Amusement parks in and around Kentucky provide exhilarating experiences, and their central location allows easy access from several states. As part of a Huffington Post Travel series on family-fun parks, here is our guide to all the key information visitors need to know about Kentucky's amusement parks.
Beech Bend Park
Voted 2010 Park of the Year by Amusement Today,
offers a wide range of rides and attractions for every member of the family. In addition, the family-owned and -operated amusement park boasts a water park and campgrounds for those who wish to spend the night nearby.
Kentucky Rumbler
The
is the twistiest roller coaster within a seven-state area. It was voted one of the best new rides in the nation when it opened in 2006. This wooden roller coaster reaches a maximum height of 96 feet and reaches speeds of more than 50 miles an hour.
Sea Dragon
In addition to the Kentucky Rumbler, the park offers the
, a family-friendly coaster that children taller than 42 inches can ride. The park is also proud to be the new home to the
. This swinging boat ride was purchased from the Neverland Ranch. Beech Bend's
has several rides, including the Rapid Raging Water Slides and the Whitewater Express. For young visitors, the park has a petting zoo and a train.
Free Beverages
Beech Bend Park offers free soft drinks to every visitor. Upon entering, each guest receives a cup that is filled free at any snack or drink kiosk and any restaurant. In addition, the park has three restaurants that offer burgers, hot dogs, pizza and fries.
In The News
According to the local FOX affiliate,
in June of 2011 after riding the Kentucky Rumbler. No cause has been ascertained. In 2010,
on consecutive days after falling out of golf carts at the park.
Address: 798 Beech Bend Road, Bowling Green, KY 42101Phone: 270- 781-7634Hours: Sundays and weekdays in June and July, the park is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Saturday, the park is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The park is open on weekends in August and September from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.Price: Online tickets cost $26.99 for adults and children 54 inches and taller. They cost $22.99 for children under 54 inches tall and seniors age 60 and older.
Holiday World
Holiday World lies just north of the Kentucky border in Santa Claus, Indiana. The park's roots go back to Louis Koch in the 1940s. The Evansville businessman saw how disappointed children were when they visited Santa Claus, Indiana, and didn't find Santa. Over the years, the park has grown from a simple, year-round Santa's village to a full-blown amusement park with a water park. The park is laid out to celebrate holidays all year round, including Thanksgiving, Halloween, Independence Day and, of course, Christmas.
The Voyage
has been voted the No. 1 wooden roller coaster for four years by patrons to receive the "Golden Ticket" from Amusement Today. This wooden coaster is 1.2 miles long with drops of up to 154 feet and five underground tunnels. The drops are so steep that riders feel weightless for a total of more than 24 seconds.
Poem-themed Rides
Based on Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem,
has been featured on PBS and the Discovery Channel's "Wild Rides." This wooden roller coaster features an 85-foot drop, a 120-foot tunnel and ends with a double S-curve. Take the family on a white-water rafting ride without leaving the park in the
. Little visitors will enjoy playing on
, a three-story playground. No visit to Holiday World is complete without visiting Christmas Village. If you're lucky, you may just see Santa.
Fast Food Favorites
With more than 19 restaurants, Holiday World offers food for every appetite, including burgers, pizza, soda and funnel cakes. It caters to families with food allergies and offers apple slices and sauce at all restaurants that serve french fries.
In The News
reported that a 29-year-old woman collapsed at the wave pool in 2007 and died. The autopsy showed the cause of death as heart related.
Address: 452 E. Christmas Blvd., Santa Claus, IN 47579Phone: 877-463-2645 or 812-937-4401Hours: Open 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday June, July and the first two weeks of August. The park is open 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday the last two weeks of August and the first two weeks of October. Price: Tickets for adults and children 54 inches and taller are $42.95. Tickets for seniors 60 years and older and children shorter than 54 inches are $32.95.
Other Note-worthy Parks in Kentucky
What's your favorite amusement park in Kentucky?
Check out more AMUSEMENT PARKS.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
