If Rankin/Bass Productions, the studio responsible for seasonal stop-motion animated classics such as “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” designed a waterpark, it might look a lot like Ho Ho H20.
Even Snog, the mischievous yeti who lords over the splash structure, bears a striking resemblance to Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster. You remember him. He was the cranky creature that pursued Rudolph, Hermey and Yukon Cornelius across the arctic in the 1964 television special.
Santa's Village
The centerpiece of Ho Ho H20 is an AquaPlay AP1050 from WhiteWat…
The waterpark is a part of Santa’s Village, a Christmas-themed amusement park in Jefferson, N.H. Founded in 1952, the family-owned-and-operated attraction is open May through October, and weekends throughout the holidays. Holly, jolly features include a reindeer carousel, a yule log flume, and a roller-coaster patterned on Santa’s magic sleigh.
In 2010, the winter wonderland brought summertime fun into the mix with a festive waterpark that looks like the kind of place elves would vacation during the off season. It was an immediate hit.
“From 2010 through 2015, each successive year we’ve had record-breaking attendance,” said Christian Gainer, the park’s general manager. “We feel the waterpark contributed significantly to that.”
The waterpark expanded in 2013 with three, three-story tall waterslides called the Joy Ride Slides. And in 2014, Ho Ho H20 added new amenities such as the Merry Mess Hall and the Elfs Lodge, which includes a mix of retail and changing rooms. And, yes, the halls are decked.
Play the slideshow to learn more about how designers combined yuletide with waterslides.
