Louis J. Koch had a dream--one of family, fun, and Christmastime year-round. And so he created Santa Claus Land, the nations first theme park, in Santa Claus, located in the gentle rolling hills of southern Indiana. Now, six decades later, Kochs legacy lives on at Holiday World and Splashin Safari. Still owned and operated by the Koch family, Holiday World and Splashin Safari are consistently voted the friendliest and cleanest parks in the country, and their wooden roller coasters are rated in the top ten list among coaster enthusiasts. The Koch family members treat visitors to the park as...

Santa Claus, Indiana, acquired its famous name in 1856 and has been celebrating the spirit of Christmas ever since. Postmaster James Martin began answering children's letters to Santa and his elves in 1914, a tradition that continues to this day and makes Santa Claus a favored destination for those seeking the holiday spirit. The town's unique name prompted Robert Ripley to feature it in his popular cartoon strip, and businessmen such as Carl Barrett and Milton Harris raced to erect Christmas attractions as early as 1935. Beating Walt Disney by nearly a decade, Louis J. Koch opened Santa...