More Than $5.8 Million Invested into Local Tourism

Santa Claus – Tourism businesses are preparing for the peak summer season in Spencer County with additions and enhancements totaling more than $5.8 million.

“As our local tourism industry finds a ‘new normal’ after the pandemic, it’s encouraging to see businesses continuing to reinvest and expand in order to provide an incredible visitor experience,” says Melissa Arnold, executive director of the Spencer County Visitors Bureau. “Spencer County tourism is strong and continues to grow.”

Tourism investments for 2022 include:

• Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari added the new Holidays in the Sky drone and firework extravaganza and completed scheduled retracking on The Legend roller coaster
• Lincoln Amphitheatre added new LED theatrical lighting, renovated restrooms, and other venue improvements
• The Santa Claus Brewing Company will open in the former Santa Claus American Legion building with renovations including a new outdoor patio
• Hollow Creek Cabin, a vacation rental near Fulda, Indiana, added new flooring and countertops along with other improvements
• The Town of Santa Claus will complete work on trails connected to existing trails in order to complete a loop through the town
• Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum restored its entrance cabin and added information signage throughout its cabins
• Santa’s Vacation Villas, near Santa Claus, Indiana, purchased a new permanent gazebo covering for the hot tub, poolside loungers, a fire pit, and other enhancements
• The Chateau invested in new kitchen equipment for the restaurant
• Santa’s Lodge updated its pool area and some of the guest rooms
• Saint Meinrad Archabbey added a paved walking trail
• Jim Yellig Park, a community park in the town of Santa Claus, will add 50 additional parking spots and improve the on-site restrooms
• Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph added two new water slides and five new cabanas in Santa’s Splashdown WaterPark, 23 new deluxe full hookup RV sites, new paddleboats, two new food service locations, a remodel of Blitzen Kitchen, and new signage throughout the resort to reflect the recent name change
• The Town of Dale will add a splash pad at its community park
• Opie’s, a restaurant in Chrisney that opened in 2021, invested in a patio and outdoor seating area plus updated kitchen equipment
• Lincoln State Park renovated the main gate house and improved walkways throughout the park
• Santa’s Lakeside Cottages invested in its playgrounds, pool area, roadways, and lake fountain and added Christmas lights and new signage for all lakes
• Christmas Lake Golf Club purchased new golf carts, a beverage cart, and continues to reinvest in the agronomic improvements of the greens and lake, plus expanded patio seating and restaurant renovations at the Back 9 Grill
• Matilda’s Event Barn invested in new landscaping and outdoor lighting

Spencer County is home to nationally known attractions such as Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph, as well as national and state parks commemorating Lincoln’s Indiana Boyhood Home.

For more information about Spencer County as a destination, call (888) 444-9252 or visit SantaClausInd.org and IndianasAbeLincoln.org.