Holiday World acquires nearby Santa’s Cottages
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Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari has acquired Santa’s Cottages, a lodging destination located just five miles west of the theme park.
Financial terms were not immediately disclosed, but Holiday World noted that the deal is the first business acquisition in its 79-year history.
Santa’s Cottages is a 23-acre lakeside resort that features more than three dozen, fully furnished cottages and amenities such as walking trails, lakes for fishing, playgrounds, and a pool.
Holiday World co-owner Leah Koch-Blumhardt said in a news release that the theme park’s move into the lodging business is “only the beginning.”
“Holiday World has always been a destination for families from all across the Midwest, but it amazes us how many families come from nearby cities, such as St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Nashville and make it a single-day trip,” Koch-Blumhardt said. “As we grow into lodging, we hope more families will choose our parks as a multi-day destination.”
It was not immediately clear how many employees work at Santa’s Cottages or if any jobs would be affected by the acquisition.
The announcement of the acquisition comes two months before Holiday World opens its 2025 season, which it says will be the longest season in recent history. The theme park is now hiring for the new season as well.