Holiday World’s next ride will be a water roller coaster costing $22 million, the park announced Wednesday.
The new ride, called Cannonball, will be a part of the Santa Claus, Indiana park’s Fourth of July section. Holiday World’s press release called it “the largest single-attraction investment in park history.”
Leah Koch-Blumhardt, one of Holiday World’s owners, said in a press release: “This ride is dedicated to every kid who had to work up the courage to climb the tall diving board at their community pool. And it’s a tribute to every small town with a quirky annual tradition. There’s something special about the way we come together to celebrate our independence as a nation, and we hope Cannonball conveys that magic.”
A rendering of Cannonball’s lift hill (Holiday World)
The 90-foot-tall, 1,000-foot-long coaster will be built by German coaster firm Mack Rides, sporting a 75-foot drop and a top speed of 45 miles per hour. This will be only the third Mack water coaster installed in the U.S., the other two being the Journey to Atlantis rides at SeaWorld parks in Orlando and San Diego.
Holiday World says Cannonball will open in May 2027. Once completed, it will be the park’s seventh roller coaster following 2024’s Good Gravy. It also marks the shortest gap between new coaster installations in the park’s history.