusement park as a business methodology. We knew when we applied we had little more that a 10% chance of being granted a patent on that idea. However, we thought it worth the lawyer money we paid to a patent lawyer to try to corner the theme park market on free sodas. I guess it really didn't matter that we never got that business methodology patent because other parks still gouge their customers for soda! LOL. So bubble your way into Alabama Splash Adventure in 2015 on a Mountain Dew rush like you may never experience again! LOL. Enjoy the ride. I am jumping on the Rampage now! Woo hoo! Dan Koch, chief nut at Alabama Splash Adventure.

I don't know of any other park besides Lake Compounce that offers free soda.

Thanks for the background story, Dan!

Stricker's Grove offered free soda when I was there for one of their public days in August 2009.

Website for 2014 shows free soda on each of the single public days in August, September and October, but not for the 4th of July or 4-H fair events.

Magic Springs tried it in the past, but I think they went back to charging.

http://coasterbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/magic-springs-will-offer-free-s...-sunscreen

The now defunct Kiddieland outside of Chicago also offered unlimited free soda.

Beech Bend did for awhile too, but they also went back to charging.

Why would you try to patent a business process that virtually no competitor can take advantage of anyway?

Why couldn't other parks make it work? What's so different about HW's demographics?

Kiddieland went broke on free sodas? Oh now, we are doomed! Kidding! LOL

Chief Nut, Dan Koch

Good point jeff, but we, as the originator of the idea, did not know that it would not be copied coast to coast.

Cedar Fair has been using those refillable plastic bottles the last couple of years, and even though there is an upfront cost, and 99¢ per refill, those things are walking all over the midways, so they seem incredibly successful.

They also seem to be selling more season passes now than ever, but in the late 90's and most of the 2000's, there really weren't all that many perks for pass holders. (at least compared to today). Perks go a long way, and Holiday World were/are really pioneers in that.

Anyway, Dan, I'm watching the ASA changes behind a computer screen, and so far, they look great!

Thanks John Peck. I promise you we are working seven days a week to turn this relic, neglected park around. We bought the sickly Charlie Brown Christmas Tree before the Peanuts kids gave it love, paid some attention to it and transformed that old Christmas Tree into the most beautiful Christmas Tree ever. "Hark the Herald, Angels sing glory to the newborn King!" We have already started gathering momentum, something I am told this park has not had in a decade plus. Feels good.

Ok, I love that Charlie Brown Christmas show! It never gets old but it seems the same here at good old Alabama Splash Adventure. This is a challenge. But hey, nothing easy in life is ever truly rewarding. Dan Koch, Chief Nut and overall crazy man loose in theme park world. Yes I am having a load of fun. Thank you all.

Wait I thought Peanuts was affiliated with Cedar Fair? 😁

SplashinDan said:

Good point jeff, but we, as the originator of the idea, did not know that it would not be copied coast to coast.

Right, but who cares? If Cedar Point or Six Flags Over Texas or Silverwood did the same thing, it would have zero impact on the business at Holiday World.