Spencer County tourist sites tout upgrades
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The Spencer County Visitors Bureau says tourism businesses have invested more than $14 million in upgrades ahead of the 2023 summer season. Lincoln Amphitheatre, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari and the Santa Claus Museum & Village are among those making improvements.
Holiday World, which opens its next season on Saturday, just last month cut the ribbon on Compass Commons, which provides dormitory-style housing for team members with the goal of attracting more U.S.-based and international employees. Construction on the $6.7 million project began last year.
The bureau said Holiday World also added drones to its Holidays in the Sky drone show and completed scheduled retracking on The Voyage roller coaster.
“We love hearing how businesses are reinvesting into their properties to provide an exceptional visitor experience,” Executive Director Melissa Arnold said in written remarks. “With additional lodging offerings, enhanced amenities, and upgraded facilities, Spencer County’s tourism industry continues to grow.”
Other upgrades made through the investments include:
- Lincoln Pines Lakefront Resort will add three new cabins and more playground equipment.
- In addition to repairs and improvements on roads and lodging sites, Sun Outdoors Lake Rudolph added 18 new Candy Cane Cottages, 12 new Deluxe RV Sites, and four new J-1 student housing units.
- Santa Claus Museum & Village completed renovations of the historic church and purchased outdoor Christmas decorations.
- Lincoln Amphitheatre refurbished existing seats, built a new entrance, added lighting equipment, and other enhancements.
- A local vacation rental, Hollow Creek Cabin, improved its exterior and parking area as well as added new living room furniture and remodeled the kitchen.
- Lincoln Pioneer Village & Museum rebuilt the Sarah Grigsby Cabin, reopened the 1955 Transportation Building, improved displays inside the museum, redesigned its website, added two murals, and completed other enhancements.
- Santa’s Lakeside Cottages built three cottages, expanded Reindeer Forest, replaced lake fountains, and enhanced its pool area.
- Christmas Lake Golf Club purchased patio furniture and made improvements to the back patio plus invested in equipment for groundskeeping.