SpringsValley.com News and information for Springs Valley, French Lick, West Baden, Patoka Lake and all Southern Indiana Recreation

HOLIDAY WORLD'S �VOYAGE� ENGINEERS DESIGN NEW COASTER TRAINS

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff

SANTA CLAUS, IND-----The #1 Wooden Roller Coaster in the World will feel faster and a lot smoother in 2010, thanks to a new set of trains, engineered by the same team who designed the record-breaking coaster.

“When the engineers at The Gravity Group told us they designed Timberliner trains with The Voyage in mind, they definitely got our attention” says Holiday World & Splashin' Safari president Will Koch. “The Voyage is extreme and we want to keep it that way season after season. These new trains will help a lot.”

Koch says the Timberliner’s wheels are engineered to steer through curves as they move along the coaster track, creating a smoother ride and less wear and tear on the track. The seats are ergonomically designed for greater comfort, including an exclusive seat-suspension design. The padded seats will also accommodate wider-hipped and longer-legged riders.

“Since the trains will ‘track’ better, riders will experience a much smoother Voyage,” says Koch. “That also means there will be less ‘rolling friction,’ so the ride will quite possibly be even faster when it reopens in May.” The Gravity Group’s engineers tested a prototype Timberliner at Holiday World last spring.

The Voyage is 1.2 miles long and provides a record 24.2 seconds of “air time.” This steel-structure wooden coaster, ranked the #1 Wooden Coaster in the World by Amusement Today for three years running, includes a record five underground tunnels (some are double, creating eight “underground moments”), a series of...

World's Longest Water Coaster Opens in Splashin' Safari

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff

SANTA CLAUS, IN-----The second-largest ride addition in Holiday World’s history is announced today: The World’s Longest Water Coaster will open in Splashin' Safari next May.

“Our huge new water coaster is called Wildebeest,” says park president Will Koch. “Wildebeest is a record one-third of a mile long. Riders get two-and-a-half minutes of very wet hills, drops, twists, tunnels and turns.”

Located in a wooded area north of Bahari wave pool, the Wildebeest experience begins with a conveyor ride up the water coaster’s lifthill. Following the 38-foot drop at a 45-degree angle, linear induction motors (LIMs) will the four-person boats up seven additional hills, through two tunnels and around a helix. Wildebeest covers more than two acres, increasing the water park’s size to 27 acres.

“The LIM technology for shooting the boats up the hills is fascinating,” says Koch, who earned an electrical engineering degree at Notre Dame. “An alternating magnetic field beneath the slide surface propels the rafts, pushing them rapidly and smoothly uphill. LIM technology is a popular feature in some steel roller coasters; it’s cool to see it applied to water coasters, too.”

Wildebeest’s tallest elevation is...

Dubois Exhibit open at Dubois County Museum

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff

The Dubois County Museum is joining with the town of Dubois for their 125^th Celebration with a special display of items at the museum. The exhibit will run until Sept 12. Samplings of artifacts in the Dubois display are a 1943 photo of the Bender School and its class, photos of Hickory Grove School, 1908 and 1917 Dubois Grade and High schools, Other pictures show the Dubois Blacksmith Shop, Beech Grove Dance Hall, Mathias Caf� and 1908 Farmers State Bank.

There are 2 quilts featuring Dubois, a Dubois High School Band uniform, a class sweater, and several promotional items, one from Chester Kalb service station. In addition one can find artifacts from the GAB Branch opening in 1962. Centering the display is a replica of the...

HOLIDAY WORLD LAUNCHES iPHONE APP

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff

SANTA CLAUS, IND-----When Holiday World visitors are curious to learn the speed of a roller coaster or height of a water slide, where to find the nearest funnel cake or the closest location for free soft drinks, they will now be told “there’s an app for that.”

The iPhone app “Holiday World & More!” is now available free from the iTunes App Store.

“We’re really excited to launch our own iPhone app,” says park general manager Matt Eckert. “I think the coolest part is the interactive map. It literally provides a ‘you are here’ perspective, along with the ability to find other members of your party who are also using the app.”

The app includes practical information such as parks rules and services, food menus and prices, plus current weather conditions. It also provides photos and details about each ride and water slide in Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, information about shows, and tips for planning a park visit. The app also utilizes social media, with access to the park’s YouTube videos and Twitter feed, plus a portal to the user’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

“We developed this as a cooperative venture with the Spencer County Visitors Bureau,” says Eckert. “We’re hoping this will help Holiday World visitors learn about all the other fun things to do during their vacation here.” The two additional sections of the app detail lodging, attractions, restaurants and maps in “Santa Claus, Indiana: America’s Christmas Hometown” and “Lincoln’s Indiana Boyhood Home.”

The app is also available as...

Southern Indiana Author to Hold Book Signing

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff

Dubois County Museum: 2704 North Newton Street (Hwy 231 N.), Suite A.
Jasper, IN 47546. PH: 812-634-7733
Dubois County Museum -- Public Relations
Press Release:
Judge Hugo Songer to have book signing
For additional information contact:
Kathy Bachman, Publicity Committee
Telephone: 812.482.2074 Email: kabachman@insightbb.com

The Dubois County Museum welcomes Judge Hugo Songer for a book signing at
the museum on Saturday, July 24 from 10:30 until 12:30pm. The book is called
The Buffalo Trace to Tippecanoe. It is a historical novel featuring Purty Old Tom
Montgomery and the settlement of Southern Indiana in the early 1800’s. Hugo C.
Songer is a noted historian and has extensively researched the time period as
well as the use of the...

DAN KOCH NEW PARK PRESIDENT/CEO PARK OWNERSHIP BY KOCH FAMILY CONTINUES

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff

SANTA CLAUS, IN-----Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari will continue to be owned and operated by the Koch family “into perpetuity,” according to the park’s new president and CEO, Dan Koch.

Koch, 46, takes the helm following the sudden death of his brother Will earlier this month.

“Will and I have been business partners for decades and have spoken on the phone daily for more than 30 years,” says Koch. “I consider it an honor to step in as president and continue the expansion plans my brother and I crafted together. In the meantime, Will’s three children will have time to finish their education and learn more about the family business before they decide how they would like to be involved in the future of the park.”

Koch says his mother, Pat, will continue as the park’s Director of Values, greeting guests at the front gate and providing motivation and guidance to the management and staff.

“Our company was reorganized two years ago, when Will promoted two of our park directors to general managers,” says Koch. “These GMs will keep the park running smoothly as we move into the heart of the season and prepare for next year.”

Koch adds he plans to “stay the course” with Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari’s long-range expansion plans, community involvement, and philanthropic efforts.

Koch is a partner in the law firm Koch & Trushin in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He plans regular trips to the Santa Claus park and daily communication with management. He is married and has two young children.

Along with his four siblings, Koch grew up in the town of Santa Claus; his first job was playing a costumed elf at Santa Claus Land, as Holiday World was called prior to 1984. His other seasonal jobs at the park included working in the games department, helping on the parking crew and hauling trash. He graduated from Heritage Hills High School in 1982 and the University of Miami in 1986 with a degree in...

Strassenfest Events at the Dubois County Museum of Southern Indiana

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff

Dubois County Museum -- Public Relations
Press Release:
Strassenfest Events at the Dubois County Museum
For additional information contact:
Kathy Bachman, Publicity Committee

JASPER, INDIANA-- The Dubois County Museum announces these activities during the Jasper Strassenfest August 5 through August 8, 2010.

Thursday, August 5 –the Museum is open from 10-2pm. On special display will
be the German Sister Cities 25th Anniversary Exhibit, the complete collection of
Strassenfest mugs, buttons, and programs from 1979-2010, and an exhibit of
complete collection of Jasper native Norb Krapf’s books.

Friday, August 6 (open 10-2pm) German Sister Cities 25th Anniversary exhibit
featuring notes and photos from 1984 and forward on the establishment of the
Sister Cities connection between Jasper and Pfaffenweiler. Martina Eckert, 93
years young and keeper of the Sister Cities history will visit periodically. See the
Eckert’s Trachten (period German dress) on display. 10 am-1pm-old German
script translation by Marilyn Nathan and Lucy Wood. Bring in your items with old

German script for translation (postcard size).
Saturday, August 7- (open from 10-4pm)-Exhibits continue. View Schnitzelbank
(woodworking bench) demonstration every hour on the hour. Perhaps try your
hand at it. From 11-2pm-old German script translation by Marilyn Nathan and
Lucy Wood. 2pm-special reading of requests by Jasper’s native son Poet Norb
Krapf and signing of his many books. Mr. Krapf’s books are available in the
Gift Shop. See the impressive display of the complete collection of his books in
Lobby. Krapf recently completed

Michael Koryta Discusses Upcoming Book about French Lick Resort

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff

Due to copyright laws, SpringsValley.com cannot print this material first hand, but welcomes interested readers to follow the link provided to the NPR website.

Michael Koryta, interviewed by All Things Considered, recalls his childhood visits to West Baden Springs Hotel and why he chose it as the setting for his new novel. Read the article: Haunted 'River' Waters Flow Below A Grand Hotel

Want to read what's being said about the French Lick Springs Resort? Read on!

The Battle of Corydon Reenactment June 25, 26, & 27, 2010

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley,com News Staff

From CorydonBattlepark.com:

Corydon's Civil War Battlefield Reenactment

To Friends, old and new, of the Reenactment of the Battle of Corydon:

Public Events Schedule

The Battle of Corydon Memorial Park Advisory Board, the Harrison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and our entire community invite you to participate in this year's reenactment of the Battle of Corydon.

We promise to build upon the success of past reenactments We want this to be an ongoing educational and commemorative event that highlights this important part of our history, reminding residents of our heritage and drawing visitors with whom we can share our stories.

The 2010 Reenactment will be held...

DINKY�S AMISH AUCTION CENTER

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News

MONTGOMERY, IN- Did you know that it’s a weekly tradition for thousands of visitors from throughout the Midwest? We’re speaking of the Friday night auction at Dinky’s Amish Auction Center, just a few minutes from Gasthof Amish Village.

While the items to be auctioned vary from week to week, Dinky’s is known to have great bargains on just about everything imaginable from cars to chickens; furniture to farm machinery. As a matter of fact, there may be as many as 10 different auction rings during an evening.

The auction starts at...