Following one of the hottest summers on record, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari are creating more ways for families to stay cool in 2013.

That’s according to park president Dan Koch, who says the investment of $6.5 million provides everything from a new water-slide complex to misters throughout both parks.

“We’re adding four new in-the-dark water slides in a complex called RhinoBlaster,” says Koch. “The longest slide is 350 feet and includes a half-pipe element - similar to our Zinga water ride – for a really cool back-and-forth skate-boarding effect.”

Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari’s two water coasters took top honors during this weekend’s Golden Ticket Awards ceremony, held at Dollywood theme park.

For the third year in a row, Holiday World’s Wildebeest water coaster was named the World’s #1 Waterpark Ride. This top honor was announced by Amusement Today magazine, which presented the results of its annual survey of the “best of the best” in the amusement park industry during the annual Golden Ticket Awards ceremony.

In addition, Holiday World’s new water coaster, Mammoth, was named the Best New Waterpark Ride of 2012.

The annual National Parks Foundation ‘Share the Experience” photo contest is underway.  If you have a great photo of Hoosier National Forest, you can enter.

Now in its 12th year, the contest offers cash prizes and provides an opportunity for amateur photographers to submit pictures taken at any federal lands site for the chance of having their image selected for use on the America the Beautiful Federal Recreation Lands Pass. Approximately 500,000 passes are utilized annually.