William A. Koch
Encyclopedia
William Albert "Bill" Koch, Sr. (January 10, 1915 - September 17, 2001), developed what is today known as Holiday World and Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana
, the oldest and one of the best-known theme parks in the United States
.
A native of Evansville, Indiana
, Koch was the son of Louis J. and Clarice Koch. He graduated from Purdue University
in 1937 with a degree in architecture, but, although he worked in that field while in the Navy during World War II, it would be a project started by his father that would change his life.
At first, Bill Koch didn't think much of his father's project. "I thought it was sort of a folly," he said later. "I didn't think it would go anywhere."
But it did.
In 1955, Ronald Reagan
, then an actor and spokesman for General Electric
, stopped for a visit. And the park steadily grew from there.
In 1984, Koch and his family decided to include other holidays (namely Halloween and Fourth of July) in the park, and the name was changed to Holiday World.
In 1993, a water park - Splashin' Safari - was added, and a new Thanksgiving-themed area was also constructed in 2006. Over a million visitors a year now visit what Bill Koch once thought was nothing more than a folly!
was going to run from Vincennes
to New Albany
. This did not go over well with the man who wanted the new highway to bring people to his theme park and growing town.
So, Koch started knocking on doors and attending meetings.
Recalled Koch: "I told them, 'Gentlemen, I think the route for 64 is too far north. What do I need to do to get it to go straight across?' They said, 'You have to get the governors of Indiana and Illinois to agree to get the road changed so the Bureau of Roads will agree to relocate it.'"
The governors couldn't resist Koch's insistent efforts, which gained traction when Evansville
interests got involved as well. The highway moved south.
, who lived in the area around what is now Lincoln City
from 1816 to 1830. Koch wanted to take it a step further.
With federal money and national park status, more people would learn about Lincoln's Indiana years, and Koch knew that. If those people happened to travel east along Highway 162 and visit his park, so much the better!
In 1962, Congress approved the creation of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
, and Bill Koch and his wife, Patricia, were on hand as President John F. Kennedy
signed the bill into law.
in the late 1950s to move back home. Despite their age difference (Bill was 16 years her senior), Patricia and Bill were married in 1960 and had five children.
When Koch started, the town had a population of 37 people. Today, more than 2,200 call Santa Claus home.
Following his death, and in recognition of the many developments he was responsible for, the state of Indiana named Indiana State Highway 162 from Gentryville to Interstate 64
as the "William A. Koch Memorial Highway."
Santa Claus, Indiana
Santa Claus is a town in Carter, Clay and Harrison townships, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana, between Interstate 64 and the Ohio River. The population was 2,041 at the 2000 census.Santa Claus was established in 1854...
, the oldest and one of the best-known theme parks in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
A native of Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
, Koch was the son of Louis J. and Clarice Koch. He graduated from Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
in 1937 with a degree in architecture, but, although he worked in that field while in the Navy during World War II, it would be a project started by his father that would change his life.
Holiday World: From father's "folly" to money-maker
In the 1940s, Louis Koch retired, and decided he wanted to breathe life into the tiny town of Santa Claus. He started a mail-order gift shop, and, in 1946, a small theme park that he called Santa Claus Land.At first, Bill Koch didn't think much of his father's project. "I thought it was sort of a folly," he said later. "I didn't think it would go anywhere."
But it did.
In 1955, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, then an actor and spokesman for General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, stopped for a visit. And the park steadily grew from there.
In 1984, Koch and his family decided to include other holidays (namely Halloween and Fourth of July) in the park, and the name was changed to Holiday World.
In 1993, a water park - Splashin' Safari - was added, and a new Thanksgiving-themed area was also constructed in 2006. Over a million visitors a year now visit what Bill Koch once thought was nothing more than a folly!
Bringing an Interstate south
With so many projects going - seemingly all at once - Bill Koch discovered in the late 1950s that Indiana's segment of Interstate 64Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
was going to run from Vincennes
Vincennes, Indiana
Vincennes is a city in and the county seat of Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state. The population was 18,701 at the 2000 census...
to New Albany
New Albany, Indiana
New Albany is a city in Floyd County, Indiana, United States, situated along the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky. In 1900, 20,628 people lived in New Albany; in 1910, 20,629; in 1920, 22,992; and in 1940, 25,414. The population was 36,372 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of...
. This did not go over well with the man who wanted the new highway to bring people to his theme park and growing town.
So, Koch started knocking on doors and attending meetings.
Recalled Koch: "I told them, 'Gentlemen, I think the route for 64 is too far north. What do I need to do to get it to go straight across?' They said, 'You have to get the governors of Indiana and Illinois to agree to get the road changed so the Bureau of Roads will agree to relocate it.'"
The governors couldn't resist Koch's insistent efforts, which gained traction when Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
interests got involved as well. The highway moved south.
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Spencer County and the state of Indiana had for many years worked to build a memorial to the formative years of Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, who lived in the area around what is now Lincoln City
Lincoln City, Indiana
Lincoln City is an unincorporated community in Carter Township, Spencer County in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Indiana. It lies five minutes south of Interstate 64, northeast of Evansville, and approximately twenty miles north of the Ohio River. It was laid out in 1872 on the site...
from 1816 to 1830. Koch wanted to take it a step further.
With federal money and national park status, more people would learn about Lincoln's Indiana years, and Koch knew that. If those people happened to travel east along Highway 162 and visit his park, so much the better!
In 1962, Congress approved the creation of the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial is a United States Presidential Memorial, a National Historic Landmark District in present-day Lincoln City, Indiana. It preserves the farm site where Abraham Lincoln lived with his family from 1816 to 1830. During that time, he grew from a 7-year-old boy to a...
, and Bill Koch and his wife, Patricia, were on hand as President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
signed the bill into law.
Personal life
Bill Koch was 45 when he married Patricia Yellig, the daughter of Santa Claus Land's original Santa Claus, Jim Yellig. Patricia Yellig had been a nun, but left the Daughters of CharityDaughters of Charity
The Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, sometimes simply referred to as Daughters of Charity, is a Society of Apostolic Life for women within the Catholic Church. Its members take simple, private, annual vows...
in the late 1950s to move back home. Despite their age difference (Bill was 16 years her senior), Patricia and Bill were married in 1960 and had five children.
Building a town around the park
As Santa Claus Land grew, Koch believed that the town of Santa Claus needed to grow along with it. In the mid-1960s, he developed a 2300 acres (9.3 km²) gated community known as Christmas Lake Village, where the majority of the town's residents now live. He also built the town hall and a shopping center that today is decorated in a Christmas theme all year long.When Koch started, the town had a population of 37 people. Today, more than 2,200 call Santa Claus home.
Death
Bill Koch died at his home in Santa Claus on September 17, 2001, at the age of 86.Following his death, and in recognition of the many developments he was responsible for, the state of Indiana named Indiana State Highway 162 from Gentryville to Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
as the "William A. Koch Memorial Highway."