For kids and adventurous souls dreaming up ways to spend next summer, there’s good news out of southern Indiana. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari is building a water roller coaster that is set to break records as the tallest and fastest water ride in the United States when it debuts next year.On Wednesday, 1 July, park officials revealed plans to build a $22 million water roller coaster, which will become the largest single-attraction investment in the park’s history.
One hell of a ride on Cannonball!
Once open, Cannonball! is expected to hold two national records: fastest water coaster, with boats reaching 45 mph, and tallest drop, a 75-foot descent that follows a 90-foot lift hill. Yes, you read that right. This is perhaps the dream of every thrill-seeker in the world. The ride, Cannonball!, will sit in the park’s Fourth of July section. Designed by Germany-based manufacturer Mack Rides, this water ride will become the first water coaster built in the Midwest and only the third of its kind in the United States.‘This ride is dedicated to every kid who had to work up the courage to climb the tall diving board at the community pool,’ Leah Kock-Blumhart, the park’s director of communications and fourth-generation owner, said in a press release.
A tribute to small-town summers
The ride’s theme centres on a nostalgic small-town pool party vibe, which, according to Kock-Blumhart, is a tribute to every small town with a summer tradition. It is set in a fictional town called Boulder Canyon, U.S.A., with a local tradition where people compete to make the biggest splash. It is complete with a barbecue scene that riders pass on their way to the lift hill. Guests will board one of seven boats, each wrapped in a distinct inner-tube design: strawberry, watermelon, doughnut, American flag, patriotic popsicle, red-and-white life preserver, and Holiday World’s signature red, yellow and blue pattern.‘It’s a tribute to every small town with a quirky annual tradition. There’s something special about the way we come together to celebrate our independence as a nation, and we hope Cannonball! conveys that magic,’ Kock-Blumhart said.Riders are encouraged to shout ‘Cannonball!’ as their boat drops into the final pool. Along the queue, there are two inflatable swan sculptures nicknamed ‘Ron, the Swan’ and ‘Ron Swan’s Son’, a reference to the fictional character from NBC’s Parks and Recreation. The entire attraction will feature five drops before a major splash in the community pool.Construction of Cannonball! is underway and is scheduled to open in May 2027.‘Our vision is to be every family’s home for the holidays,’ Kock-Blumhart added. ‘We’re laser-focused on young families here at Holiday World, so we love to build rides that the whole family can enjoy together. Cannonball! is going to be the perfect step between Good Gravy! and the rest of our high-thrill roller coasters.’Opened in 1945 as Santa Claus Land, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari has four uniquely themed sections: Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. Two years ago, the park launched Good Gravy!, its first family coaster with a seven-storey backward spike, which made USA Today’s 10 Best New Roller Coasters list.‘We’re daring enough to be a little absurd with our ride concepts,’ Lauren Crosby, the director of entertainment and events, said in the press release. ‘We built a gravy-themed coaster, and now we’re building one around a fictional cannonball competition. Where else can you board a doughnut inner-tube-themed boat, then hop on an American flag-themed boat?’
