Visitors to an Indiana theme park will soon experience a new type of aquatic thrill as the destination announces its largest single-attraction investment to date.
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, located in Santa Claus, Indiana, has announced the development of Cannonball!, a $22 million water roller coaster. Scheduled to open in May 2027, the attraction will become the centrepiece of the park’s Fourth of July-themed section, arriving just ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Designed by Mack Rides, based in Waldkirch, Germany, the installation will be the first water roller coaster of its kind in the American Midwest and only the third built within the United States. The ride system will take passengers 90 feet into the air before descending a 75-foot drop. Over the course of the attraction, riders will navigate five separate drops and more than 1,000 feet of coaster track.
Reaching a maximum speed of 45 miles per hour, Cannonball! is set to be the fastest water roller coaster in the United States. In addition, it will feature the tallest drop of any ride in its category for the US.
Immersive theming
The narrative of the attraction revolves around a fictional community centre pool party set in the small town of Boulder Canyon, USA. Guests will queue through the community centre station before boarding boats designed to resemble brightly coloured novelty innertubes. There are seven boat designs in total, which include a strawberry, watermelon, doughnut, American flag, patriotic popsicle, a red and white life preserver, and a Holiday World rainbow.
The route takes these themed boats past a barbecue cookout setting before ascending the main lift hill. The experience concludes with a final splashdown into the community pool, where riders will float past giant inflatable swan sculptures named “Ron the Swan” and “Ron Swan’s Son”.
Lauren Crosby, Fourth-Generation Owner and Director of Entertainment & Events, noted the park’s lighthearted approach to attraction development. “One of our company values is, ‘We have fun,’” she said. “We are daring enough to be a little absurd with our ride concepts. We built a gravy-themed coaster, and now we’re building one around a fictional cannonball competition! Where else can you board a doughnut-innertube-themed boat, then hop on an American flag-themed boat?!”
Preview film
Family fun
The new water coaster is positioned to serve young families, featuring a minimum height requirement of 42 inches when a child is accompanied by an adult, or 48 inches for unaccompanied riders. It serves as a stepping stone between the park’s 2024 addition, Good Gravy!, and its existing high-thrill roller coasters.
Leah Koch-Blumhardt, Fourth-Generation Owner and Director of Communications, explained the motivation behind the theme. “This ride is dedicated to every kid who had to work up the courage to climb the tall diving board at their community pool,” she stated. “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.”
Holiday World already operates three highly regarded water coasters, Wildebeest, Mammoth, and Cheetah Chase, within its Splashin’ Safari water park. With construction of Cannonball! currently underway, the park is now selling 2027 Platinum Season Passes, which will grant visitors early entry to the new attraction in June and July of its opening year.
