Get on board Good Gravy, the Thanksgiving roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari

For some, a holiday dinner is full of ups, downs, twists and turns. When Uncle Eddie starts his stories, some people might be hoping for a quick exit. At Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Good Gravy is the Thanksgiving roller coaster that people will want to experience all day long.

Theme parks are big business. From magical moments filled with Pixie Dust to Wizarding Worlds that immerse guests into another world with the wave of a wand, the fantasy thrust into the real world brings people back time and again.

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, in Santa Claus, Indiana, offers all-ages, family inclusive entertainment. Open for part of the year, the theme park encourages families, friends, and everyone to have fun. Some might be prepared for the big plunge others can enjoy a milder ride. No matter the group, there is an experience that will appeal to all.

With Good Gravy, the food themed roller coaster is meant to be an age-inclusive thrill ride. Given that Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari has been offering family entertainment since 1946, this new experience fits seamlessly into the theme park.

Speaking to the new ride, Fourth-Generation Owner Leah Koch-Blumhardt said, “We’re excited to add a coaster to our lineup that caters to the entire family, just like Thanksgiving dinner! The experience will be smooth and gentle enough for grandparents and younger children to enjoy, yet it’s still dynamic enough for the thrill seekers.”

The food themed roller coaster has guests stepping into a gravy boat designed train. As the cars are pulled backwards, they zoom through a cranberry jelly can, twist and turn around kitchen utensils, and climb up a 77-foot spike. From there, they do it all again, but backwards.

The theming extends beyond the ride itself. The air-conditioned queue is decorated like Thanksgiving at grandma’s house. The Stuffing Springs area features play places, and a refurbished 1964 Airstream Camper houses a Dippin’ Dots stand.

While thrill rides often have a theme, this idea might be the first Thanksgiving food offering. Looking at the designs, it seems like it hit all the iconic imagery. The only thing missing is the debate over lumpy mashed potatoes.

Good Gravy, the Thanksgiving roller coaster, is set to open at Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari in May 2024. Periodic updates may be available online.