A wooden roller coaster in a tiny holiday town keeps riders floating out of their seats for 24.3 seconds. That’s a world record for airtime on a wooden coaster, and honestly, it still makes me grin.
The ride also ducks underground eight times through five tunnels. It even tips riders sideways on three turns banked a full 90 degrees.
All of that happens on a wooden track stretching more than a mile through southern Indiana woods. I like how this beast hides inside a cheerful family park where Christmas, Halloween, and the Fourth of July all get their own neighborhoods.
I can’t imagine a stranger or more charming home for a world-class wooden thrill machine. How did a ride inspired by the Pilgrims end up on top of the wooden coaster world?
Your Seat Belt Will Get More Work Than Your Seat
Twenty-four point three seconds. That’s how long riders spend floating above their seats on The Voyage at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, a world record for any wooden coaster.
Airtime is that weightless pop when a train crests a hill faster than gravity expects. Most coasters hand out a few of those moments, but this one practically gives them away.
The ride lasts about 2 minutes and 45 seconds, which is a marathon in coaster terms. Hill after hill keeps lifting riders off the cushion, so the pops stack up quickly.
Some of those moments feel like a gentle float. Others feel like the train is trying to toss you into the trees, which coaster fans call ejector air.
Each rider gets an individual lap bar plus a seat belt. Good news, because those restraints earn their keep on nearly every hill.
Want a little advice? Ride once to learn the layout, then ride again to catch the surprises you missed while screaming.
The record looks impressive on paper, but numbers can’t fully explain it. You really have to feel your stomach rise a few dozen times to get it.
Honestly, 24.3 seconds doesn’t sound like much. Spend it hovering above a wooden track, and it feels like forever in the best way.
Five Tunnels Turn This Forest Ride Into a Game of Hide-and-Seek
Most coasters stay above ground where everyone can see them. This one keeps disappearing, ducking under the earth eight separate times.
Those underground moments happen inside five tunnels. That total set a record for the most tunnels on any roller coaster.
Tunnels do more than look cool. They hide what comes next, so riders can’t brace for the drop or turn waiting on the other side.
Coming out of a tunnel often means a quick lift out of your seat. That combo of darkness and airtime keeps the ride feeling unpredictable from start to finish.
The track also runs more than a mile through wooded terrain in southern Indiana. Trees crowd close in spots, making the speed feel even wilder.
Designers used the natural hills and valleys of the land instead of fighting them. That’s why the ride is often called a terrain coaster.
Keep your eyes open the whole way. Blinking in the wrong spot means missing the flash of daylight at the end of each tunnel.
Night rides add another twist. During the park’s fall Holiwood Nights event, dark tunnels and darker woods make the whole trip feel brand new.
If you only ride once in daylight, you’re missing half the fun. Try it after sundown if the schedule allows, and hold on tight.
That First Drop Will Have You Rethinking Your Life Choices
The chain clicks as the train climbs a 163-foot lift hill. From the top, the view stretches over trees, rides, and a whole lot of Indiana sky.
Then comes the plunge. The first drop falls 154 feet at a steep 66-degree angle.
Speeds reach about 67.4 miles per hour, roughly as fast as cars move on an interstate. And the ride is only getting warmed up.
Two more big drops follow, one measuring 107 feet and another reaching 100 feet. Many coasters would be proud to have just one of those.
The layout builds on a classic out-and-back idea. Trains race away from the station, then twist and turn their way back home.
A mid-course brake run sits partway through the course. It’s a brief pause before the train charges back up to speed for the rest of the journey.
Here’s a tip for nervous first-timers: keep your eyes open on the lift. Knowing what’s coming somehow makes it a little easier.
Front seats give a clear view of the drop ahead. Back seats get pulled over the edge, which is its own special kind of thrill.
Sideways Turns Make This Woodie Act Like a Steel Coaster
Ninety degrees means fully sideways. The Voyage tips riders that far on three separate turns, something rare for a wooden track.
Banks that extreme usually show up on steel coasters. Seeing them on timber feels a bit like spotting a pickup truck doing ballet.
Steep banking keeps the train flowing through tight turns at high speed. Riders feel pushed in new directions instead of just up and down.
A twisting stretch of the course packs turns close together. Coaster fans like to nickname this kind of tangled layout a spaghetti bowl.
Forces come from every angle during this section. One moment you lean left, the next you’re floating, and then the woods flash by sideways.
Wooden coasters naturally rattle and shake a bit. That classic character is part of the charm, so secure your belongings before boarding.
Riders who prefer gentler thrills might want to start elsewhere in the park. Holiday World has other wooden coasters and family rides for warming up first.
For fans who love intensity, these banks are pure gold. They prove a wooden coaster can still surprise people after more than a century of designs.
Blame the Pilgrims for the Wildest Ride in Town
Somewhere in the Thanksgiving section, a coaster pays tribute to a famous 1620 sea journey. The Voyage takes its name and theme from the Pilgrims’ trip to America.
It fits right in at a park where each area celebrates a different holiday. Thanksgiving gets its own festive corner, plus one very aggressive wooden coaster.
The ride opened on May 6, 2006, as the crown jewel of this section. Two decades later, it still sits at the heart of Thanksgiving.
The Pilgrims spent weeks crossing a stormy ocean. Your trip lasts under three minutes, though it may feel almost as bumpy.
I believe the name works on more than one level. The ride truly feels like a long journey, with distinct chapters from lift hill to final brakes.
The theme also makes the coaster easy to explain to kids. A quick history lesson in line beats another round of are we there yet.
Families can split up here if needed. Thrill seekers can ride while others explore the nearby holiday areas.
Honestly, few history lessons come with 24.3 seconds of airtime. Teachers everywhere should probably take notes.
Somebody Had to Haul in a Forest’s Worth of Pine
Three hundred twenty thousand board feet of Southern Yellow Pine. That’s how much lumber went into the track of this giant.
The Gravity Group, a coaster design firm, created the ride. Former park president Will Koch shared ideas during the design process.
Under that wooden track, the support structure is made of steel. Around 750 tons of it help hold the whole thing up.
The finished track stretches 6,442 feet, ranking among the longest wooden coaster layouts on Earth. That’s more than a mile of twists, tunnels, and hills.
TV crews noticed while it was being built. The project appeared on National Geographic’s SuperCoasters and the Discovery Channel’s Building the Biggest: Coasters.
Riders sit in trains built by Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters, a classic name in the coaster world. Each 24-passenger train has six cars with two rows of two.
Keeping a wooden ride in top shape takes steady work. The park has replaced large sections of track in recent years to keep it running smoothly.
That care matters on a ride this long. A smoother track lets riders focus on the fun instead of the bumps.
Trophy Shelves Get Crowded When a Coaster Is This Good
Five years in a row, from 2007 through 2011, Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards named The Voyage the best wooden coaster in the world. Those awards are voted on by experienced coaster riders, so the honor carries real weight.
Winning once is great. Winning five straight times while new coasters keep opening worldwide is something else.
In 2013, TIME magazine also named it the top wooden roller coaster in the nation. The same list placed it fifth among all coasters in the country.
I like how a ride at a smaller park keeps standing next to famous giants. Big parks spend fortunes chasing this kind of praise.
The awards help explain the title of this article. When experts keep ranking a wooden coaster at the very top, the word legend fits.
Rankings change every year as new rides open. Staying in the conversation for two decades takes great design and steady care.
So, does it deserve the hype? With honors like these, The Voyage at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari makes a strong case before you even buckle in.
Trophies are nice, but the real test happens on the track. Luckily, this one delivers there too.
Free Drinks and Sunscreen Make a Long Coaster Day Easier
Screaming through 24.3 seconds of airtime is thirsty work. Holiday World helps by offering free unlimited soft drinks to guests.
Free sunscreen is part of the deal as well. Southern Indiana summers can get hot, so a quick reapplication between rides is smart.
Parking is free too, which is one less thing to budget for. That leaves more room for treats, souvenirs, or another lap on the coaster.
The park, officially called Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, includes a full water park. Riders can cool off after a few trips on the big woodie.
Holiday-themed areas include Christmas, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July. Each gives a different look and feel to the day.
Stay hydrated, especially if you plan several rides in a row. A long, intense coaster plus summer heat can wear anyone out.
These perks take some stress out of a big day out. Kids can grab a drink without parents digging for cash every hour.
I can’t think of many parks that make thrill rides this easy to enjoy. Free sips and sunscreen next to a world-famous coaster is a pretty sweet combo.
A Town Named Santa Claus Hosts the Least Jolly Ride Around
Yes, the town is really called Santa Claus. And yes, its most famous thrill ride has nothing gentle about it.
You’ll find The Voyage inside Holiday World at 452 E Christmas Blvd, Santa Claus, IN 47579. Even the street name sounds like it belongs on a holiday card.
The park began in 1946 as Santa Claus Land. It’s often called the world’s first theme park, which gives this small Indiana town a big claim to fame.
Over the decades, the park grew far beyond its Christmas roots. Today, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Fourth of July themes all share the space with wooden coasters.
The town itself leans into its festive name all year. That makes the drive part of the fun before you ever reach the gate.
The ride operates during the park’s regular season, so check the schedule before you go. Opening days and hours shift throughout the year.
I believe the contrast is the best part of the story. A cheerful town known for Christmas spirit also holds one of the most intense wooden rides anywhere.
Pack your patience for the lift hill and your sense of humor for the name. The Voyage will handle the rest.
