Holiday World Height Requirements: Every Ride Listed

Holiday World's major rides cluster tightly around a 48-inch minimum, covering The Voyage, The Raven, The Legend, Thunderbird, and Good Gravy! (which opens at just 38 inches for smaller riders). As of April 2025, Thunderbird dropped from 52 to 48 inches, bringing it in line with the wooden coasters and removing the main outlier families had to plan around.

Before you load everyone into the car for Santa Claus, Indiana, check this list. Nothing derails a park day faster than a kid who clears the parking lot but can't board the ride they've been hyped about for three weeks. Holiday World uses shoes-on measurements at the gate, so dress your kids accordingly.

The Major Coasters (48 inches unless noted)

Holiday World's big four all cluster around the same height requirement, which makes planning simple:

• The Voyage, 48 inches. The crown jewel. Three drops over 100 feet, 24.3 seconds of airtime. Do not skip this.
• The Raven, 48 inches. Shorter than Voyage but more disorienting. That low swoop over Lake Rudolph in the dark of the Halloween section is one of the best moments in the park.
• The Legend, 48 inches. The most underrated of the trio. Runs through the woods in the Fourth of July section. Aggressive laterals.
• Thunderbird, 48 inches. Steel wing coaster, launched, 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. As of April 2025, the park dropped the height requirement from 52 inches down to 48 inches, matching the wooden coasters. Big deal family guide, so this was the one ride that cut out a lot of riders.
• Good Gravy!, 38 inches. The park's first family-targeted roller coaster, but don't mistake family-friendly for tame. It's a solid ride and an accessible entry point for coaster newbies.

Mid-Range Thrill Rides (36-48 inches)

• HallowSwings, 48 inches. Giant swing ride in the Halloween section, 65 feet up. Requires the full 48, no exceptions.
• Liberty Launch, 48 inches. Tower ride, drop-and-bounce style. Short but punchy.
• Frightful Falls, 36 inches. Log flume. One of the few rides where a shorter child can hop on without a parent alongside. Gets everyone soaked.
• Turkey Whirl, 36 inches. Classic tilt-a-whirl in the Thanksgiving section, but you spin inside a turkey body. Ridiculous and fun. Great for younger kids.

Splashin' Safari Water Coasters

If your ticket includes Splashin' Safari (all general admission tickets do), these are the height cutoffs for the water coasters:

• Wildebeest, 42 inches (or 48 inches if riding without an adult)
• Mammoth, 42 inches (or 48 inches if riding without an adult)
• Cheetah Chase, 42 inches (or 48 inches if riding without an adult)

The 42-inch rule applies when an adult accompanies the child in the same tube or raft. Solo riders or unaccompanied children need 48 inches.

Rides with No Height Requirement

Rudolph's Reindeer Ranch is Holiday World's dedicated children's area and most rides there have no minimum. This is where you take the under-48-inch crew while everyone else rides Voyage:

• Dasher's Seahorses (carousel-style)
• Comet's Rockets (kiddie airplane ride)
• Blitzen's Airplanes
• Prancer's Merry-Go-Round
• Tippecanoes (gentle canoe float)
• Doggone Trail (Jeep ride through the woods, open to all ages, no minimum)

What Changed for 2025-2026

The biggest update: Thunderbird dropped from 52 to 48 inches starting April 2025. If you visited before 2025 and couldn't put a 48-inch kid on Thunderbird, that restriction is gone. This effectively unlocks all five major coasters at the same threshold.

Tips on Measurement Day-Of

Holiday World measures with shoes on at the entrance. Bring the shoes your kids will wear in the park, not sandals that drop a half inch. If a child is borderline, get measured at the main gate early so you're not dealing with a rejection at ride entry when lines are long. The park's ride operators are consistent but firm; they check every time.

The accessibility guide (updated March 2026) lists all ride dimensions including seat widths and restraint types, which matters if you're planning for larger guests. That PDF is available directly on holidayworld.com.

Related Guides

• Best Rides at Holiday World: Top Coasters Ranked by Wait Time
• Family Guide to Holiday World: Best Rides for Kids and Parents
• Optimal Route at Holiday World: A Data-Driven Touring Plan
• Roller Coaster Guide to Holiday World: Every Coaster Ranked

Rides by Height Requirement